Sinus – Allergy Care
What is an allergy?
An allergy is an abnormal reaction or hypersensitivity to a normally harmless substance.
Many substances such as pollen, grass, weeds, dust, molds, animals, and foods can cause an allergic reaction. These substances are called allergens. Chemicals and irritants can make this allergic reaction worse.
Allergens can enter the body by inhalation, ingestion, injection, and external contact with the skin.
What are allergy symptoms?
Classic immediate symptoms are: sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, and itchy eyes. These may occur during particular seasons of the year or as a reaction to a particular allergen.
A delayed allergic reaction occurs year round and may include: nasal congestion, posterior nasal discharge, sinusitis, and fatigue.
Symptoms from food allergies usually involve the entire body and are often characterized by fatigue, hives, headaches, thick nasal discharge, and digestive tract changes.
Why have allergy testing?
Occasional allergy symptoms caused by seasonal or environmental changes do not require allergy testing. These symptoms can usually be treated with medication and avoidance.
Allergy symptoms that are not improved on medicine or avoidance are better understood by allergy testing. What you are sensitive to is identified, making recommendations for avoidance, diet, and medicine more effective.
How are allergies tested?
Our office uses two types of allergy testing: the "prick" and the Skin End-Point Titration or "SET" test.
- The "prick" test involves pricking the skin with a grid of needles coated with allergens. If the skin becomes red or swells at the prick site, a sensitivity to that allergen is indicated. The larger the reaction, the greater the sensitivity.
- The "SET" test is more accurate and determines if you have an allergy by injecting an increasing dose of an allergen and measuring your reaction.
Food Allergies?
Food allergies are most accurately determined by keeping a dietary journal as well as trying a food "elimination and challenge diet." This diet requires you to not eat a particular food of concern for five days. On the sixth day you eat a substantial amount of the food in question and symptoms characterizing a food allergy quickly appear. Additional information may be gained by performing a "SET" test.
What does allergy treatment involve?
- Symptomatic relief is the goal of all allergy treatment.
- Initial treatment may include environmental controls, a rotation diet, and medical therapy.
- If allergy symptoms persist despite the above approach, immunotherapy (allergy shots) is indicated.
- Immunotherapy takes about 4 to 12 months to reach a maintenance dose. Until reaching this dose, environmental controls, food rotation and medical therapy may be necessary.
- Once you achieve maintenance, the effectiveness of this treatment is evaluated and medical therapy can often be discontinued.
- During weekly allergy shots, you must be carefully monitored for allergic reactions. This requires a period of observation in the office after each injection.
- Once you are symptom free, the frequency of injections can be decreased or discontinued totally.
