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Did you know that you should already be seeing an asthma specialist if you have to use a rescue inhaler as little as 1 time per month?
However, many times symptoms are hard to diagnose or may be misdiagnosed.
Patients should be referred to an allergy & asthma specialist if they:
§ Do not meet the goals of asthma treatment after three to six months, or their
doctor believes they are not responding to current treatment
§ Have symptoms that are unusual or hard to diagnose
§ Have co-existing conditions such as hay fever or sinusitis that complicate asthma or its diagnosis
§ Need more tests to find out more about their asthma and the causes of symptoms
§ Need more help and instruction on treatment plans, medicines or asthma triggers
§ Might be helped by allergy shots
§ Need oral corticosteriod therapy or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids
§ Have taken oral corticosteriods more than twice in one year
§ Need help to identify asthma triggers
§ Have had a diagnosis of asthma that is in doubt
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Allergy Skin Testing
The scratch, or more accurately, the prick-puncture test (one of the most common methods) involves placement of a small amount of suspected allergy-causing substances (allergens) on the skin (usually the forearm, upper arm, or the back), and then pricking the skin so that the allergen is introduced under the skin surface. The skin is observed closely for signs of a reaction, usually swelling and redness of the site - a controlled hive with a so-called wheal and flare. Results are usually obtained within about 15-20 minutes, and several suspected allergens can be tested at the same time.
A similar method involves injection of a small amount of allergen within the surface of the skin (intradermal skin testing) to test for allergies in adults as a more sensitive version of the skin prick test.
Immunotherapy
"allergy shots or allergy vaccinations "
A form of preventive and anti-inflammatory treatment of allergy to substances such as pollen, dust mites, fungi and stinging insect venom. It involves administering gradually increasing doses of the substance (allergen) to which the person is allergic. The incremental increases of the allergen cause the immune system to become less sensitive to the substance over time, which reduces the symptoms of allergy when the substances are encountered in the future. The benefits allergy shots can last for years after a full course of treatment.
Administration of Immunomodulatory Agents
Medications that can increase or suppress immune responses of the body, given for autoimmune diseases or immunodeficiency. Administration of Xolair, a novel treatment for asthma, is one of the newest immunomodulatory agents.
Peak Flow
A peak flow meter is a small, hand-held device used to manage asthma by monitoring lung capacity. The peak flow meter measures the patient’s ability to expel air from the lungs, or peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). From these changes in measurement, patients and doctors may determine lung functionality, severity of asthma symptoms, and treatment options.
Pulmonary Function Testing
This is a test that measures how well the lungs perform. It gives doctors an objective measure of how well the lungs are functioning, and is most useful when assessing for obstructive lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Often times, a bronchodilator such as albuterol, may be used in the diagnosis of asthma/COPD.
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