It is estimated that a million cases of allergy remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Unfortunately for them and even for those who have been diagnosed, there are no immunizations or complete treatment for allergies. Experts are one in saying that the best prevention is to be aware of the triggering factors and avoid them.
"The Philippines is not exempted from the rising prevalence of allergy worldwide. Hence, it can benefit from the latest technology that can diagnose early, and help prevent or at least minimize the discomforts and disability caused by allergy," said Dr. Kjell Kristiansen, the regional director for Asia of Sweden-based Pharmacia Diagnostics.
Prof. Benigno Agbayani Sr., MD, one of the pioneers in allergology in the Philippines and a professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, said a major strategy for a more effective control of allergy in the country is for general practitioners to have a high level of consciousness when they deal with potential allergy cases.
"They are the first line in recognizing and treating these allergic conditions, including anaphylactic shock, acute laryngeal edema, status asthmaticus and acute urticaria," Agbayani said.
Metro Manila has already become one of the world’s most polluted cities. It is therefore, no wonder that the bulk of the 10 million allergy cases reported around the country, is concentrated in the metropolis. The statistics is alarming but the situation can be controlled, especially now that the latest, state-of-the-art allergy diagnosis system has been simultaneously installed at independent laboratory centers in both North and South Manila.
Mt. Gilead Medical and Diagnostics Services Inc. in Las Piñas City and Best Diagnostics in Quezon City are two of the latest private laboratories where Pharmacia UniCAP 100E, a state-of-the art equipment for testing allergy, asthma and auto-immune diseases, was recently installed.
In the UniCAP system, a blood sample is all that is needed to determine which of the over 500 allergens causes the patient’s specific allergic reaction. According to medical experts, Filipinos have become sensitized to a wide range of allergens present in the food they eat, the medications they take, and the environment they live in.
According to Kristiansen, many healthcare professionals in Asia are still unaware of even the common possible symptoms of allergy like recurring cough and running nose with sneezing at early morning. Doctors usually regard this as a respiratory symptom when in most cases, these are actually allergy symptoms. They are given various cough preparations and antibiotics, which only give palliative or temporary relief. The only way to prevent it from recurring is identifying and avoidance of allergens.
Agbayani and Kristiansen agree that there is a need for general practitioners and pediatricians to collaborate with allergy specialists by doing the screening of patients with allergy symptoms. The role of pediatricians is important because they are the ones who would be detecting the early stage of allergic symptoms, such as stomach problems during infancy which may eventually move on to the next stage in the form of eczema and dermatitis until they develop into allergic asthma during adulthood. This is called the allergic march.
"The acquisition of UniCAP 100E by two leading laboratories – Best Diagnostics and Mt. Gilead – is a welcome development in allergology in the Philippines," Kristiansen said. These two laboratories are a good addition to the more than 8,000 major laboratories worldwide that are armed with the Pharmacia UniCAP technology.
"We believe in keeping up with the latest technology in medical diagnostics. Through the versatile and state-of-the-art technology of UniCAP, we can now address the needs of our allergy patients," said Marlene Tan, president and general manager of Mt. Gilead.
A scientific meeting has been organized to discuss allergy diagnosis and treatment, and the role of the Pharmacia UniCAP system at Mt. Gilead Medical and Diagnostics Services Inc. The meeting is open to all medical practitioners and interested parties, especially those in the Southern Manila area. It will be held on March 20, 6 p.m., at the Ayala Alabang Country Club. Interested physicians may contact Trianon Diagnostics at 892-0723 to 24 or Mt. Gilead at 872-6931 or 871-4627.
There are now 24 hospitals and major laboratories where the UniCAP technology may be availed of. These are Makati Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, The Medical City, UERM Medical Center, Victor Potenciano Medical Center, Manila Adventist Medical Center, St. Martin Maternity and Pediatric Hospital, Perpetual Help Medical Center, Bautista Hospital, LMC Hospital, Crisostomo General Hospital, Our Savior Hospital, Advent Specialist, Asia Pacific Laboratory, Asiatic Laboratory, Best Diagnostic Inc., Clinica Manila, Healthway Medical Clinics (all branches), Medic World, Medipoint, Mt. Gilead Diagnostics and Medical Services, Our Lady of Mercy Diagnostics Center (Davao), and Sims Laboratory.