Allergy testing Inquiry

Allergies are becoming more common and a big percentage of people in Croatia and all over the world suffer some form of allergy.

An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to some substance from the environment (also called allergens). The immune system protects the body from different microorganisms (viruses, bacteria...), but sometimes it overreacts to substances which are otherwise harmless (house dust, dust mites, tree, weed and grass pollen, insect poison, vegetable, fruit, milk, fungi, vegetal fiber, metals, resins). Such an excessive reaction is called an allergy. There are many forms of allergies, and some of the most frequent are allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, urticary, contact allergic dermatitis, food allergies, medicaments and insect poison allergies. The most severe form of the allergic reaction is an anaphylactic shock.

When diagnosing allergies, skin tests are frequently used because they are simple and they give quick results. Testing can be done in many ways: prick test, intradermal test and epicutane test (for contact allergens).

In Terme Policlinics we do a prick test on group and individual allergens and an epicutane test for contact allergens. After consultations, depending on an allergy type, a specialist in dermatovenerology suggests the way of testing.

Prick test

A Prick test is a method of allergic testing on the skin. With this testing, allergies to inhalatory allergens (substances which pass through respiratory tract, for example pollen), alimentary allergens (substances which pass through digestive system, food) and other allergens (e.g. insects, medicaments) are proved. A drop of allergen solution is placed onto the skin on the forearm or back, and is pinned through with a special lancet. A reading of the skin reaction is done after 15-20 minutes.

At least 3 days before the prick test you should not take any antiallergic medicaments (antihistamines) and some other medicaments which could affect test results (tricyclic antidepressants). It is necessary to consult a physician if you are pregnant, if you are allergic to something, if you suffered strong allergic reactions (lip or tongue swelling, heavy breathing, anaphylactic shock) or if you suffer from some chronic disease (e.g. asthma, heart disease). Testing can not be done on a skin with some sort of changes (e.g. allergic reaction or skin inflammation in the area of the testing).

In case of a positive reaction after 10-20 minutes, on the place of the puncture a wheal appears, and the surrounding skin becomes red. The reaction is accompanied with itching. Sometimes a stronger allergic reaction can occur.

A list of collective allergens for the PRICK test

Grass pollen (Alopecurus pratensis - Meadow Foxtail, Agrostis alba - Redtop, Anthoxanthum odoratum - Sweet Vernal Grass, Cynodon dactylon - Dog's Tooth Grass, Dactylis glomerata - Orchardgrass, Festuca elatior - Darbyshire, Lolium perenne - Perennial Ryegrass, Phleum pratense - Timothy-grass, Poa pratensis - Smooth Meadow-grass, Secale cereale - Rye, Triticum sativum - Common Wheat, Zae mays - Maiz)

Weed pollen (Ambrosia elatior – Common Ragweed, Artemisia vulgaris – Common Wormwood, Solidago canadensis – Canada Golden-rod, Rumex acetosella – Sheep's Sorrel, Plantago lanceolata – Ribwort Plantain, Parietaria Judaica – Spreading Pellitory, Taraxacum officinale – Common Dandelion, Urtica Dionica – Common Nettle)

Tree pollen (Corylus avellana – Common Hazel, Betula verrucosa – Weeping birch, Sambucus nigra – Elderberry, Tilia cordata – Small-leaved Linden, Pinus nigra – European Black Pine, Robinia pseudoacacia – Black Locust, Salix alba – White Willow, Populus alba – White Poplar, Platanus acerifolia – London Plane, Alnus incana – Grey Alder, Qurcus robur – English Oak, Aesculus hippocastanum – Horse-chestnut)

Mediterranean tree pollen (Olea europea – Olive tree, Quercus ilex – Holm Oak, Pinus nigra dalmatica – Dalmatian Black Pine, Pinus halapensis – Aleppo Pine, Cupressus sempervirens – Mediterranean Cypress, Carpinus orientalis – Oriental Hornbeam)
House dust + Dermatophagoides pteronyssiumus (European house dust mite)

Animal hair (dog hair, cat hair, rabbit fur, sheep fleece, cow hair, pig hair, horse hair)

Feathers (chicken feather, goose feather, duck feather, turkey feather)

Vegetal fiber (cotton, common flax, hemp, seaweed, corn stalk, straw)

Fabric (wool fabric, silk, synthetics)

Fungi (Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger)

Bacteria (Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus viridans, Streptococcus pyogenes, Neisseria catrrhalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus albus, Staphylococcus aureus, Difteroid)

Insects (bee, wasp, hornet)

Egg (egg white, yolk)

Milk (cow milk, cheese, blue-veined cheese)

Meat I (beef, veal, pork, lamb)

Meat II (horse meat, chicken, mutton)

Sea fish (pilchard, hake, tuna, mackerel)

Fresh-water fish (carp, European catfish, pike, trout)

Shrimp

Edible mushrooms (Edible bolete, button mushroom)

Flour (wheat flour, corn flour, barley flour, rye flour, soy four, rice flour)

Vegetable I (cabbage, cucumber, paprika, tomato, carrot, parsley, celery, white onion, red onion, spinach, cauliflower)

Vegetable II (potato, soy bean, beans, peas, runner beans)

Fruit I (peach, apricot, strawberry, raspberry, cherry, sour cherry, currant, melon, water melon, grape)

Fruit II (plum, pear, apple, banana, orange, lemon, grapefruit)

Fruit III (walnut, almond, hazelnut, peanuts)

Positive control (histamine)

Negative control (normal saline)