Allergology in Palamós: Allergy Diagnosis and Treatment

What is Allergology?

Allergology is the medical specialty that studies allergies and how they present. They may be related to substances we breathe, ingest or come into contact with.

Family history is very important, and if we have an allergic parent the probability of having an allergy is very high.

The most common allergies manifest as rhinitis, asthma, urticaria, atopic dermatitis or eczema, allergic contact dermatitis, food allergies and anaphylaxis.

Thanks to environmental control measures and vaccines or immunotherapy, the patient can overcome most of the restrictions that an allergy predisposes them to.

At Clínica Eupnea, we work on the Allergology specialty together with other respiratory system specialties with the aim of providing the correct diagnosis. If you are looking for an allergologist in Palamós, we are your reference centre.

What do we treat in Allergology?

Our team of allergologists treats a wide variety of allergic diseases, including:

• Allergic rhinitis
• Allergic asthma
• Urticaria
• Atopic dermatitis or eczema
• Allergic contact dermatitis
• Food allergies
• Drug allergies
• Insect sting allergies
• Anaphylaxis
• Immunotherapy (allergy vaccines)

Allergology Diagnostic Studies at Clínica Eupnea Palamós

The diagnostic tests are performed by a specialist in Allergology who issues the reports, prescribes the treatment and also carries out the follow-up of patients.

Skin tests or prick test

Tests for environmental or respiratory allergens that try to reproduce an allergic reaction on the skin by testing with different substances and comparing them with a control sample. It is used to detect allergies to pollen, mould, animal dander, mites, among others.

Epicutaneous tests or patch test

Skin provocation tests aimed at demonstrating allergic contact dermatitis. Patches with standardised quantities of allergens are placed on the patient's skin to observe the reaction over several days.

Spirometry

A test capable of measuring lung capacity. This is achieved through the amount of air the patient can exhale and inhale, and the speed at which they do so. It is a fundamental test for the diagnosis and follow-up of allergic asthma.

Nasal and conjunctival allergic challenge

Tests based on the application of an allergen on the conjunctival or nasal mucous membranes to provoke a characteristic allergic reaction. They allow the diagnosis to be confirmed when other tests are inconclusive.

Bronchodynamic tests

A test with bronchodilators that consists of performing a spirometry after the administration of a bronchodilator. It allows the reversibility of bronchial obstruction to be assessed, which is very useful in the diagnosis of asthma.

Nitric oxide measurement (FENO)

The exhaled nitric oxide test (FENO) measures the degree of inflammation of the airways. It is a very common test for patients with allergic asthma, as it allows monitoring of inflammatory activity and adjusting the treatment in a personalised way.