Allergies aren’t curable, but they are treatable and manageable. Effective treatment is available for the vast majority of allergic reactions.

Whatever the allergy or intolerance, whatever the symptoms or level of severity, effective treatment and management begin with correct medical diagnosis. The first step to prevention is identifying the cause.

Allergy testing and diagnosis

Allergy Medical uses a number of testing, screening and diagnostic techniques. Depending on the symptoms, these may include:

• skin prick tests

• blood tests

• patch tests

• keeping a symptom diary

Allergy Medical’s testing procedures are not painful or stressful, even for infants. Our most common allergy testing procedure is the skin prick test, which can provide an answer within minutes—often enabling diagnosis within one visit.

Non-medical methods of testing for allergy—such as Vega, Alcat, kinesiology, iridology and pulse testing—are not recognised as accurate or reliable. The procedures are not proven, and the results are neither consistent nor reproducible. These techniques often result in false diagnosis, and treatment with remedies that are neither required nor proven effective. These tests and treatments are often also very expensive.

(In June 2011, the Federal Court imposed penalties totalling $185 000 against two companies and two individuals for making false claims and misleading consumers about their allergy testing and treatment procedures. Read the ACCC’s media release here.)

Allergy treatment, management and prevention

Once the allergy or intolerance has been correctly diagnosed, a plan can be developed for effective treatment, management and prevention. Depending on the allergy or intolerance, this may involve:

• managing/avoiding the identified allergic triggers

• medication—the most effective and safest treatments for your particular symptoms

• immunotherapy or desensitisation—building up tolerance of an allergen

Put simply, Allergy Medical will identify the problem, and explain how to manage it.

Diagnosis and treatment procedures and timeframes vary from case to case. This will be clarified on your first visit to Allergy Medical.