A drop of liquid is plopped onto the forearm, a tiny scratch made with a lancet and then there is a wait of about 15 minutes.  In some, the itching begins soon after along with a slight redness. As the minutes tick by there appears a bump.  The verdict is crystal clear — this person is allergic to the dust mite.

Welcome to the state-of-the-art Allergy Clinic with sophisticated machinery established three months ago and run under the expertise of Immunologists Prof. Neelika Malavige and Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, both part of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

As MediScene goes around on Tuesday peering at the forearms of all those who have undergone the ‘Skin-prick Test’ at the Allergy Clinic, we learn that it is a first in the state-health sector. The Allergy Clinic ensconced within the Family Practice Centre set up by the Department of Family Medicine of the Sri Jayewardenepura University in Gangodawila, Nugegoda, performs a wide-range of tests for different allergens for a small fee, it is understood.

The only other state-sector organization that carries out some tests is the Medical Research Institute (MRI), points out Dr. Jeewandara. An allergy, according to Prof. Malavige, is a disorder caused by an abnormal immune reaction to a harmless substance. This substance is referred to as an allergen.

With the Allergy Clinic undertaking tests for food including milk and seafood; respiratory; and drug allergies, quite a number of children, women and men, are referred here by Paediatricians, Physicians as well as General Practitioners.  Citing examples, Dr. Jeewandara says that if a patient with asthma is not responding to medication, a Consultant Chest Physician would send him/her to the Allergy Clinic to get tested for allergens including a fungal allergen.

The tests undertaken include:

• The skin-prick test – for a particular (individual) allergen or a group of allergens. During this test, a drop of the allergen is placed on the forearm, a scratch made with a lancet (a small cutting instrument) and a reaction awaited in 15 minutes.  A bump would indicate that the test is positive and no bump that the test is negative.
• The serum test – a blood test for allergy and Immunocap/RAST.  (Next month: A detailed look at allergies)

Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara

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