Allergy Testing in Bakersfield
Are you suffering from allergies? Or, perhaps you’re experiencing symptoms and are unsure of the cause. Allergy testing at Bakersfield Sinus Center can help you diagnose the source of your allergies and find a treatment option. We welcome patients from Bakersfield and Porterville, CA.
What is Allergy Testing?
Allergy testing is an advanced method of diagnosing your allergies in order to determine the underlying cause. Many patients live their entire lives without knowing what they are allergic to, and may only understand that their allergies flare up on occasion. Sadly, this means that many patients are forced to endure their allergies because they don’t know how to treat them or prevent them.
After allergy testing is performed to diagnose a patient’s allergies, medications and other treatments can be used to minimize the symptoms of allergies and improve a patient’s quality of life.
What Are the Symptoms of Allergies?
There are many symptoms of allergies, most of which vary depending on the type of allergic reaction that a person is experiencing. Some of the most common symptoms of allergies include:
- Sneezing
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Coughing
- Watery or puffy eyes
- Rashes
- Itchiness
Do I Need Allergy Testing?
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above on a regular basis, you may want to consider receiving allergy testing. Additionally, if you suspect that you might have allergies or if allergies are known to run in your family, it may be a good idea to have allergy testing performed.
What is Allergy Testing Treatment Like?
Allergy testing is performed with either skin tests or blood tests. In some cases, both methods may be used in order to improve the accuracy of the results.
Skin tests are among the most common form of allergy testing. During a skin test, a potential allergen is placed on the skin. Once in place, the skin will be gently scratched to allow the allergen to get beneath the skin. If you are allergic, a reaction will occur. If you are not, nothing will happen. A safe and controlled amount of allergens are used for this process, so you don’t need to worry about experiencing any significant side effects.
If you are not a good candidate for the skin test, a blood test may be used. A blood allergy tests measures antibodies in your system. If you’ve ever encountered an allergen that you are allergic to, you will have antibodies in your blood that were created to fight it off. By testing for these antibodies, we can determine what you are allergic to.
What Happens When My Allergies Are Diagnosed?
Once we determine the cause and severity of your allergies, we can recommend an appropriate treatment.
For some patients, the best way to prevent allergies is by avoiding contact with that allergen. For example, if you are allergic to peanuts, the best course of action is to avoid consuming or contacting peanuts.
For other patients, we may recommend over-the-counter medications that include pills, eye drops, or nasal sprays. In other cases, allergen immunotherapy can be effective. This treatment is similar to the technique behind vaccinations. With immunotherapy, allergens are injected into the blood in small increments. Over time, the body will stop developing a reaction to the allergens and your allergy symptoms will be eliminated.
Contact us today at to schedule your initial appointment with Dr. Vadapalli and begin allergy testing and treatment. We are proud to offer this service to the residents of Bakersfield, Porterville, and the nearby areas of California.
