In the assessment of Chronic Rhinitis examination for possible allergy as cause of mucosa hypereactivity is often important. The most reliable way to do this is Allergy Skin Prick Testing.

Drops of specially produced dilutions, containing allergens (substances that can induce allergic reaction), are carefully placed on the inner surface of the arm, at positions marked with numbers. A small plastic lancet makes a minute superficial abrasion under each drop. If there is allergy to the specific allergen, after a few minutes a skin reaction is noted, with local swelling and redness of the skin. The reaction is measured and compared with the reaction to the positive control, which is histamine, a substance produced in allergy. The result is read after 15 to 20 minutes. Skin prick testing is a safe and painless diagnostic procedure.

For accurate interpretation of the skin test result, correlation with the patient’s history is mandatory.

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