Help with allergies
Allergologues can conduct a 'prick test' to check for allergies
About two million people in France are thought to suffer from food allergies. The most common among children include egg white, peanuts, and cow’s milk. Among adults, common allergens include cherries, apricots, strawberries, raspberries, hazelnuts, bananas, avocados, and kiwifruits.
If you suspect an allergy, ask your GP for a referral to an allergologue. A “prick test” (reimbursed at the usual 70%) is a common way of checking. A drop of an allergen is placed on the arm and the skin is pricked. A slight redness or swelling indicates an allergy.
Medical treatment with antihistamines or corticoids may be prescribed in some cases to calm symptoms. Antihistamines can be taken as pills, eye drops, or nose sprays. Corticoids may be injected in urgent situations or used as nose sprays and inhalers. Adrenaline is injected in cases of anaphylactic shock.
Identifying and removing the cause may also be a solution. In other cases, it is possible to follow a desensitisation regimen to become tolerant to the substance you were previously allergic to. Removing the cause is easier for food or medicine allergies than for pollens.
Desensitisation consists of administering small but progressive doses of allergen extracts over several years to stimulate the immune system. This is done either by injection or orally. It can be effective against pollen allergens, mites, ticks, and bee venom.
If you have allergies, remember to mention them to healthcare professionals when relevant. You may also add them to your Mon espace santé digital space, if you have one.
For up-to-date information on pollen risks in your area, consult pollens.fr. Useful phone apps include Alertes pollens and Live Pollen.