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Allergy treatment

What should I expect when I see an allergist?

During your fist visit, your doctor will conduct a thorough history and physical exam. Following this, most patients will need to be tested to determine what their allergic sensitivities are. This can be done by either skin tests or blood tests. If asthma is a possibility, your provider may perform a set of breathing tests to measure your lung function. If there is a history of frequent sinus infections, an X-ray or CT scan of the sinuses may be ordered as well.

At the end of the visit, your allergist will gather all the information and recommend a treatment plan that is specific for you. Recommendations for specific allergy avoidance measures will be made based on your specific allergies. Medication recommendations may be made based on your individual circumstances. Your allergist may also recommend immunotherapy, commonly called allergy shots or allergy drops, to desensitize you to your allergic triggers.

What is the time commitment involved with immunotherapy?

In the beginning, immunotherapy patients will typically have two injections per week for three months during buildup to maintenance dose. Then injections are given weekly for a year, at which time improvement is assessed (most people experience improvement during the first six months of injections). Injections are then spaced out and completed within a three to five year period. By this time, most patients no longer have to continue their immunotherapy injections.

What happens if my allergies go untreated?

Allergies can be the underlying cause of frequent sinus, ear and upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Untreated allergies can even exacerbate or cause asthma; The Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology states that "Approximately 80 percent of all asthma in children and half of all asthma in adults is caused by allergies."

Allergies are responsible for symptoms that may make it difficult for you to concentrate, or they may cause sinus headaches, both of which can result in a loss of productivity. This loss of productivity can filter into your work, school and home life. Don't let your allergies control you. Take control of your allergies!