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Asthma & Allergy Associates of Florida specializes in both Pediatric Allergy & Immunology as well as Adult Allergy & Immunology. If you are in need of treatment for your allergies or asthma, we would be very happy to care for you.
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Asthma and Allergy Associates of Florida The Allergy Group
Allergy Services & Testing Skin Testing for Allergies Food Testing Allergen Avoidance Counseling The Skin Test Procedure Insect Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy Drug Testing and Challenges Pulmonary Function Testing Patch Testing for Contact Dermatitis Allergen Immunotherapy (“Allergy Shots”)
Skin Testing for Allergies • Skin testing is the most reliable form of allergy testing. Because histamine-containing cells are located in high numbers just under the skin, results of skin testing have proven to be more accurate than blood testing in diagnosing allergies. • Skin testing is ideal for diagnosing allergies to airborne allergens that can lead to allergic rhinitis and asthma, and can be helpful in diagnosing food allergy. Skin testing is also commonly used to diagnose insect allergy and occasionally drug allergy.
Skin-Diagnosis and Treatment The surface of your skin is pricked or "scratched" with tiny amounts of a number of specific allergens. If the results are positive, a small reaction on the skin occurs, usually within 20 minutes. This reaction usually causes some itchiness and is very similar to a mosquito bite. This indicates that you are very allergic to that specific trigger. If no bump appears, we normally do a follow up test to that specific allergen with another small injection of extract. Depending on the results of your skin test, your allergist will determine the best way to treat your allergy symptoms.
Allergen Immunotherapy (“Allergy Shots”) Allergen Immunotherapy is a treatment program designed to reduce allergic sensitivity to environmental substances (allergens like dust mite, mold, animal dander and pollens). Extracts of these substances are injected over a period of time. These extract mixtures are basically vaccines that teach your immune system to ignore these normally harmless substances. They do not contain any drugs. They are just a combination of proteins that make up the allergens and are safe for children and adults.
Pulmonary Function Testing We use state-of-the-art spirometry equipment to test lung function. These tests are performed when a patient has difficulty breathing or is chronically coughing. By determining the amount (volume) and/or speed (flow) of air that can be exhaled, we can measure bronchial obstruction. It is used to diagnose asthma or determine the severity of the disease. To perform the test, the patient is asked to take the deepest breath they can, and then exhale into the device as hard as possible, for as long as possible. Then the patient is asked to rapidly inhale, in particular when assessing possible upper airway obstruction. Then the test is repeated after a bronchodilator treatment to determine if there is an improvement typically seen in asthma.
