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Yong Loo Lin
School of Medicine

Conquering allergies

Published: 19 Jun 2016

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Dr Soh Jian Yi, Consultant at NUH’s Division of Paediatric Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, warned against unproven allergy tests online and provided by doctors untrained in allergy. He said there are two types of tests that are proven and effective in diagnosing allergies – skin and blood tests for specific Immunoglobin E (IgE), an antibody. The unproven and unvalidated allergy tests to be wary of include Alcat (antigen leukocyte antibody test), bioresonance and IgG (Immunoglobulin G).

In response to the incident in which a boy had severe allergic reaction due to air inhalation of peanuts particles on board a flight, Dr Soh said that such occurrences are rare but possible.

Common allergic reactions include eczema and allergic rhinitis. Dr Soh advises parents to bring along emergency medication and check for peanut-free flights when they travel.

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