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Allergen prick-puncture skin testing in the elderly.

Monroe J King1, Richard F Lockey

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida 33613, USA. mjking@tampabay.rr.com

Drugs & Aging
|December 4, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Allergy testing in older adults is often overlooked but crucial. This study highlights methods for accurate allergy diagnosis in the elderly, improving their quality of life.

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Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Allergology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Older adults frequently experience allergy-like symptoms such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, and itching.
  • Physicians sometimes disregard allergy testing in the elderly, deeming it irrelevant.
  • Diagnosing allergies in older patients can be challenging due to age-related skin changes affecting test application and interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address the challenges and provide guidance on allergy testing in the elderly population.
  • To emphasize the importance of accurate allergy diagnosis for improving health outcomes in older adults.

Main Methods:

  • Prick puncture skin testing is the preferred method for immediate-type allergy assessment.
  • Careful skin examination is vital; sun-damaged or atrophic skin requires alternative testing sites.
  • In vitro allergen testing is recommended when suitable skin areas are unavailable.

Main Results:

  • Skin-test results in the elderly require careful interpretation.
  • Positive skin tests must correlate with the patient's clinical history of allergen exposure and symptom exacerbation.
  • Accurate allergen identification allows for targeted avoidance strategies or immunotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Allergy testing is relevant and feasible in older adults.
  • Proper diagnostic approaches, including consideration of in vitro testing, can overcome challenges associated with skin testing in this demographic.
  • Identifying specific allergens can lead to improved quality of life and reduced medication dependence through avoidance or immunotherapy.

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