Improve asthma control with the help of specific IgE blood testing

Once you identify the exact allergens, and reduce exposure to them, you may help to:

reduce emergency hospital
visits for asthma by 29%^1,2

In children with a confirmed allergy to house dust mites, using mite impermeable bedding reduced the number of children admitted to hospital by 29% over a year²

reduce asthma
symptoms by 30%³

Improving indoor environments can reduce asthma symptoms by 30%³

reduce the amount
of medication used by up to 70%⁴

Testing and appropriate exposure reduction, led to a:

11% reduction in antihistamine use⁴

70% reduction in reliever (bronchodilator) use⁴

51% reduction in preventer (corticosteroid) use after two years⁴

STEP 1: Get your child tested to confirm their allergic triggers with a 'Specific IgE blood test'

Why test for allergic triggers?

Asthma and allergies often go hand-in-hand. Most people with asthma also have allergies,^5-7 and many are allergic to more than one thing.¹³ Very often it is an allergy that is triggering their asthma symptoms.

If you can identify the key substances your child is allergic to, and take steps to avoid all those things (called 'allergens') as much as possible, you could have a big impact on reducing their asthma symptoms and improving their quality of life.^1,10,11

In up to 90%
of children
it is an underlying allergy that triggers their asthma.^8,9

Which test should I ask for?

There are two scientifically validated ways to test for allergic triggers: the 'specific IgE blood test' and the 'skin prick test'.¹²

You may have come across other tests that promise quick and easy answers, but the truth is that you won't find accurate answers, as these tests have absolutely no scientific relevance and are proven to be ineffective in diagnosing allergies.¹⁰

'Specific IgE blood test'¹²

ImmunoCAP is the gold standard, scientifically proven, most comprehensive, allergy specific IgE blood test used for identification of allergic triggers.*
No danger of allergic reactions as the blood is tested in the laboratory, and no allergens are introduced to your child

The widest range of allergens available (e.g. different pollens, mould, food, animal hair and skin)^*
Measures the antibodies (IgE) in the blood, helping your doctor confirm what your child is allergic to

^*Your healthcare professional will work with you to identify the most appropriate allergens to test for. The ImmunoCAP^™ Specific IgE blood test can test for up to 600 allergens and 100 allergen components. 1 ml of blood can test for up to 10 allergens

In a 'skin prick test' there is a risk of an immediate allergic reaction, rarely, this can be a severe reaction. The skin is scratched/pricked with a very thin needle and tiny amounts of the suspected allergen are put into the skin (testing for more than one allergen requires multiple skin pricks).

Next steps...

Visit your doctor and ask for a specific IgE blood test

Doctor develops a customised treatment plan for your child

STEP 2: Reduce exposure to their confirmed allergic triggers from step 1.

Reducing exposure to allergic triggers can improve asthma^1-4

A child's asthma can be brought on by 'triggers':

Non-allergic triggers

e.g. cold or dry air, exercise, cigarette smoke or strong scents, the flu and other respiratory infections¹³

Allergic triggers

These are substances that cause an allergic reaction, triggering the asthma - e.g. pollen, dust mites, food

Many people with asthma are
allergic to more than
one thing.¹³

Triggers add up to symptoms

Allergic and non-allergic triggers add up.

Your child's preventer medication aims to keep the inflammation caused by these triggers under control. However, in pollen season, when your child exercises, gets a virus, or is around the cat:

Do they struggle to breathe?
Are they using their reliever inhaler more?
Do they need to have time off school?
Do they need oral steroids?
Do they need to go to hospital for emergency care?

This is because that one extra trigger has pushed them over the edge and they have passed their symptom threshold.^3,10

Once your child's doctor has confirmed what they are allergic to, there are many different practical steps you can take to help improve their asthma.

Good news: A chance to keep the family dog?

It's not always obvious, Imagine if you always thought your child was allergic to your dog, but then the blood test showed they weren't, they were actually sensitised to dust mites.

Frequently Asked Questions

I've been told my child has virally-induced asthma, do I need to get them tested?

Yes, 90% of children with asthma have allergic triggers^3,10 - the virus is the trigger that could tip your child over the edge, past the point where their medication can keep the inflammation under control. By controlling the allergic triggers you can help prevent your child from passing their symptom threshold losing control when they have a virus - virally-induced asthma is in fact, often, allergy driven.

Can I get this test done privately?

The test is available on the NHS, however, If you would rather seek a test privately there are several options available.

My doctor said the specific IgE blood test isn't available - what do I do?

Specific IgE is widely available in Europe. Sometimes it's listed as ImmunoCAP^™ or sIgE or RAST. If your doctor maintains it's not available then you can ask for a referral to a specialist or seek it privately.

References

Morgan WJ, et al. N Engl J Med. 2004;351(11):1068-1080.
Murray CS, et al. Am J Respir Crit care Med 2017;196(2):150-158.
Wickman M. Allergy 2005;60 (suppl 79):14-18.
Zethraeus N, et al. Italian Journal of Pediatrics 2010;36:61.
Roberts G, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003;112:168-74.
Liu AH, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010;126:798-806 e13.
Allen-Ramney F, et al. JABFP. 2005;(18)5 434-439.
Host A, Halken S. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2003; (4) 312-318.
Eggleston PA. lmmunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2003;23(3):533-547.
Halken S, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003;111:169-76.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. How to Do Doctors Diagnose Allergies. http://www.aafa.org/page/allergy-diagnosis.aspx. Accessed September 2017.
Ciprandi G, et al. Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;40 (3);77-83.
SÃ¡nchez-Borges M, et al. WAO White Book on Allergy 2011. 4;S4.1:101-105.

Your child's future is in your hands

Ask your doctor now

You have the power to help improve your child's asthma

The Facts