Blood Test – What Is Its Connection With Asthma Treatment
it is not particularly specific or sensitive. The test involves taking a sample of your child’s blood and sending it to special laboratories for analysis. A blood test may also be done to measure the concentration of certain medications in the blood. These include oral theophyllines, which may be prescribed if your child’s asthma is particularly bad at night. Tests to measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood use a non invasive device called a pulse oximeter which is attached to the asthma patient’s finger by a special clip. It emits a beam of red light which shines through the finger and measures the color of the blood. A machine converts that color reading to oxygen content. These tests often referred to as sat for saturation tests are simple to do and will cause no discomfort to your child. If you do not understand what test is or why it is being done, ask the medical staff for more information. In skin prick testing, the nurse applies drops of various common allergens, such as pollen, dust and fungal spores, along different points on the child’s arm. She then makes a small prick through the substance into the skin. Any skin inflammation indicates an immune response, showing that the patient may be allergic to that substance. These tests are so much a part of the lives of the hospital staff who carry them out that they often forget that you may not understand exactly what is happening and why. If in doubt, ask.
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