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Using Specific IgE Testing To Optimize Management of Allergic Diseases in the Primary Care Setting

J Fam Pract. 2014 April;63(4):S4
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On a typical mid-winter day, patients with upper respiratory symptoms fill waiting rooms. Viral infections (colds and flu) are immediate suspects, but for some patients, underlying allergy may be adding to the misery. The overlapping signs and symptoms of respiratory and allergic

diseases complicate the diagnosis. Moreover, both viral infections and allergies can exacerbate chronic co-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma. Virtually all patients with allergy-like symptoms see a primary care practitioner first, where identifying atopic patients may not be considered a necessary diagnostic step. In addition, the majority of patients with asthma, regardless of asthma severity or control, are managed in primary care settings. Thus, frontline physicians face the daunting challenge of making a precise diagnosis, which then lays the foundation for appropriate management.1,2 The increasing specificity of treatments and the current concerns about health care utilization and cost underscore the importance of an accurate diagnosis.

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