Allergy diagnosis enhanced

The incidence of allergy-related medical problems is increasing not only in Metro Manila but in the provinces as well. The inappropriate use of antibiotics for recurrent coughs and colds of allergic cause has alarmed medical experts, and the need for a reliable test that would assist ordinary physicians to diagnose allergy accurately is imperative.

Davao City will soon have a boost in its capacity to detect allergy-related conditions. The UniCAP System, a state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment found in many modern centers around the world, will soon be installed at the Our Lady of Mercy Diagnostic Center (OLMDC).

The system performs a fully automated procedure requiring only a small amount of blood to help diagnose and evaluate patients with suspected allergies, bronchial asthma and auto-immune diseases such as lupus.

Local allergy experts are concerned that many cases of allergy remain undetected, hence, inadequately treated. It is estimated that more than 20 percent of the population have allergic problems but less than half of afflicted patients are diagnosed.

Signs & symptoms

They may manifest with different signs and symptoms. Aside from recurrent coughs and colds, the allergic patient may complain about itchiness in the eyes and throat, stomach or bowel problems, and skin eruptions. It can also be serious and fatal as in the case of an anaphylactic reaction where the allergic patient may literally choke to death.

According to medical experts, allergy has become more prevalent as Filipinos become sensitized to a wide range of allergens, which are substances causing the allergy. Allergens may be present in the food we eat, the medications we take, and in the surrounding environment, especially with the worsening air pollution.

According to a latest survey, there are around seven million Filipinos afflicted with various types of allergies, roughly 10 percent of the population. The actual number of allergic patients, however, may be more than double this figure since many are undiagnosed.

"I believe that there is a need to diagnose and detect allergy at a very early stage so that we can properly treat and monitor the patient’s allergic status over the years," says Dr. Juanito Padilla, OLMDC’s chief pathologist.

Padilla explains that the patient’s allergic status can be monitored because although an allergy shows itself in many ways and has many causes, it follows a common pattern that develops over age.

‘Allergy march’

The development of allergy in relation to age can be described as an "allergy march." Allergies in the first stages of life are usually caused by food allergens, later developing into various allergies caused by inhalant allergens.

According to Dr. Ronald Dahl, an international authority on allergy, an early sensitization in the gastro-intestinal tract would later manifest itself as symptoms in the respiratory tract, which then heralds the "allergy march." For a successful long-term management of allergic patients, allergy experts consider it essential to identify and reduce exposures to relevant allergens and irritants as early as possible.

In the UniCAP system, a simple blood sample is all that is needed to determine which among the over 500 allergens causes the patient’s specific allergic reaction. This would enable the doctor to prescribe the best treatment plan, which may include medication as well as avoidance of the sources of the offending substances.

The UniCAP system is specially designed to complement the commonly used skin-prick technique for blood testing. It is recommended especially for infants, the elderly with wrinkled skin and for patients with extensive allergy injury or extreme sensitivity to allergens. It is also a better option for patients who fear multiple skin-pricking.

The UniCAP system has extremely high sensitivity and specificity which are measures of accuracy. It is calibrated according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

Global prevalence

Dr. Kjell Kristiansen, regional director for Asian distribution of Pharmacia Diagnostics, noted during a recent lecture here that the prevalence of allergy diseases is around 30 to 40 percent of the global population. He also emphasized the need for early detection to institute allergen avoidance.

The UniCAP technology is used by seven out of 10 allergy laboratories in Europe, Japan and most Asian countries. It is now installed in more than 300 of the most modern hospitals and laboratories in Asia.

The UniCAP technology was developed by Pharmacia Diagnostics, based in Uppsala, Sweden. Pharmacia is the world leader in in-vitro diagnostic research and product innovation.

OLMDC is a leading laboratory in Davao, pioneering in diagnostics. The incoming installation of UniCAP 100 in the diagnostic center is the first outside of Metro Manila.

Currently, the state-of-the-art UniCAP allergy technology is available at leading hospitals and laboratories such as the Makati Medical Center, Manila Doctor’s Hospital, The Medical City, Asiatic Medical Laboratory, Healthway Medical Clinics (all branches), Asia Pacific Diagnostic Laboratory (all branches), Perpetual Help Medical Center, Advent Specialist Care, Sim’s Medical Laboratory and the Medic World.

For other queries on allergies and OLMDC’s allergy testing, interested parties may log on to www.isitallergy.com or call Trianon International Inc. at 892-0723 to 24, or visit the Makati Medical Center.