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Household Allergen Tests: One Family's Story and Accurate Diagnosis
When 5-year-old Mark started having a dry nighttime cough, his mother initially thought it was a cold. A week later, he had a second, third. Syrups didn't help. At night, he had a wheezing sound in his chest, and in the morning, a stuffy nose. But during the day at kindergarten, he had no symptoms. The pediatrician suspected allergies and sent him for tests. It turned out that the cause was... house dust mites and your favorite dog's fur.
This is a typical case when household allergen tests help find the source of the problem where it is not visible. Many symptoms — cough, rhinitis, urticaria, fatigue — can be a manifestation of sensitivity to substances with which we live under the same roof every day.
What do household allergen tests include?
This is not one analysis, but a set of studies that allow you to detect the body's reaction to:
Mold (Aspergillus, Cladosporium, etc.)
Wool, dander, saliva of cats and dogs
Feathers (in pillows)
Cockroaches, insects
Household chemicals (in some cases)
Tests help distinguish household allergies from seasonal or food allergies.
What is special about household allergens?
Household allergens act constantly. This is not pollen that only flies in season. Therefore, the symptoms are:
do not depend on the season
often intensify at night or in the morning
do not completely resolve after treatment
manifest at home or in rooms with textiles
This picture is especially characteristic: the person feels normal outside the house, but at home - he sneezes, coughs, and doesn't sleep well.
How is the diagnosis carried out?
Testing can be performed using two main methods:
Blood test for specific IgE
Determines whether the immune system produces antibodies to a specific allergen
Can be taken at any age
Does not require medication withdrawal
Skin allergy tests
Performed on the inside of the forearm
Gives fast results - in 20 minutes
Not recommended during an exacerbation or when taking antihistamines
Sometimes used allergenic panels, which combine household, pollen, and food components for a comprehensive assessment.
When should you take these tests?
Frequent night or morning cough, without a cold
Permanent sneezing, nasal congestion
Aggravation atopic dermatitis home
Suspected asthma or bronchial obstruction
Symptoms that do not pass between seasons
Child with unexplained respiratory problems
Children who often suffer from "runny nose without fever" are frequent candidates for testing for household allergies.
What to do after receiving the results
Eliminate or minimize contact with the identified allergen
Implement household hygiene: HEPA filters, wet cleaning, pillow replacement
Assign therapy: antihistamines, topical medications
Consider ASIT (allergen-specific immunotherapy) — in children over 5 years old and adults
A test result is not just a number. It a starting point for changes in the environment around you, and a chance to forget about the "eternal cough.".
