About Allergies
Why See an Allergist?
Because we specialize only in allergy and asthma we are familiar with all of the available treatment options including the newest as well as the time-proven therapies. We take time to explain to each patient the pros and cons of their choices for treatment and include the patient in the decision-making process.
Allergy medicines (as well as others) may be confusing since there are pills, sprays, inhalers, discs and specific allergy therapy. We review with our patients the expected therapeutic effects as well as potential side-effects of each medicine and teach proper technique for sprays and inhalers.
For Patients with Asthma, you can expect the following:
- Patients will have fewer asthma hospitalizations and shorter lengths of stay.
- Patients will have shorter hospital stays and reduction in costs
- Patients will have fewer return visits to the hospital.
- Patients will experience fewer emergency room visits.
- Patients will have fewer sick care office visits.
- Patients will have a reduction in lost time from work or school.
- There is improved patient outcome and patients feel better and are healthier.
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Allergies
Allergies are diseases of the immune system that cause an overreaction to substances called "allergens." Allergies are grouped by the kind of trigger, time of year or where symptoms appear on the body: indoor and outdoor allergies (also called "hay fever," "seasonal," "perennial" or "nasal" allergies), food and drug allergies, latex allergies, insect allergies, skin allergies and eye allergies. People who have allergies can live healthy and active lives.
The substances that cause allergic disease in people are known as allergens. “Antigens,” or protein particles like pollen, food or dander enter our bodies through a variety of ways. If the antigen causes an allergic reaction, that particle is considered an “allergen” – and antigen that triggers an allergic reaction. These allergens can get into our body in several ways:
- Inhaled into the nose and the lungs. Examples are airborne pollens of certain trees, grasses and weeds; house dust that include dust mite particles, mold spores, cat and dog dander and latex dust.
- Ingested by mouth. Frequent culprits include shrimp, peanuts and other nuts.
- Injected. Such as medications delivered by needle like penicillin or other injectable drugs, and venom from insect stings and bites.
- Absorbed through the skin. Plants such as poison ivy, sumac and oak and latex are examples.
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Asthma
Asthma affects people of both sexes, all ages and all socioeconomic backgrounds. Asthma is one of the five most common chronic illnesses in the United States affecting about 12% of the overall population. Asthma is frequently under diagnosed and under treated. About 4200 people die of asthma each year in the U.S. and there are close to two million emergency room visits and five hundred thousand hospitalizations for asthma per year. Asthma can present with many different symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, cough and exercise intolerance. There is no one diagnostic test for asthma. Asthma is very treatable and can almost always be controlled with an appropriate long term treatment regimen. A Board Certified allergist is highly qualified to diagnose and treat asthma which is more common in people with environmental allergies. The goal of asthma therapy is to allow the patient a normal lifestyle while minimizing the risk of severe asthma
attacks or side effects from therapy
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Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is caused by substances in the air that we breath in which are harmless to most people but cause allergic symptoms in about 15% of the population. Some allergic individuals have seasonal allergies to spring or fall pollen and some have year round allergies to dust, mold or animals. Some have both. Allergic rhinitis sufferers have certain cells in the nose which become activated when allergens enter the nose and release substances like histamine that cause the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy, watery eyes and post nasal drip. Not all people with nasal symptoms have allergies. The Board Certified allergist can determine if you have allergies and what the important allergens are. A treatment plan is then developed which can significantly reduce symptoms. Allergy shots can permanently reduce the person’s sensitivity to these allergens and need for chronic
medications.
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Allergic Skin Conditions
Allergic skin conditions include different forms such as, eczema, urticaria and allergic contact dermatitis. A Board Certified allergist can help determine if there is an ingested or environmental allergen triggering the skin reaction.
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Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe, whole-body allergic reaction. After being exposed to a substance like bee sting venom, the person's immune system becomes sensitized to that allergen. On a later exposure, an allergic reaction may occur. This reaction is sudden, severe, and involves the whole body.
Tissues in different parts of the body release histamine and other substances. This causes the airways to tighten and leads to other symptoms.
Some drugs (polymyxin, morphine, x-ray dye, and others) may cause an anaphylactic-like reaction (anaphylactoid reaction) when people are first exposed to them. This is usually due to a toxic reaction, rather than the immune system response that occurs with "true" anaphylaxis.
The symptoms, risk for complications without treatment, and treatment are the same, however, for both types of reactions.
Anaphylaxis can occur in response to any allergen
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Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
Eczema is a red scaly itchy rash usually seen in children but can occur in adults. A personal or family history of allergic rhinitis or asthma is often present in individuals with eczema. The skin is dry and a mainstay of therapy is good hydration of the skin with topical moisturizers. Sometimes food or environmental allergens can trigger eczema and testing can be done to determine if this is a factor.
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Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders
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Food Allergy
Food allergies are present in about 5% of children and 2% of adults in the United States. Food allergy occurs when a person’s immune system inappropriately reacts with an otherwise harmless protein in a food. The most common food allergens are cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, shellfish and tree nuts. Some childhood food allergies are outgrown and others are not. Food allergy may cause eczema, gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea and even some coughing or wheezing especially in children with asthma. Severe reactions to foods are known as anaphylaxis and are life threatening. Symptoms can include hives, flushing, itching, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, feeling faint and loss of consciousness. The Board Certified allergist can help identify the offending food allergen and develop a plan for avoidance and treatment to prevent serious adverse reactions.
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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastric reflux disease, or Acid reflux disease is defined as chronic symptoms or mucosal damage produced by the abnormal reflux in the esophagus.
This is commonly due to transient or permanent changes in the barrier between the esophagus and the stomach. This can be due to incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter, transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, impaired expulsion of gastric reflux from the esophagus, or a hiatus hernia. If the reflux reaches the throat, it is called laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.
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Insect Bites & Stings
The venom of stinging insects such as wasps, yellow jackets, hornets and honey bees (fire ants in the southern US) usually causes local pain, redness and swelling. A small subset of people are actually allergic to the venom and can have much more severe, generalized reactions which can be life threatening. These reactions are known as anaphylactic reactions and often involve flushing, hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, feeling faint and even passing out. Venom allergy can be diagnosed and effectively treated by properly trained allergists in order to dramatically reduce the risk of severe life threatening reactions.
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Latex Allergy
Latex allergies are caused by touching or inhaling natural latex allergens—proteins in the sap of the rubber tree—that cause an allergic reaction in some people. Some are affected by latex powder if inhaled, others by skin contact with latex, such as with surgical gloves. Severe cases can cause anaphylaxis, the most serious type of allergic reaction. Most experts believe that the allergy has surfaced recently as a result of the increased use of latex to protect people from infectious agents. There may be other causes as well. Synthetic latex is not an allergen, but natural latex is.
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Otitis Media
A middle ear infection. Otitis media with effusion occurs when fluid builds up within the ear.
Otitis media occurs in the area between the ear drum (the end of the outer ear) and the inner ear, including a duct known as the Eustachian tube. It is one of the two categories of ear inflammation that can underly what is commonly called an earache, the other being otitis externa. Diseases other than ear infections can also cause ear pain, including cancers of any structure that shares nerve supply with the ear.
Otitis media is very common in childhood, with the average toddler having two to three episodes a year, almost always accompanied by a viral upper respiratory infection (URI), mostly the common cold.
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Pulmonary Conditions
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Respiratory Infections
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