Comprehensive Allergy Management with separate adult and pediatric sections
Allergies are when your immune system reacts to something that isn’t harmful, like pollen or dust. If your eyes get itchy and watery, you might have allergic conjunctivitis. If your skin flares up and itches badly, you might have eczema. If you have allergies in the lungs, you might wheeze or cough. And if you have allergies in the nose, your nasal passages could get inflamed so you’d sneeze a lot and it would be harder to breathe. Therefore we at Mangalore allergy centre aim to offer comprehensive services which can address all of these areas so that a patient can live an allergy-free life. We also have a separate infrastructure for adults and pediatrics.
Skin Prick Tests
This is one of the commonest tests performed to detect what a person is likely to be allergic to. A very tiny amount of purified allergen extract is injected gently and painlessly under the surface of the patient’s forearm skin. After a predetermined time the results are read and interpreted. Based on these findings the treatment plan is decided in consultation with the patient as well as with family.
The primary reasons to perform the skin prick tests are :
– To assess the relative contribution of allergic factors
– To confirm the clinical history
– To underpin advice on avoidance measures.
Blood test and Component IgE Tests
All the routine and advanced blood tests are available at the lab at Maithri Clinics which is serviced by the KMC Lab, one of the most reputed labs in the region. Even a component IgE test can be organized at our centre for those patients who might require it.
Pulmonary Function Tests
The lung function test also known as the pulmonary function test is available in our centre. Nearly a third of patients who suffer from allergic rhinitis or in common language allergy of the nose are also likely to be suffering from asthma. Asthma is nothing but an allergy affecting the lungs. Therefore it becomes important to assess the levels of function the lungs are capable of.
A person undergoing this test will be asked to blow into a machine that is connected to a computer. The machine will be sensing the airflow through it thereby extrapolating the capacity of the lungs to function. This gives valuable information to the treating physician about the probable diagnosis of the condition, the need for any further evaluation in the form of various investigations, and also about the therapeutic modalities that need to be used.
This test also helps in monitoring the progress in the treatment as well as in predicting the final outcomes following therapy. We use a spirometer manufactured in the USA by Vyaire Medical Inc, along with bacterial and viral disposable filters which are manufactured in Germany. By doing this, we minimise any chances of cross infections between patients. The test takes only a few minutes and even children above the age of 4- 5 years are usually able to perform the test
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) test
FeNO stands for fractional exhaled nitric oxide. FeNO devices are a new medical technology that can help in asthma diagnosis. Your breath might reveal if you have inflamed airways when you exhale. The patient’s fractional exhaled nitric oxide is measured using FeNO devices. Nitric oxide is a bio-marker for asthma that shows how much inflammation is present in the lungs.
Endoscopic Evaluation
Endoscopy means “looking inside”. Some of the patients who may be suffering from allergies affecting the ENT region will have to be subjected to an endoscopic examination to ascertain the extent to which these anatomical sites are affected.
At Mangalore allergy centre, we have established a facility to look inside the ear, nose, and throat. We have a facility for both rigid and flexible endoscopies of the ENT area with the latest technology called the ‘chip on tip’ or the video endoscope. Also, we have a separate, very thin, dedicated endoscope for our younger patients and a more elaborate one for adults as well. A patient who has to undergo this test has to just sit on a chair or lie down on a couch while the examination is being performed. This is a painless procedure and takes only 5 minutes in co-operative patients. While performing the examination, it will be simultaneously recorded on the computer.
This helps in discussing the problem with the patient as well as in helping us achieve a clear diagnosis. The patient need not come empty stomach for this examination and can go home immediately after without any medicines for the sake of going through this examination.
Immunotherapy
As the word immunotherapy suggests, in this modality of treatment immune cells of the patient are trained to learn to deal with the allergens in the environment. This is currently the most evidence-based, long-lasting, and advanced therapy available in the holistic management of allergies. Almost all of the current pharmacological therapy or pharmacotherapy available today acts by suppressing the immune reaction or by antagonizing the chemical mediators which are the causative agents in producing the symptoms of allergy.
The advantage of immunotherapy is, if successful, it can control almost all the symptoms of allergy without there being any need for any long-term medicines. Once successful, the treatment can be permanent and lifelong. Unlike in many other areas of medicine, immunotherapy for allergy is simple to use as the route of administration is sublingual or underneath the tongue.
A patient undergoing immunotherapy will have to administer one or two drops of the immunotherapy solution underneath the tongue on specified dates and times for a specified duration. At the end of every three months, the patient will be called in for reassessment of the symptoms.
Laboratory
Facility for chest x-ray or any other x-rays, ultrasound examinations, ultrasonogram, cardiac care valuations are all available at the same centre and will be requested as appropriate depending on each individual case.
Pharmacy
The facility is well supported by Pharmacy. If the patient requires pharmacotherapy of any kind our facility is well supported by a dedicated pharmacy. Authentic and reliable medicines are available at a reasonable cost.
