Yes. Skin prick testing is safe and well-tolerated from age 2 onwards — and is particularly valuable in children because early identification of allergens allows early avoidance and immunotherapy initiation, which may reduce the progression from allergic rhinitis to asthma (the atopic march). Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT drops) is particularly suitable for children because it is … Read more
Allergen immunotherapy (SCIT or SLIT) is a 3–5 year treatment. The build-up phase (progressively increasing doses) typically takes 3–6 months, followed by a maintenance phase with stable monthly doses (SCIT) or daily sublingual doses (SLIT) for 3–5 years in total. The evidence is clear: patients who complete the full course achieve significant, sustained reduction in … Read more
Dust mite allergy is one of the most counterintuitive diagnoses for patients to accept — because the allergen is invisible and does not correlate with visible cleanliness. House dust mites live primarily in mattresses, pillows, and upholstered furniture — not on floors. A spotlessly clean home with a 10-year-old mattress and non-encased pillows can have … Read more
Yes — antihistamines suppress the skin response to allergen testing and can produce false-negative results. Short-acting antihistamines (loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine) should be stopped for at least 3–5 days before skin prick testing. Longer-acting antihistamines may need to be stopped for up to 7 days. Nasal steroid sprays, asthma inhalers, and montelukast do NOT need to … Read more
A complete allergy assessment at Pulmovista Clinics — including history, skin prick testing, spirometry, and FeNO — typically takes 90–120 minutes in total. The skin prick test itself is not painful in the way a conventional injection is — the lancet creates a very superficial prick, similar in sensation to a firm press with a … Read more
Yes — and this is one of the most dangerous misperceptions I encounter at Pulmovista Clinics. ‘Feeling fine’ in COPD patients during pollution events often reflects the fact that COPD patients have learned to reduce their activity to match their respiratory capacity. They feel fine because they are doing less. But their lung function, airway … Read more
Yes — but only on recirculation mode, not on fresh air intake. Most split AC units and window ACs have a recirculation setting that cools and circulates indoor air without drawing in outdoor air. This is the correct setting during AQI 300+ events. If your AC only has a fresh air mode, it is better … Read more
No. I cannot emphasise this strongly enough. Surgical masks and cloth masks do not filter PM2.5. They trap large respiratory droplets — which is why they are effective for infection control — but PM2.5 particles are orders of magnitude smaller and pass straight through surgical mask material. The only masks that provide meaningful PM2.5 filtration … Read more
Yes — absolutely. Children with no known asthma are still biologically vulnerable to AQI 300+ air. PM2.5 causes acute airway irritation, inflammatory response, and measurable lung function reduction even in healthy children. Repeated high-dose exposure during childhood causes permanent deficits in lung function growth. Additionally, AQI 300+ events frequently unmask previously undiagnosed asthma — children … Read more
In sensitised asthma patients, the immediate bronchospastic response to PM2.5 and ozone can begin within 15–30 minutes of outdoor exposure. The more clinically dangerous late-phase inflammatory response peaks 4–8 hours after exposure — meaning patients often feel relatively stable during the day and deteriorate significantly overnight. At Pulmovista Clinics, I advise all asthma patients to … Read more