If you suffer from frequent headaches, sore throats, runny nose, and cough, you may be experiencing symptoms of allergies rather than a cold or flu. Allergy symptoms manifest in a variety of ways, and some people don’t even realize that their foggy head, migraines, or overall feelings of lethargy are related to allergies. An allergist in Elizabethtown, KY can perform specific allergy tests to help determine what environmental components aggravate your allergies. Once you start receiving proper treatment, will feel better and reclaim your right to good health.
Skin Tests for Adults and Children
The great thing about working with an allergist in Elizabethtown, KY is that he has specialized training and knowledge about allergy symptoms and treatments. Unlike a traditional doctor who has general knowledge of all types of conditions, an allergist spends years studying the effects of allergens on the body. Skin tests are the most common type of allergy tests done on adults and children. Most any age can get a skin allergy test, which involves small pricks of allergens inserted just below the skin. If you’re allergic, the area will swell within 20 to 30 minutes. There are some skin tests where an allergen is injected into the skin using a needle, and these are most often used if you’re trying to narrow down one particular allergen.
Blood Tests for Allergens
In some cases, a skin test isn’t possible. The patient may be taking a medication that would interfere with the results of a skin test, or the person suffers from severe skin allergies and a prick skin test would be too painful. Babies and small children may also get a blood test to avoid having to undergo multiple skin tests. Both blood and skin tests done by the allergist at Accredited Asthma, Allergy & Food Intolerance Center can tell if you’re allergic to dust, pollen, mold, pet dander, or certain foods.
Once your allergist at Accredited Asthma, Allergy & Food Intolerance Center in Elizabethtown KY discovers the cause of your allergies, the appropriate treatments will follow. Some people do well with medications, while others benefit from sprays or inhalants. An allergy test, along with your medical history, is the best way for a doctor to determine your course of treatment and help you get relief from constant allergies.
For more information about working with Dr. C. Steven Smith, an allergist at Accredited Asthma, Allergy & Food Intolerance Center, visit website.