Thermographic examination of prick test reactions with local anesthetic

Abstract

In allergology, skin diagnostic tests are divided into epicutaneous, cutaneous and intracutaneous. The prick test is one of the cutaneous tests used most often for the diagnosis of hypersensitivity to local anesthetics. In the case of hypersensitivity to the examined anesthetic and reaction to the histamine-containing solution (positive control), inflammation appears with an increase in the local temperature. This warming can be detected objectively with a thermal camera and can be used in the diagnostic process. This study was used to examine the capabilities of the infrared thermography application, in the prick test of both men and women, by comparing temperature changes and the intensity of allergic inflammation in the positive and negative controls in addition with a negative reaction to an allergen. A group of 115 patients—55 male (52%) and 60 female (48%), are included. All are examined for hypersensitivity to Mepivastesin, together with the positive and negative control. Skin temperature changes of the skin were examined with FLIR A320 thermal camera and the FLIR Reporter Professional software 2013—application used to process the thermal camera images and data. The statistical analysis shows a marked temperature difference between men and women. Similarities in temperature values are detected between the negative reactions to dental anesthetic and the negative control. However, the latter substantially differs from the data obtained with the positive control. Results of the research indicate the possible applications of the thermography diagnostics in evaluation of the prick test results.