Wheezing and allergy triggers
If you are struggling to breathe right now, call 112 or your local emergency number. Wheezing that keeps coming back around cats, dust or pollen is something to take to a doctor. An allergy test can add one piece of the picture: our test measures IgE sensitisation to 300 allergens and allergen components.
What wheezing means
A wheeze is a high-pitched whistling sound when you breathe, usually out. It happens when the airways narrow. Asthma is the most common cause, but chest infections, smoking-related lung disease, heart conditions and something stuck in the airway can all cause it.
Wheezing is not a symptom to self-manage. If you wheeze, you should be assessed by a doctor, whatever an allergy test shows.
Allergens and asthma
Many people with asthma, particularly those whose asthma started in childhood, are sensitised to airborne allergens. For them, breathing in the allergen can tighten the airways. Knowing which allergens are involved is one of the things doctors look at when assessing allergic asthma.
- House dust mite, the most common indoor allergen linked to asthma.
- Cat and dog allergens, which travel on clothes and linger for months.
- Mould spores such as Alternaria, especially in late summer and on damp days.
- Grass, birch and other pollens during their seasons.
- Horse allergen, in stables and riding halls.
Wheezing with food or stings
Wheezing that starts within minutes of eating a food or being stung is different. It can be part of anaphylaxis, a severe whole-body reaction, especially if it comes with swelling, hives, vomiting or dizziness. That is an emergency: call 112 or your local emergency number.
What the test shows
The lab checks your finger-prick sample for IgE to 300 allergens and allergen components, including mites, pets, moulds and pollens, and reports each with a measured value and class, from Negative to Very high. A doctor can use that pattern alongside lung function tests and your history.
The test does not diagnose asthma and does not measure how well your lungs work. A result with nothing raised does not rule asthma out; non-allergic asthma exists too.
When to see a doctor first
Call 112 or your local emergency number if you have trouble breathing, cannot speak in full sentences, your lips look blue or grey, or wheezing comes with swelling of the face or throat after a food or sting. Do not wait for a test. Any new or recurring wheeze should be assessed by a doctor.
300 allergens. One test.
A finger-prick sample at home, sent by post. A detailed lab report typically 5 days after the lab receives your sample, and our plain-English guide to reading it. €300, €1 per allergen.
Questions
Can an allergy test tell me if I have asthma?
No. Asthma is diagnosed by a doctor using your history and lung function tests. An IgE test can show which airborne allergens you are sensitised to, which is one input for that assessment.
Should I take the test instead of seeing a doctor?
No. Wheezing always needs a doctor's assessment. The test can be a useful extra, for example to bring a list of sensitisations to the appointment.
Why do I wheeze more at night?
Asthma symptoms often get worse at night, and bedrooms are where dust mite exposure is highest. If you are sensitised to dust mite, that combination may play a role. Discuss night-time symptoms with your doctor.