Dr. Atoosa is the chair of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology’s committee on integrative medicine and is a nationally and internationally renowned expert on holistic and integrative allergy and immunology medicine.
Video Chapters
- 00:00 - 01:10: Introduction
- 01:10 - 02:46: Opening remarks from Dr. Atoosa Kourosh and Lesson Objectives
- 02:46 - 04:06: Understanding Who, And What To Test
- 04:06 - 06:21: Oral Allergy Syndrome, Food-Pollen Cross-Reactivity, and Allergy Symptoms
- 06:21 - 13:32: Screening for Allergies, Allergy Triggers, Perennial and Indoor Allergens, Tree and Weed Relationships, Grass Pollen Relationships
- 13:32 - 19:24: Allergy Testing and the Confirmation of sIgE "at work," Skin testing, vs. sIgE Blood Testing, Interpreting sIgE Blood Test Results
- 19:24 - 22:18: Allergy Skin Testing In Vivo
- 22:18 - 25:43: Medications to Stop Taking Before Skin Testing
- 25:43 - 27:07: Mechanisms Underlying the Interpretation of the Allergy Skin Prick Test and Understanding the Immune Reaction
- 27:07 - 28:01: Single vs. Multiple Head Devices
- 28:01 - 33:46: Histamine Wheal and Flare Interpretation and Recording Result, Post-test Care
- 33:46 - 36:56: Case Study One: Physician Interpretation, Family History, Patient History, Understanding Allergy Baseline Assessment, Symptoms, and Guided Testing Based on Assessment Findings
- 36:56 - 39:42: Case Study Two
- 39:42 - 40:54: Case Study Three
- 40:54 - 41:37: Conclusion, Dr. Atoosa's Motto: "TEST, DON’T GUESS."
- 41:37 - 58:21: Q&A, Including: Testing Mistakes to Avoid, What Equipment to Use, Understanding Negative Controls, Dermatographic Patients
At the end of this video, you will be able to:
- Illustrate general knowledge of the common allergens, house dust, pollens, grass, trees, weeds, cat and dog, molds, and other triggers.
- Explain the mechanisms underlying the interpretation of the basic diagnostic allergy skin prick tests (positive and negative controls) and serological tests for total and specific IgE.
- List contraindications to performing skin testing.
- Name medications that may affect skin testing reactions and the average time of discontinuance before skin testing.
- Describe practical understanding of performing allergy skin tests.
Who and Why to Test
- Patients complaining of allergy‐like symptoms, red‐itchy eyes, sneezing, or upper respiratory infections.
- Asthmatics with possible allergen trigger
- Patients who chronically use antihistamines or nasal steroids
- Pediatric patients, especially those with a stubborn rash, eczema, chronic ear infections, or GI symptoms.
- Patients with obvious signs of an allergic reaction affecting their quality of life or possible serious condition.
- Oral Allergy Syndrome (mouth tingling/itch or gut reactions to stone fruits or certain raw vegetables).