Nasal Allergy Testing in Sharjah

What is nasal allergy testing?

Nasal allergy testing is the process an ENT surgeon uses to confirm whether nose symptoms come from allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever, and to identify the airborne substance behind them. Allergic rhinitis happens when the lining of the nose overreacts to particles in the air, releasing chemicals that cause sneezing, a clear runny nose, congestion and itchy, watery eyes.

At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, the assessment brings two things together. The first is a direct look inside the nose, which shows whether the lining is swollen and pale in the way allergy typically causes, or whether a bent septum, polyps or infection is adding to the blockage. The second is a targeted allergy blood test that measures antibodies to specific triggers. Reading both together gives a clearer answer than either alone.

Who needs it

An ENT allergy assessment suits adults and teenagers with:

• Sneezing fits, especially on waking or when entering an air-conditioned room
• A nose that runs clear fluid or blocks on alternate sides
• Itching of the nose, eyes, ears or roof of the mouth
• Symptoms that return in the same months each year, or all year round indoors
• A blocked nose that persists despite over-the-counter remedies
• Asthma that flares alongside nose symptoms

In the UAE, the usual culprits differ from those in cooler countries. Date palm pollen is a recognised local allergen, alongside mesquite (Prosopis) trees, grasses and weeds that pollinate in spring. House dust mites thrive in humid coastal homes, and air-conditioning ducts collect dust and mould spores that circulate all day. Cat dander and cockroach allergen are also common indoor triggers.

For a child with allergy symptoms, the pediatric pathway is described on the child allergy testing page.

What happens

Your ENT surgeon starts with a detailed history: when symptoms began, what months or places make them worse, what you have tried, and whether family members have hay fever, eczema or asthma. A pattern that worsens at home and eases on holiday points towards dust mites or a pet, while a spring pattern suggests pollen.

The examination looks at the front of the nose with a light, and often includes a nasendoscopy, a thin camera passed gently into the nose after a numbing spray. This shows the turbinates, the shelves inside the nose that swell with allergy, along with the septum and the drainage channels of the sinuses.

Next comes the blood test. A single sample is taken and sent to the laboratory to measure specific IgE, the allergy antibodies, against the triggers your history suggests, such as dust mite, date palm, grass pollen or cat. Testing is chosen around your symptoms, which keeps results meaningful.

When results return, your surgeon explains which triggers match your symptoms and builds a plan. Treatment is described by purpose:

• Saline rinses to wash allergen and mucus from the nose
• A steroid nasal spray to calm the swollen lining, used daily and correctly aimed
• An antihistamine tablet or spray for sneezing and itching
• Practical steps to reduce exposure, such as washing bedding hot, using mite-proof covers and servicing air-conditioning filters

If your symptoms persist despite a good trial of treatment, or you wish to consider immunotherapy, which trains the immune system to tolerate a trigger over time, your ENT surgeon refers you to an allergy specialist. Skin prick testing and immunotherapy are arranged through that referral. Where polyps or a structural problem are found, nasal polyp treatment or sinus surgery may be discussed.

Preparing for it

Keep a symptom diary for a week or two before your visit, noting where you were, the time of day, and whether the air conditioning, dust or outdoor air seemed to matter. Photos of swollen eyes help if symptoms fluctuate.

Bring a list or photos of every nasal spray, tablet and eye drop you use, including decongestant sprays bought from a pharmacy. Long-term use of decongestant sprays can itself cause a rebound blocked nose, so your surgeon needs to know about them.

You can continue antihistamines before an allergy blood test, since they leave the result unaffected. Eating and drinking as normal is fine.

Afterwards

The blood test leaves only a small bruise at most. Results are reviewed with you at a follow-up appointment, where your surgeon links each result to your symptoms and confirms the treatment plan.

Steroid nasal sprays build their effect gradually, so keep using them daily as advised and bring your spray to follow-up so the technique can be checked. Before a flight, ask whether to use your spray beforehand, since a swollen nose can make ear pressure changes more uncomfortable.

Contact the hospital if symptoms stay troublesome after a fair trial of treatment, if you develop facial pain, a green or blood-stained discharge, or a blocked nose on one side only, or if you have nosebleeds from your spray.

Seek urgent care straight away if you have swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, wheeze that is worsening, or swelling around the eye with fever or change in vision.

Cost and insurance

Most UAE health insurance plans cover an ENT consultation, nasendoscopy and allergy blood tests requested for symptoms, although some plans ask for pre-approval before larger test panels. Referral to an allergy specialist, skin testing and immunotherapy are billed separately and usually need their own approval. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover on 06 599 7777.