Allergies. and their diagnosis

Transcription

1 Allergies and their diagnosis

2 What are allergies? Allergies are very common in Australia and they are on the increase in both adults and children. About one in three people will be affected at some time in their lives. An allergy is an overreaction by the body s immune system to everyday things that should not normally bother people. Allergens are substances that cause allergies and can be found in the environment. Allergic sensitivity tends to run in families. Most people can have multiple allergies. However, everyone reacts differently; something that is a problem for one person may not be for someone else. Most allergic reactions are due to a particular antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). The first time you are exposed to a substance or allergen you are unlikely to have a major reaction; instead your immune system creates IgE antibodies and you become 'sensitised'. The next time you come into contact with the allergen, the IgE identifies it and triggers the release of chemicals, including histamine, that cause your symptoms. What are common allergens in our area? Food: Cashew, Egg, Milk, Peanut, Soy, Shrimp (prawn), Wheat Environment: Dust mite Grasses: Bahia, Bermuda, Johnson Moulds: Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus Animals: Cat, Dog What symptoms might you experience? Asthma, allergic rhinitis (runny nose), allergic conjunctivitis (weepy eyes), atopic dermatitis (itchy skin), urticaria (hives), upset stomach and bowel. Anaphylaxis is a less common but far more serious reaction that affects the whole body. It can be life-threatening, and requires urgent medical treatment.

3 What tests are available? RAST (Radioallergosorbent test) RAST is a way of testing your blood to confirm what you may be allergic to by looking for antibodies to specific substances. Your doctor will take a detailed clinical history regarding your allergic reactions and exposure to various substances. RAST test is a simple blood test and no other preparation is required. The blood is collected in a single tube and sent to the laboratory for testing. Your doctor will interpret the tests using your clinical history to determine next steps. An extended RAST panel can be performed for an additional fee. Please refer to the tables below for information on extended RAST panels currently available. Extended RAST Food Panel Almond Hazelnut Sesame seed Banana Mango Shrimp (prawn) Cashew Milk (cow) Soybean Codfish Peanut Walnut Egg white Rice Wheat Extended RAST Nut Allergy Panel Almond Macadamia Pine nut Brazil Peanut Sesame seed Cashew Peanut (Ara-h2) Walnut Hazelnut Pecan Extended RAST Combined Allergy Panel (all ages * ) Almond Dust mite Mould mix Cashew nut Egg white Peanut Cat dander Grass mix Shrimp (prawn) Codfish Hazelnut Soy Dog dander Milk (cow) Wheat * Preferable for children (<12 years) due to low serum volume. Extended RAST Inhalant Panel Acacia (wattle) Blomia tropicalis Dust mite Alternaria alternata Cat dander Eucalyptus Aspergillus Cladosporium Horse dander Bahia grass Common ragweed Johnson grass Bermuda grass Dog dander Perennial rye grass

4 Is specialised allergy testing available? Recombinant allergens A traditional RAST test looks for all of the proteins present in a food or substance. Food and environmental allergens are made up of multiple different proteins. Recombinant allergen testing looks at specific characterised proteins within an allergen which may cause allergic symptoms. Recombinant allergens available for testing: Alpha-gal Omega-5 gliadin Peanut (Ara-h2) Please discuss testing options with your doctor. How much does allergy testing cost? Although RAST tests are available for a wide range of allergens, Medicare Australia sets limits on the number, type and frequency of tests you can have. The extended RAST panels cannot be bulk billed and a complex test fee applies. All patients will receive an account with an out-of-pocket cost of $120 after claiming the Medicare rebate. Recombinant allergen tests incur a $60 out-of-pocket cost per allergen. Your Pathologist - Dr Carl Kennedy MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA At SNP, allergy testing is performed by a skilled and experienced team of scientists and pathologists. Dr Kennedy graduated from the University of Queensland and trained in clinical immunology and allergy at the Royal Brisbane Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital. Dr Carl Kennedy Dr Kennedy works in both laboratory and clinical practice in allergy and immunology. He actively participates in the education of practitioners in allergy management and diagnosis. Carl works in Brisbane and Toowoomba and sees both children and adults. Dr Kennedy has a special interest in improving the awareness of allergy in the general community and the facilitation of correct management and identification of allergy.

5 How can I have allergy testing performed? Pathology is a medical specialty, so your doctor will need to complete a pathology request form to refer you for allergy tests. Where can I have my blood test collected? Blood collections for RAST tests are performed at our collection centres. No appointment is required. For a full list of collection centres and their opening hours, visit SNP Collection Centres Locator App now available for iphone and ipad and Android DISCLAIMER The images used in this brochure are for illustrative purposes only. They are from stock libraries and the people portrayed in them are models. In no way is it suggested that these people have health problems. SULLIVAN NICOLAIDES PTY LTD ABN A subsidiary of Sonic Healthcare Limited ABN HURWORTH STREET BOWEN HILLS QLD 4006 AUSTRALIA TEL (07) FAX (07) P O BOX 2014 FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006 AUSTRALIA Details correct at the time of printing. May be subject to change without notice. Meridio / Item September 2018