Diagnosis | Mould allergy

Diagnosis

It is very difficult to diagnose an allergy to mold. The diagnosis of the actual allergy is easy, since the symptoms with watery eyes, runny nose, skin itching and possibly difficult breathing are typical for this body reaction. But what ultimately causes this allergy must first be tried to find out by a detailed patient survey.

Here it is especially important to find out when and especially since when these problems occurred, in which environment the patients were before and which activities they have undertaken. It should also be asked whether another allergy is already present and whether family members, e.g. all those living in the same household, are also affected by the symptoms. Typical indications for a mold allergy are previously taken walks outside in warm, humid weather or cleaning the apartment, shaking up cushions or wiping up large amounts of dust.

After that, sudden shortness of breath or difficult breathing occurs, which the patients complain about, possibly also eye burning or tears. Sometimes it is actually described that the son or daughter has suddenly suffered from the same symptoms and that neurodermatitis or bronchial asthma or simple hay fever is already known in the medical history. However, many patient surveys do not allow such a clear conclusion.

Then there is the possibility to carry out an allergy test. There are three different test procedures to diagnose a mold allergy. The first and probably easiest is the prick test or skin test.

In this test, the possible allergens (allergy triggering substances) are applied to the skin. After a few days, the adhesive strip through which the allergens entered the body is removed from the skin and it is examined on which area of skin a reddened or changed skin area can be seen. This then indicates a corresponding hypersensitivity to this substance located at this point.

However, this test is not very reliable and a negative reaction does not necessarily mean that no allergy exists. Another possibility is the provocation test. Here the allergen is given directly into the respiratory tract, for example by nasal spray, and a direct reaction is thus induced.

This method is much more reliable than the prick test, but also much more unpleasant for the person concerned. Finally, a blood test can also be done. For this purpose, blood is taken from the patient and it is checked whether the patient has formed special antibodies.

Antibodies of the IgE class are particularly interesting here, as these are often associated with allergies.However, this test is only meaningful in combination with corresponding complaints of the patient and a positive skin or provocation test, as it is not possible to say exactly which substance caused the increase in antibodies. Another possibility is the provocation test. In this test, the allergen is given directly into the respiratory tract, for example by nasal spray, and a direct reaction is thus induced.

This method is much more reliable than the prick test, but also much more unpleasant for the person concerned. Finally, a blood test can also be done. For this purpose, blood is taken from the patient and it is checked whether the patient has formed special antibodies. Antibodies of the IgE class are particularly interesting here, as these are often associated with allergies. However, this test is only meaningful in combination with corresponding complaints of the patient and a positive skin or provocation test, as it is not possible to say exactly which substance caused the increase in antibodies.