Advances and utility of laboratory investigation in diagnosis of pediatric allergic diseases / 中华检验医学杂志

ABSTRACT

The rapid increase of childhood allergic disorders has become one of the major challenges in the pediatric health care system. Laboratory diagnosis is essential in order to determine appropriate strategies towards best clinical practice strategies, including accurate diagnosis, prophylaxis and optimized management. Once there are sufficient clinical grounds to support a diagnosis of allergy, confirmatory in vivo and in vitro tests should be performed. In vivo tests mainly include skin prick tests and allergen provocation tests. Provocation tests are the gold standard for diagnosing allergic diseases. In vitro tests mainly include allergen-specific IgE antibody, Th2 related cytokines, and mast cell activity markers. These tests can clarify the immune state status of the patient and lead to optimized treatment, such as avoiding allergens avoidance, allergens-specific immunotherapy, and anti-IgE therapy. Controlling disease progress and preventing relapses can benefit children who are suffering from the consequences of allergies.