Allergy Yogurt Radio Immunoabsorbent Blood

Allergy yogurt skin test is used to detect any allergies caused by yogurt. This test mainly helps in measuring the IgE antibodies in the blood to assess the sensitization to yogurt allergens. This test helps in knowing the immune response to yogurt.

What are yogurt and yogurt allergy?

Yogurt is a type of cultured milk product. It is made from milk by bacterial fermentation. Yogurt cultures are the bacteria used to make yogurt, these yogurt cultures ferment lactose which is a natural sugar found in milk. Yogurt is rich in nutrients and helps in healthy teeth and bones, regulates blood pressure and metabolism, protects against heart diseases and neural tube birth defects, promotes immune health, reduces the risk of depression, etc.

Yogurt allergy is common in infants and in children. This can also be due to milk allergy. If you are allergic to milk, then milk products can also cause allergy. Since yogurt is made of milk it can cause an allergic reaction. The substance which causes an allergy is called an allergen. When the body is exposed to an allergen, there will be a chain of reactions occurring in the immune system. This leads to the release of IgE or immunoglobulin E antibodies in the body. Soon after the contact with antigens, your body releases the antibodies to act against these foreign agents. Every time you are exposed to an allergen a chemical called histamine is released. Histamine is found in various parts of the body like ears, throats, nose, sinuses, etc. Due to the excess production of histamine allergic reactions are produced. The symptoms experienced due to an allergic reaction caused by yogurt are swelling, itching, hives, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc. The symptoms can be seen within 2 hours of having yogurt.

Sometimes the allergic reactions can be life-threatening causing narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. Milk and its products like yogurt are the most common foods that cause an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency condition which leads to facial flushing, itching, shock, sudden fall in blood pressure, constriction of airways, swollen throat, difficulty to breathe, etc.

Why this test is performed?

This test may be recommended to you if you experience certain symptoms like swelling, itching, hives, vomiting, abdominal pain, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, swollen lips, swollen tongue or swollen throat, hives, vomiting, runny nose, watery eyes, abdominal cramps, loose stools, blood in stools, colic (severe pain in abdomen caused by gas in the intestines) in infants, etc. This test may also be performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, if already diagnosed.

The normal reference range may vary depending on gender, age, health history, etc.

If your test results show high levels of IgE antibodies than the given reference range, it may indicate that the person is most likely to have an allergy.

If your test results are lower than the reference range, it may indicate that the allergy is absent in the individual.

If you get abnormal test results, consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor may recommend other tests depending on your test results.