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JUVENIS VouchersAllergies from hay fever to house dust mites
Allergies – Diagnosis and treatment in Vienna
Allergies are misguided reactions of our immune system, which are usually directed against harmless substances in the environment. There are various allergy symptoms: The most common are sneezing, a blocked nose, itchy eyes, and also asthma. In some cases, an allergy can also manifest on the skin as hives.
The diagnosis and therapy of allergies are among the professional focuses of the JUVENIS Medical Center. All procedures for hyposensitization are initiated and also carried out. In addition, modern medications are available for therapy, which lead to rapid relief of symptoms.
Treatments & Therapies
Effective allergy tests
Many allergies can now be clarified very precisely through skin and laboratory examinations. The standard test for diagnosis includes a skin test on the forearm (prick test) and a blood draw. In addition, a breath test can be carried out to check the lungs (lung function test). This specific diagnostic opens up ways to relief or healing. Most allergies are directed against pollen, animal hair, or house dust mites. However, in rare cases, allergies to food, medication, or bee and wasp venom can also occur.
Please contact JUVENIS by phone at +43 1 236 3020, by e-mail at empfang@juvenismed.at or via the contact form, to arrange a consultation or treatment appointment.
What is hay fever and how does it develop?
Finally spring, warm weather, and everything begins to bloom: one person's joy, another's sorrow. The pollen season is starting earlier and earlier, and the number of allergy sufferers has increased significantly in recent years. For almost 2 million Austrians, this is a time of suffering. For pollen allergy sufferers, the nose begins to run, the eyes water, the head aches, and breathing becomes difficult.
Hay fever arises as a result of an oversensitivity of the immune system to proteins from various plant pollens. The allergy triggers reach the mucous membranes via the breath, and the immune system begins a violent inflammatory reaction in the area of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Histamine is released, blood vessels dilate, the tissue swells, and inflammatory cells migrate in. As a result, the nasal mucous membranes swell and the bronchi narrow. Without therapy, an allergy can become dangerous because the complaints of the eyes and nose can spread to the lungs. Allergic asthma can develop from this.
What is an insect venom allergy?
Dermatologist Dr. Christine Bangert from the JUVENIS Medical Center in Vienna explains the topic of insect venom allergy in this video:
- When do we speak of an insect venom allergy?
- How does an insect venom allergy develop?
- How many people are allergic to insects?
The video can be viewed online here: Video basics of insect venom allergy
Further online training on this topic can be found at this link: Videos for online training on insect venom allergy
- Understanding insect venom allergy
- Treatment of insect venom allergies
- Emergency anaphylactic shock
Allergy diagnostics
The right diagnosis leads to the right therapy. A detailed allergological history, a skin test, and component-based diagnostics such as the ImmunoCAP microchip test are very helpful.
Treatment procedure prick test (skin test)
The prick test is an examination method to determine whether certain foreign substances such as pollen, mold, house dust mites, animal hair, food, or insect venom should be considered as triggers for allergic symptoms such as hay fever, allergic asthma, or urticaria.
During the prick test, small amounts of the allergen in the form of standardized test substances are dripped onto the skin of the forearm and slightly scratched. Before this, the forearm is disinfected. After 15 to 20 minutes, the test reactions are read. In the case of an existing allergy, itchy wheals appear at the corresponding points.
Video on the prick test
Dermatologist Dr. Tamara Kopp from the JUVENIS Medical Center in Vienna answers the most important questions about the prick test in this video: How it works, whether you should have it done at a certain time of year, and where you can have it carried out. Furthermore, Dr. Kopp discusses what should be considered before the test and whether risks and side effects should be expected.
Treatment procedure epicutaneous test (skin test)
The epicutaneous test, also called a patch test, is used when there is a suspicion of allergies or an allergic reaction due to skin contact with certain substances. These can be preparations for private use (e.g., skin creams, perfumes, etc.) as well as at the workplace (e.g., hairdresser: hair dyes).
For the test, substances are applied to a special test patch, which is fixed to the patient's skin in the upper back area. The patch is left there for approx. 48 hours. Afterward, it is removed, and the result can be read based on the skin reaction.
Treatment procedure blood test
A further step is a blood test, through which it can be specifically determined in component-based diagnostics which protein components are responsible for the allergies. A gentle and accurate method is the ImmunoCAP microchip test, which was developed in Vienna. Only a blood draw is necessary for this. As the only allergy test worldwide, it allows the testing of 112 allergen molecules in one go. Used as a screening method right at the beginning, the test shows important clues to the actual causes of the allergic complaints.
Treatment procedure lung function test
A lung function test is highly advisable in the case of suspicion or already diagnosed allergies that affect the respiratory tract (pollen, house dust, animal hair, mold, etc.). The goal of the lung function test is to record the functional state of the airways and lungs as accurately as possible.
Treatments & Therapies
Blood test – component-based diagnostics – ImmunoCAP microchip test – ALEX test
A further step is a blood test, through which it can be specifically determined in component-based diagnostics which protein components are responsible for the allergies. A gentle and accurate method is the ImmunoCAP microchip test (also ALEX test or Allergy Explorer), which was developed in Vienna. Only a blood draw is necessary for this. As the only allergy test worldwide, it allows the testing of 112 allergen molecules in one go. Used as a screening method right at the beginning, the test shows important clues to the actual causes of the allergic complaints.
lung function test
A lung function test is highly advisable in the case of suspicion or already diagnosed allergy that affects the respiratory tract (pollen, house dust, animal hair, mold, etc.). The goal of the lung function test is to record the functional state of the airways and lungs as accurately as possible.
Please contact JUVENIS by phone at +43 1 236 3020, by e-mail at empfang@juvenismed.at or via the contact form, to arrange a consultation or treatment appointment.
Cross-allergies
With a multitude of allergies to tree, grass, and herb pollen, but also with a house dust mite allergy, cross-reactions with allergens in food can occur. In this process, the immune system reacts to proteins in food that are similar to proteins in pollen and are "confused" by the immune system. Cross-reactions to nuts, stone fruit, and seafood occur particularly frequently.
Typically, a burning sensation or numbness occurs in the area of the lips; the tongue can also swell (oral allergy syndrome). Less frequently, complaints also occur in the larynx, esophagus, and gastrointestinal tract, or even in more distant organs such as the lungs (asthma), skin (hives, paroxysmal redness), or affect the entire organism.
What can you do yourself?
Therapies for allergy and hay fever
In therapy against allergies, we rely on the following 3 pillars:
In specific immunotherapy, effective vaccines against hay fever are used, which modulate the immune system so that it no longer reacts "allergically." This vaccination is an allergen-specific immunotherapy that is administered either subcutaneously (injected under the skin) or taken sublingually (in tablet or drop form). The treatment should be carried out consistently for at least three years to achieve success. Depending on the symptoms, medicinal therapy for symptoms is also sensible.
Allergen-specific immunotherapy is the only form of allergy treatment that acts directly on the causative disease processes. The principle is repeated, controlled contact with an allergy-causing substance (an allergen). It leads to the body slowly losing its hypersensitivity to the allergen.
Treatment procedure specific immunotherapy/hyposensitization
In principle, there are two types of specific immunotherapy/hyposensitization:
- Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT): With SCIT, the allergen is injected under the skin, usually on the back of the upper arm. After the administration of SCIT, we ask you to stay in our waiting area for half an hour. This allows us to intervene in case of any side effects that may occur. There are different treatment schedules. Depending on this, one injection per week may be necessary at the beginning. Later, the intervals between injections extend up to eight weeks. With another schedule, only 4 vaccinations are necessary per year.
- Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT): With SLIT, the allergen is taken as a tablet or in the form of drops under the tongue. The intake should take place at the same time of day and is generally used daily.
Video on the treatment procedure
In our video, a patient of dermatologist Dr. Tamara Kopp shares her personal experiences with subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) against a grass allergy. Find out how the treatment went, what changes it brought, and whether it really helps to finally breathe freely – without constant sneezing and watery eyes!
Please contact JUVENIS by phone at +43 1 236 3020, by e-mail at empfang@juvenismed.at or via the contact form, to arrange a consultation or treatment appointment.
FAQs
An allergy is a overreaction of the immune system to substances that are actually harmless, such as pollen, house dust or animal hair. The body reacts with inflammatory symptoms.
Hay fever is a form of allergy in which affected individuals react to pollen from trees, grasses or herbs react. The symptoms usually occur seasonally.
Typical symptoms are:
sneezing and runny nose
itchy, watery eyes
nasal congestion
skin reactions or itching
in some cases breathing difficulties
The diagnosis is made through:
detailed medical history
Allergy tests (e.g. prick test)
if necessary, blood tests
This allows the triggering allergens to be identified precisely.
Treatment depends on the type and severity of the allergy and may include:
anti-allergic medications
local therapies (e.g. nasal sprays or eye drops)
avoidance of triggers
specific immunotherapy (hyposensitization)
The symptoms can be treated effectively. A hyposensitization can, in the long term, help significantly improve or even reduce the allergy.
After diagnosis, an individual treatment plan is created. This may include medications, behavioral measures, and, if applicable, an immunotherapy include.
In hyposensitization, the body is gradually accustomed to the allergen. As a result, the immune system reacts less strongly to the trigger in the long term.
Helpful measures include:
avoidance of known allergens
regularly airing rooms at times with low pollen
nasal rinses
appropriate skin and mucosal care
You should see a dermatologist if:
symptoms occur regularly
the symptoms worsen
quality of life is impaired
breathing difficulties occur
Costs depend on the scope of the examinations and treatment. An initial consultation for allergy costs from €190. A lung function test costs €150.
The Exact prices will be provided in a personal consultation..
Since this is a medical treatment, a (partial) coverage of costs by the health insurance is often possible.
At JUVENIS you will be cared for by by experienced specialists in dermatology and allergology is managed. Through modern diagnostics, targeted therapies, and individually tailored treatment concepts, a long-term relief of your symptoms and improvement of your quality of life aimed for.
We have answered the most frequently asked questions on the topic of Allergy answered. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us via empfang@juvenismed.at or at +43 1 236 3020.
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Responsible for the content of this page: a.o. Univ. Prof. Dr. med. Tamara Kopp, OÄ Dr. med. Christine Bangert, OÄ. Dr. med. Elli Katherina Greisenegger, OÄ Dr. med. Tamara Arnoldner