In many of the conditions allergic reactions can be prevented. Especially for conditions like asthma, prevention at home forms a significant part of the management¹.

If the allergen cannot be identified clearly, the first step towards prevention of an allergy reaction is to go for allergy testing.

It is a procedure performed at a specialized laboratory. The purpose is to find the exact substance for which the person is hypersensitive to and avoid getting exposure to that substance.

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel guidelines for the management of asthma recommend that patients who require daily asthma medications have allergy testing for perennial indoor allergens and that, when triggers are found, exposure to allergens and pollutants be controlled through avoidance and abatement¹.

The prevention method is mostly dependant on the type of allergen. If it is airborne like dust mites, pollens, etc., use of a powerful air filter inside the house can lead to reduction of attacks. For food allergies, the rule is to avoid the food.

Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last modified: July 21, 2011