Does allergic rhinosinusitis require testing to find the cause?

Allergic rhinosinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, caused by environmental allergens such as pollen, animal dander, chemicals, dust, house mites…, not by viruses or bacteria. Symptoms of the disease include itchy nose, continuous sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, itchy throat, reduced sense of smell, itchy eyes…

An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction in the body. When the immune system identifies a foreign or potentially dangerous substance, the body responds by creating antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) to fight the allergen, giving rise to allergy symptoms.

The 60 allergen test uses 60 available allergen samples to determine the cause of allergies in the body. Testing focuses on food groups such as shrimp, crab, fish, squid, milk, apples… and some allergens from the external environment such as dust, dog and cat hair, cosmetics, drugs, and pollen. flower.

Before performing the test, the doctor collects information about medical history, signs, allergic reactions and determines whether the allergy is hereditary or not. If you have allergic rhinitis due to pollen, pet allergies, dust mites… you should perform a 60-allergen test to determine the cause.

Normally, test results for 60 allergens are available within 2-3 days. Patients can take the test at any time of the day, without eating or drinking before the test, unless requested by the doctor. A positive test result helps doctors determine the patient’s allergy level, immunity, and appropriate disease prevention. A negative result means the person tested is not allergic to the allergen sample.

For accurate results, patients should abstain from alcohol, smoking, strenuous activity, and use of medications and dietary supplements. Before the test, patients should inform their doctor of all medications they are taking because some medications can inhibit allergic reactions and affect the results.