Allergen Immunotherapy Best Practices Workshop, Featuring Dr. Atoosa Kourosh

Written By Alla Medvedeva

Dr. Atoosa is the chair of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology’s committee on integrative medicine and is a nationally and internationally renown expert on holistic and integrative allergy and immunology medicine. Tune in to her lecture during the Allergen Immunotherapy Best Practices Workshop.

00:00 - 01:10: Introduction  

  • 01:10 - 02:46: Opening remarks from Dr. Atoosa Kourosh and Lesson Objectives  

  • 02:46 - 04:06: Understanding Who, And What To Test 

  • 04:06 - 06:21: Oral Allergy Syndrome, Food-Pollen Cross-Reactivity, and Allergy Symptoms  

  • 06:21 - 13:32: Screening for Allergies, Allergy Triggers, Perennial and Indoor Allergens, Tree and Weed Relationships, Grass Pollen Relationships  

  • 13:32 - 19:24: Allergy Testing and the Confirmation of sIgE "at work," Skin testing, vs. sIgE Blood Testing, Interpreting sIgE Blood Test Results  

  • 19:24 - 22:18: Allergy Skin Testing In Vivo  

  • 22:18 - 25:43: Medications to Stop Taking Before Skin Testing  

  • 25:43 - 27:07: Mechanisms Underlying the Interpretation of the Allergy Skin Prick Test and Understanding the Immune Reaction  

  • 27:07 - 28:01: Single vs. Multiple Head Devices  

  • 28:01 - 33:46: Histamine Wheal and Flare Interpretation and Recording Result, Post-test Care  

  • 33:46 - 36:56: Case Study One: Physician Interpretation, Family History, Patient History, Understanding Allergy Baseline Assessment, Symptoms, and Guided Testing Based on Assessment Findings  

  • 36:56 - 39:42: Case Study Two  

  • 39:42 - 40:54: Case Study Three  

  • 40:54 - 41:37: Conclusion, Dr. Atoosa's Motto: "TEST, DON’T GUESS."  

  • 41:37 - 58:21: Q&A, Including: Testing Mistakes to Avoid, What Equipment to Use, Understanding Negative Controls, Dermatographic Patients

At the end of this video, you will be able to:

  • Illustrate general knowledge of the common allergens, house dust, pollens, grass, trees, weeds, cat and dog, molds, and other triggers.

  • Explain the mechanisms underlying the interpretation of the basic diagnostic allergy skin prick tests (positive and negative controls) and serological tests for total and specific IgE.

  • List contraindications to performing skin testing.

  • Name medications that may affect skin testing reactions and the average time of discontinuance before skin testing.

  • Describe practical understanding of performing allergy skin tests.

Who and Why to Test

  • Patients complaining of allergy‐like symptoms, red‐itchy eyes, sneezing, or upper respiratory infections.

  • Asthmatics with possible allergen trigger 

  • Patients who chronically use antihistamines or nasal steroids 

  • Pediatric patients, especially those with a stubborn rash, eczema, chronic ear infections, or GI symptoms.

  • Patients with obvious signs of an allergic reaction affecting their quality of life or possible serious condition.

  • Oral Allergy Syndrome (mouth tingling/itch or gut reactions to stone fruits or certain raw vegetables).

Alla Medvedeva
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