Prick test

The allergic logical test most frequently carried out and with that a standard examination with which primarily allergies of the immediately type (type I) are provable is the scratch test. The scratch test is already as of the baby age possible, year of life is usually as of 2-3 used, however. If there is the suspicion of allergies, can be certainly by means of scratch test, which causes the symptomatic for substances (allergens). In the Prick test the following large groups can be contained by allergens:

Pollen (e.g. of birch, alder, hazelnut and grasses)
House dust mites
Molds
Animal hairs
Food (milk, eggs and fish egg-white just like legumes and fruit)

At this test 10-20 different solutions are on dripped on the inside of the forearm, this one everybody contains another allergen. Through the guttas the skin then gets one clear with the help of a fine lancet or needle superficially so that the fluid can penetrate into the skin with the allergen and penetrate to the little skin blood vessels by. After 15 to 30 minutes the result can be read: If the patient reacts to one of these allergens, then it comes in the area of the corresponding allergen gutta already after minutes to more or less strong pruritus and is wheal formation, the reaction positively. However, positive test results don't mean compulsorily that the patient is allergic to these substances. A positive test result can be only a suspicion diagnosis for a possible allergy and must be confirmed by further allergy diagnostic procedures. If neither red skin nor wheal formation have to be noticed in the test place, the tested person isn't an increased sensitivity against the corresponding substance. These can be excluded as allergens with that. Also being applied on control solutions at the scratch test as in the case of all other skin tests which make a judgement of the result possible: the negative control contains only common table salt and may not trigger any reaction, the positive control contains histamine, that is the substance which is tipped out also at an allergic reaction and gets most strongly positive. Although the test is very reliably, at molds and food, however, less at pollens, animal hairs, house dust mites and insecticide. All results are therefore usable only in connection with a detailed conversation about previous reactions watched by the patient (anamnesis). The great advantage of the scratch test consists that many different allergens can be tested simultaneously. The test has rapidly and simply to be carried out, hardly painful and very well appropriately as the first screening procedure at allergy suspicion.

The fact that the test can be distorted by certain medicines adversely is. In front of the examination no antihistamines or corticosteroids may therefore be taken, prevent just this allergic reaction and the test result consequently falsely gets negative there. The test also isn't applicable at existing allergy troubles or infections, in addition, none may be skin eczemas on the forearm.

It only comes rarest cases into that one of everyone through the only tiny set of the allergen to anaphylactic reactions with circulatory collapse. The patients should therefore still remain at least 1 hour under a medical observation after execution of the test.


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