Airborne or Inhalant Allergy

Part of the immune system's role is to protect the body from infections from various microorganisms, but sometimes it overreacts to what is typically a harmless substance.  This overreaction is known as an allergic reaction.  Common airborne or inhalant allergens include pollen, dust, dust mite, mold, animal dander. The classic example of inhalant allergy is hayfever when people develop symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes and asthma because of allergy to pollen.

Allergy symptoms are all mediated by the release of histamine, hence, the use of antihistamines to treat allergy. You should be aware, however, that there is more to an allergic reaction the release of histamine.  Allergic reactions also involve the release of numerous inflammatory mediators.  In essence, allergic reactions are basically inflammatory in nature and all organ systems are susceptible inflammation.  Inflammation in the nose causes congestion; inflammation in the lungs-asthma; inflammation in the gut-"irritable bowel syndrome"; inflammation in the joints-joint pain/arthritis.

Inhalant Allergy Testing

The methods used at this clinic for testing allergic responses to inhalants such as dust, molds, pollens and dander is called Serial Dilution Endpoint Titration (SDET) and probably different from allergy testing you have had in the past. SDET is an accurate and quantitative method of skin testing used to precisely diagnose environmental allergies. Scratch and prick tests are not quantitative. SDET testing and interpretation techniques are well standardized, while this is not the case with other forms of skin testing. SDET testing allows a safe and effective starting dose to begin desensitization, which can be determined quickly and individually for each allergen tested. This is not possible with single dilution tests such as scratch, prick and the usual intradermal tests.