Professional food allergy testing is a vital stage in diagnosing and treating an allergy. With a skin prick or blood test, Atlanta allergists acquire information that guides a diagnosis. But is a single test enough, or is it necessary to check your allergy status periodically? Here are the key facts you should know about repeat allergy testing.
What Are the Top Reasons to Get Retested for Food Allergies?
Food allergies can be complex, from the foods that trigger reactions to the severity of symptoms. So even if you have been tested before, repeat testing may be necessary to fully understand your allergy.
Food Allergies Can Evolve
Some food allergies (like milk and eggs) can be outgrown at various stages of a child’s development. In contrast, issues with foods like peanuts and shellfish are more likely to persist throughout a person’s life. By retesting the reaction to a particular food under medical supervision, it’s possible to measure immune system sensitivity.
Changes in Immune System Reaction
Factors such as age, health conditions, and medications being taken can influence how a person’s immune system responds to allergens over time. Some individuals may experience milder symptoms as they age, while others could develop more severe reactions. In some cases, treatments like allergen desensitization can significantly reduce sensitivity. Repeat testing using methods such as skin prick tests or food allergy blood tests can determine whether allergen tolerance has been achieved.
Unclear or Conflicting Test Results
Some food allergy tests can result in false positive or false negative test results. Typically, allergists can make a diagnosis using test results, alongside an analysis of symptoms and patient medical history. However, there will be instances where results are unclear, and repeat testing may be beneficial.
New Symptoms Have Appeared
The appearance of new symptoms after exposure to a food allergen could signal a change in the allergic responses. For instance, if you suddenly start getting hives, stomach issues or breathing difficulties that weren’t present before, retesting your allergy status can ensure you’re receiving the correct treatment advice.
Reintroducing Food to Your Diet
Experiencing moderate to severe symptoms after eating peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, eggs and other foods can lead to people making significant changes to their nutritional intake. While avoiding allergen exposure is key to a treatment plan, if you are no longer at risk you could be limiting your diet unnecessarily.
Monitoring Treatment Effectiveness
Top food allergy treatments such as oral immunotherapy help reduce the immune system’s sensitivity to an allergen. Repeat testing can confirm if the treatment is working, and whether or not adjustments are needed. If treatment has desensitized the immune system to the allergen, this should be reflected in the food allergy test results.
Contact Us for Food Allergy Testing in the Atlanta Area
Food allergy testing is a vital part of a comprehensive treatment plan. If you need a diagnosis or up-to-date information about your allergy, visit one of our centers in the Atlanta area.Give us a call at (678) 668-4688 or request an appointment today.
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