Allergy Testing Available
Types of Allergy Testing offered in our office:
1965 First AvenueOpelika, AL 36801
(334) 705-0012Types of Allergy Testing offered in our office:
Allergen immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, is a form of long term, 3-5 years treatment that decreases symptoms for many people with allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma or conjuctivitis (eye allergy).
Allergy shots decrease sensitivity to allergens and often leads to lasting relief of allergy symptoms even after treatment is stopped. This makes it a cost-effective, beneficial treatment approach for many people.
Both children and adults can receive allergy shots, although it is not typically recommended for children under age five. This is because of the difficulties younger children may have in cooperating with the program and in articulating any adverse symptoms they may be experiencing. When considering allergy shots for an older adult, medical conditions such as cardiac disease should be taken into consideration and discussed with your allergist / immunologist first.
You and your allergist / immunologist should base your decisions regarding allergy shots on:
Allergy shots are not used to treat food allergies. The best option for people with food allergies is to stricly avoid that food.
A typical reaction is redness and swelling at the injection site. This can happen immediately or several hours after the treatment. In some instances, symptoms can include increased allergy symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion or hives.
Serious reactions to allergy shots are rare. When they do occur, they require immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction can include swelling in the throat, wheezing or tightness in the chest, nausea and dizziness. Most serious reactions develop within 30 minutes of the allergy injections. This is why it is recommended you wait in your doctor's office for at least 30 minutes after you receive allergy shots.
Unlike most allergy drugs - which only treat symptoms temporarily - sublingual immunotherapy addresses the underlying cause of allergies. Allergy drops are administered under the tongue in gradually increased dosages until the patient develops a tolerance to the allergy-causing substance.
One of the benefits of sublingual immunotherapy is that it can treat a broad range of allergies including those caused by dust mites, pollen, mold, animals and seasonal allergies such as grass, trees, and ragweed.
Although most allergy sufferers can benefit from allergy drops, they're especially ideal for people who can't tolerate or don't respond to allergy shots, as well as those who are unable to commit to allergy shot therapy. These people include:
* Allergy drops have proven especially helpful for children with eczema and recurrent ear infections, which often have underlying allergic causes. Research shows that many children with untreated eczema and allergies often develop asthma and other chronic conditions later in life, so treating them early can have life-long benefits and may prevent development of other allergies and asthma.
In addition to being a viable option for people of all ages, there are other advantages to allergy drops:
Most patients take allergy drops daily for three to five years, but it varies according to the severity of the allergies, seasonality, and how adherent they are to treatment. Many patients begin to see symptom improvement within a few weeks to months but need to keep using the drops through the full course of therapy to get long-term benefit.
We partner with each patient to create the best Healthcare experience through the integration of the patient’s physical, emotional and intellectual health, one patient at a time.
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