Exercise 10. Read the text and be ready to discuss it.

Blood allergy tests

For assessing the presence of allergen-specific IgE antibodies, allergy skin testing is preferred over blood allergy tests because it is more sensitive and specific, simpler to use, and less expensive. Skin testing is also known as " puncture testing" and " prick testing" due to the series of tiny puncture or pricks made into the patient's skin. Small amounts of suspected allergens and/or their extracts (pollen, grass, mite proteins, peanut extract, etc.) are introduced to sites on the skin marked with pen or dye (the ink/dye should be carefully selected, lest it cause an allergic response itself). A small plastic or metal device is used to puncture or prick the skin. Sometimes, the allergens are injected " intradermally" into the patient's skin, with a needle and syringe. Common areas for testing include the inside forearm and the back. If the patient is allergic to the substance, then a visible inflammatory reaction will usually occur within 30 minutes. This response will range from slight reddening of the skin to a full-blown hive (called " wheal and flare") in more sensitive patients similar to a mosquito bite. Interpretation of the results of the skin prick test is normally done by allergists on a scale of severity, with +/- meaning borderline reactivity, and 4+ being a large reaction. Increasingly, allergists are measuring and recording the diameter of the wheal and flare reaction. Interpretation by well-trained allergists is often guided by relevant literature. Some patients may believe they have determined their own allergic sensitivity from observation, but a skin test has been shown to be much better than patient observation to detect allergy.

If a serious life threatening anaphylactic reaction has brought a patient in for evaluation, some allergists will prefer an initial blood test prior to performing the skin prick test. Skin tests may not be an option if the patient has widespread skin disease or has taken antihistamines sometime the last several days.

Points for discussion

How is skin testing carried out?

What is response to skin testing like?

What test is used in anaphylactic reaction?

Test

1. Allergy is an increased sensitivity to …

a) dust b) allergens c) insect bites d) skin irritation e) mosquito

2. When immune system is exposed to allergens, it produces…

a) antibodies b) allergic reaction c) itching d) sneezing e) coughing

3. The substances responsible for allergy must be …

a) excluded b) identified c) exposed d) obtained e) consumed

4. … is an acute allergic reaction.

a) collapse b) stroke c) anaphylaxis d) sneezing e) itching

5. swelling of the throat and mouth and clogging up of airways lead to difficulty breathing, difficulty in speaking or swallowing

a) Coughing b) difficult breathing c) expelling foreign matters d) rash e) spots

6. Some allergists will prefer an initial blood test prior to performing the … test.

a) urine b) skin prick c) sputum d) probe e) saliva

7. Allergic parents are…. to have allergic children.

a) less likely b) can have c) more likely d) usually e) surely

8. Allergic diseases …. by inappropriate immunological responses to harmless antigens.

a) lead to b) trigger c) are caused d) are reached e) are provoke

9. The use of antibacterial cleaning products has also been associated with higher … of asthma.

a) occurrence b) case c) incidence d) appearance e) existence

10. Effective management of allergic diseases relies … the ability to make an accurate diagnosis.

a) of b) for c) in d) on e) –

Exercise 1. Active vocabulary:

Exercise 2. Read the following paying attention to the rules of reading:

-ea- [i: ]: sick-leave, treatment, weak, speak, heat;

-ea- [e]: head, bread, dead, death, health;

-cian [ʃ (ə)n]: physician, obstetrician, pediatrician, phthisiatrician, musician;

-tion [ʃ (ə)n]: examination, administration, medication, combination, injection;

-sis (sing.) [sis] ––˃ -ses (pl.) [siz]: analysis – analyses, diagnosis – diagnoses, crisis – crises, synthesis – syntheses, thesis – theses.

Exercise 3. Complete the table with missing forms:

Exercise 4. Read the word-combinations and translate them into your native language:

A progressive failure of the immune system, life-threatening opportunistic infections, to thrive cancers, malignant tumours, a specific type of cells called a T helper, to trigger the immune system to infections, to share needles for IV drugs, to be susceptible to other diseases, transfusions of contaminated blood, swollen lymph nodes, a latency stage.

Exercise 5. Read and translate the text: