Allergies Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis

To evaluate whether you have an allergy, your health care provider will likely:

• Ask detailed questions about signs and symptoms
• Perform a physical exam
• Have you keep a detailed diary of symptoms and possible triggers

If you have a food allergy, your provider will likely:

• Ask you to keep a detailed diary of the foods you eat
• Ask if you've stopped eating the suspected food during the allergy evaluation

Your provider might also recommend one or both of the following tests. However, be aware that these allergy tests can be falsely positive or falsely negative.

• Skin test. Your skin will be pricked with small amounts of the proteins found in common allergens. If you're allergic, you'll likely develop a raised bump (hive) at the test location on your skin.
• Blood test. Specific IgE (sIgE) blood testing, commonly called radioallergosorbent test (RAST) or ImmunoCAP testing, measures the amount of allergy-causing antibodies in your bloodstream, known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. A blood sample is sent to a medical laboratory, where it can be tested for evidence of sensitivity to possible allergens.

If your provider suspects your problems are caused by something other than an allergy, other tests might help identify — or rule out — other medical problems.

Treatment

Allergy treatments include:

• Allergen avoidance. Your provider will help you take steps to identify and avoid your allergy triggers. This is generally the most important step in preventing allergic reactions and reducing symptoms.
• Medications. Depending on your allergy, medications can help reduce your immune system reaction and ease symptoms. Your provider might suggest nonprescription or prescription medication in the form of pills or liquid, nasal sprays, or eyedrops.

• Immunotherapy. For severe allergies or allergies not completely relieved by other treatment, your provider might recommend allergen immunotherapy. This treatment involves a series of injections of purified allergen extracts, usually given over a period of a few years.

  Another form of immunotherapy is a tablet that's placed under the tongue (sublingual) until it dissolves. Sublingual drugs are used to treat some pollen allergies.

• Emergency epinephrine. If you have a severe allergy, you might need to carry an emergency epinephrine shot at all times. Given for severe allergic reactions, an epinephrine shot (Auvi-Q, EpiPen, others) can reduce symptoms until you get emergency treatment.

Clinical trials

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Some allergy symptoms improve with home treatment.

• Sinus congestion and hay fever symptoms. These often improve with saline nasal irrigation — rinsing out the sinuses with a salt and water solution. You can use a neti pot or a specially designed squeeze bottle to flush out thickened mucus and irritants from your nose. However, improper use of a neti pot or other device can lead to infection.
• Household airborne allergy symptoms. Reduce your exposure to dust mites or pet dander by frequently washing bedding and stuffed toys in hot water, maintaining low humidity, regularly using a vacuum with a fine filter such as a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and replacing carpeting with hard flooring.
• Mold allergy symptoms. Reduce moisture in damp areas, such as your bath and kitchen, by using ventilation fans and dehumidifiers. Fix leaks inside and outside your home.

Alternative medicine

Clinical practice guidelines suggest that some people with allergic rhinitis may benefit from acupuncture.

Preparing for your appointment

For symptoms that could be caused by an allergy, see your primary health care provider. You might be referred to a provider who specializes in treating allergies (allergist).