| abstract:
Over the last two decades, the attention for allergy has increased enormously. Not only because much more has become known about the background of allergy, but also because of a worldwide increase of allergy. In Western countries, it is estimated that approximately 20-25% of the population has allergic diseases, such as hay fever, asthma, and eczema.
The symptoms of an allergic reaction can vary from a runny nose to a skin rash. If you suffer from one or more symptoms that could be an indication for allergy, it would be useful to do
an Allergy HomeTest.
Meerburg
Pharmacy has a HomeTest available for international mail order. Allergy
Total HomeTest
A rapid screening for allergy
The Allergy TOTAL HomeTest works as a fast screening for the presence of allergy. Symptoms pointing at allergy can be explained and necessary steps can be taken to deal with them or to find the specific cause of the allergy.
With the included convenient fingerpricker you can obtain the required amount of blood rather painlessly. Only one drop of blood is needed for the test. The test detects elevated level of IgE antibodies in the blood, which is a indicator for allergy. The test is for single use.
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Introduction
Over the last two decades, the attention for allergy has increased enormously. Not only because much more has become known about the
background of allergy, but also because of a worldwide increase of allergy. In
Western countries, it is estimated that approximately 20-25% of the population has allergic diseases, such as hay fever, asthma, and eczema.
Factors as air pollution and eating habits seem to play an important role, but
it could also be that people live in better isolated houses than in the past.
The immune system protects the human body against external intruders,
such as bacteria's, moulds and viruses. In case of an allergy, the human body reacts not only to the harmful intruders, but also an substances that are
not harmful. The substances are named allergens. They can intrude the body
through respiratory tract, food or the skin.
When someone is allergic to these allergens, an allergic reaction can occur.
The symptoms of an allergic reaction can vary from a runny nose to a skin rash. Furthermore an allergic reaction can influence the senses and can
cause extreme impediment or can even cause death.
Allergic reactions can be caused by substances in the environment
(allergens). Almost everything can be an allergen to someone. The most common allergens are pollen from trees and grasses, house dust mite,
moulds, pets, insect bites, industrial and domestic chemicals, medicine and
certain types of food.
When someone with a predisposition for allergies is exposed to an allergen
for the first time, the immune system will produce large quantities of IgE. This
process is called sensitization, which means that the person becomes sensitive to that specific allergen. The next time this person is exposed to the
same allergen, the allergen will bind to IgE antibodies on certain cells of the
immune system (mast cells). Asa consequence, these cells release a number of very powerful chemicals, which cause all kinds of symptoms of an
allergy, like swelling of the mucosa, difficulty breathing and sneezing.
The tendency to develop an allergy is genetically determined. An allergy may
develop at any age, however most people get the first symptoms between 15 and 25.
The most common symptoms of an allergic reaction are:
- eyes (itching, redness, swelling and tearing)
- nose (itching, runny or blocked nose, sneezing)
- lungs (shortness of breath, wheezing, and oppresison of the chest)
- gastro intestinal tract (cramps, nausea, diarrhea, bloating, flatulence,
and vomiting)
Order a test
(information)
Elevated concentrations of IgE antibodies indicate an
elevated risk for an allergy. The Allergy HomeTest Total indicates whether
the concentration of IgE antibodies is normal or elevated. Serves as a
rapid screening for allergy, the test enables you to explain the allergy
related symptoms and to take further steps for the determination of the
specific allergen which causes the allergic reaction.
The question list below will help you to determine whether taking an allergy
test will be useful in your case:
- do you regularly suffer from a runny nose, itching eyes or a blocked
nose?
- do you regularly sneeze or cough?
- do you have difficulty breathing through your nose at some times?
- do you sometimes have a sore throat?
If your answer to one of the questions above is yes, it could be that you are
allergic. Taking only the symptoms into account is often difficult to diagnose
an allergy. Many disease share the same symptoms with allergies.
Therefore, it is important to determine whether these symptoms are due to an allergy.
The Allergy HomeTest Total and Indoor are not suitable for children under the
age of 10.
Click here for order information and
how
to order
We will send you the home tests by priority mail in a neutral discrete
envelope (fitting in standard letter-boxes) to ensure your privacy.
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