Allergy Testing and Treatment
There are two common kinds of allergies. Respiratory (or inhalant) allergies are the kind that affects your eyes, nose, and lungs, causing symptoms such as itching, sneezing, tearing, coughing, and wheezing. This is the kind of allergy we see most often. Food allergies, which are less common than respiratory allergies, provoke uncomfortable sensations in your mouth and throat, and can cause throat swelling, which can be life threatening.
We offer two kinds of in-office allergy tests that can diagnose respiratory and food allergies. One is a blood test known as an ImmunoCAP test. This is a simple blood test that requires no special preparation on the patient’s part but has a one week turnaround time. The other is a skin prick test, which is given on the skin, usually on the forearms or back. This is not a painful test, and the results are available within about 20 minutes. You should not take any antihistamine medication for 7 days before the skin prick test.
The most popular kinds of allergy treatments are avoidance of the allergy triggers, and medication to reduce symptoms. Common medications include oral therapy, such as antihistamines, and topical therapy, such as intranasal steroid sprays and antihistamine eyedrops. During your allergy evaluation, we can help determine which of these treatments makes the most sense for you.
The only treatment for allergy that has a chance to permanently improve allergy symptoms (and even possibly cure allergies) is allergen immunotherapy. Immunotherapy works by modifying your malfunctioning immune system to reduce your sensitivity to the allergens that are triggering your symptoms. This is usually administered as injections, or “allergy shots.” These are prescribed for patients with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or allergic asthma, and the cost is generally covered by health insurance. We now offer allergy immunotherapy injections in the office. Some studies have shown that allergy immunotherapy may have a preventive role in allergic children, possibly preventing asthma from developing in some patients with allergic rhinitis. Immunotherapy would be considered for individuals who have moderate or severe symptoms not adequately controlled by environmental control measures and/or medications. An alternative type of immunotherapy is called sublingual immunotherapy, also known as sublingual drops or SLIT. This is given as drops that are placed under the tongue, and can be administered at home. Unfortunately, insurance carriers do not cover the cost of sublingual immunotherapy, and the expense can be significant, but it can be worth the investment in certain situations. If you are interested in sublingual drops, we can provide that for you.