Allergists rely on more than just symptoms when making decisions about food allergy treatment. Food allergy testing provides important clinical information that helps specialists better understand what may be causing a patient’s reactions. However, testing is only one part of the diagnostic process. Here’s how Atlanta allergists reach a food allergy diagnosis and use that information to guide treatment.
How Allergists Interpret Food Allergy Test Results
When someone is dealing with potential food allergy symptoms, allergists may use skin prick testing, blood testing, and even oral food challenges to see how their immune system reacts to suspected allergens like milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts. These tests provide valuable information, but the results must be interpreted alongside a range of other factors, including symptoms experienced, timing of reactions, medical history, foods eaten before the reaction, and family history.
4 Ways Food Allergy Testing Guides Treatment
People experiencing signs of a food allergy should be evaluated by an allergist. The results of that evaluation influence treatment in the following important ways.
1. Confirming a Food Allergy Diagnosis
Allergists won’t begin treatment until they have reached an accurate diagnosis. In some cases, what appears to clearly be an allergy is actually another health condition such as a food intolerance. The complete diagnostic process, including food allergy testing, symptom evaluation and medical history assessment, will successfully confirm or rule out a specific allergy so that treatment can be matched to the diagnosis.
2. Identifying the Foods Responsible for Allergic Reactions
Food allergy testing can help identify the specific foods that trigger a reaction, such as an allergy to crustaceans but not to mollusks. Without this information a person could avoid foods unnecessarily, and even experience food anxiety. Part of a successful treatment plan is helping patients stay safe and healthy, but when trigger foods are unclear this will be impossible to accomplish.
3. Determining the Most Appropriate Treatment
Food allergists work with patients to find long-term solutions that prevent allergic reactions and improve quality of life. For some people, avoiding allergens is the best way to manage their allergy. However, there are other people (such as those with peanut or tree nut allergies) that could benefit from oral immunotherapy treatment (OIT). A food allergist will consider test results alongside a patient’s medical history and previous reactions when determining whether OIT or other treatments are appropriate.
4. Monitoring Food Allergy Progress
It’s true that food allergies can change over the years, particularly in children diagnosed in infancy. Most children outgrow a milk or egg allergy by the time they reach their teenage years, but some could unfortunately find that their symptoms get worse. Testing may be repeated periodically to assess changes in a food allergy, and determine whether a food allergy treatment plan needs to be updated.
Visit Our Atlanta-Area Centers for Food Allergy Testing
When you’ve noticed any potential allergy symptoms after eating peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, shellfish and other foods, our allergists can provide food allergy testing, diagnosis, and a treatment plan. We offer food allergy testing from our allergy treatment centers across the Atlanta area. Call (678) 668-4688 or request an appointment today.
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