Allergology
Physician in charge:
Ilona Szigeti MD
pulmonologist,
allergologist, senior clinical immunologist
Nursing staff:
Jánosné Jelen
certified nursing assistant
Office hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:00-15:00
Referral slip required for first visit.
Phone: +36 52
511-883
Key disease profile:
The unit deals with
diagnosis and long term treatment of respiratory, alimentary,
metallic, and chemical allergies. Therapeutic interventions include
those for pulmonological diseases (asthma, bronchitis, smokers'
problems, coughs, inflammations, etc.).
Interventions, diagnosis:
In the diagnostic procedure
for allergic and pulmonological patients, we use painless cutaneous
examinations supplemented by a set of technical testing
instrumentation available.
Allergies are a public health issue today. Simply put, allergy is the overreaction of the immune system to otherwise harmless exposures such as to pollens, food, and animal danders. Allergic reactions are typically of the evolving nature, starting with skin rashes, a runny nose, sneezing, to then turn into asthma or even severe anaphylactic shock if left untreated. Allergy is a potential major quality-of-life challenge and a possible risk factor for life-threatening reactions.
The most frequent allergic diseases are:
- asthma of allergic origin
- hives of allergic origin, sometimes associated with vascular oedema (affecting the face and the airwaves)
- anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction to e.g. insect bites, penicillin, certain food components)
- alimentary allergy
- contact allergy, eczema
- hay fever (seasonal and perennial varieties)
Allergy tests
Allergy tests are performed to identify exactly what respiratory allergens (hay fever, asthma), food allergens (hives) or contact allergens (eczema) play as trigger factors of the allergic symptoms.
1. Prick test
The procedure is used to detect the immediate type allergic reaction, the mechanism behind hives, asthma, and hay fever. The test is rapid, and safe if administered in a medical environment.
The examination involves placing drops of one or more allergen solutions on the forearm skin and gently piercing through the keratin layer underneath them. If the subject is allergic to the substance, a response in the form of a rash, an itchy bump, will develop around the prick site. Evaluation takes place 15 minutes after exposure.
Test subjects should be older than 3 years old and have a sufficient area of intact forearm skin. Eczematic, superinfected skin is not to be burdened with allergy testing. Because the results might be affected by regular or temporary medication used, medical personnel administering the test must be informed about these beforehand. It is important to know that false negative (allergic subject giving no positive reaction, e.g. when on anti-allergic medication) and false positive results (apparent response despite lack of allergy to the substance, e.g. in atopic dermatitis where the pricking procedure itself could provoke a response) are both known to occur.
Skin testing is strongly advised against during and immediately after presence of severe allergic symptoms, during episodes of infectious diseases with fever, in severe asthmatic state, or in other acute illnesses. Skin areas affected by medical disorders or sunburn can not be tested on.
2. Epicutaneous test
Provoking a delayed type allergic reaction, this test is designed to identify trigger agents of contact, external allergen induced eczematic disorders. The procedure involves application of the standard Hungarian series of allergens (30 different allergens known to most frequently cause eczema in the Hungarian population) onto the patient's back. The application takes about 15 minutes, followed by an observation period of a half hour, with the patches removed and a first reading done 48 hours later. A repeat visit is scheduled at 72 hours post application, this second reading serving as the final set of results. The test is designed to diagnose allergies to e.g. metals, fragrances, and colouring substances.
3. Dental allergy testing
In addition to food allergy, pollen allergy, asthma, and eczema, over-sensitivity can also develop to various substances and metals used in dental practice. Allergens present in the oral cavity dissolve in the saliva and enter the blood stream to spread elsewhere in the body. When two different metals such as amalgam and a precious metal co-exist in the mouth, the resulting voltage causes ions to liberate, giving rise to a number of unpleasant symptoms: metallic taste, tingling sensation, drooling, gingivitis, and mucous membrane ulcers.
The most common form of metal hypersensitivity is nickel induced; varieties known to occur include chromium, cobalt, mercury, palladium, silver, copper etc. sensitivity.
The painless procedure involves sticking a test series on the patient's back, removing it 48 hours later for a first reading, completing the process with a second reading after another 24 hours. The timing reflects the fact that contact allergic rashes are known to become indicative of allergy at 72 hours post exposure.
What symptoms indicate the necessity of dental allergy testing?
- burning sensation in the oral cavity
- sensation of metallic or sour taste
- gingivitis, gingival bleeding
- gastric and intestinal symptoms
- hair loss
- chronic fatigue, elevated temperature
- appearance of mucous membrane ulcers
- tingling of tongue
- perioral dermatitis (inflammation, eczema of skin around lips)
- mouth dryness, occasional drooling
Upon experiencing these symptoms and complaints, and also when suggested by a dentist, or for exploratory purposes before dental interventions, it is advisable to undergo a dental allergy testing procedure as the results will assist in selecting the right set of dental materials to be used.
