[Diagnosis of allergy in family practice]

Eleven general practitioners performed skin prick tests on suspicion of pollen allergy in 109 patients. The results were compared with the results of one and the same experienced nurse from a specialised allergy clinic, who skin prick tested the patients one to two weeks later. The results of the allergy-nurse were defined as "the real values". In 99 of the 109 patients (91%) the general practitioner's diagnosis of either specific pollen allergy or no allergy agreed with that of the nurse. The remaining 10 diagnoses (9%) were "false" compared with "the real values". The study confirms previous scientifically proven connections between pollen allergy and age, sex and month of birth. The study shows that general practitioners can following brief instruction investigate pollen allergy and achieve diagnostic results on a par with specialised allergy clinics. Specific pollen allergy diagnosis is essential for good symptomatic medical treatment of rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma bronchiale, for suitable referral to specialised allergy clinics, and, when possible, for prevention of allergic symptoms, including cross-allergic food allergy.