Allergy Treatment

Allergy treatment

Allergy sufferers should be seen by an allergist or an ENT (ear, nose, throat) specialist. The physician or specialist will ask questions related to the patient's medical history and in all likelyhood perform a series of medical tests and examinations. One common test and likely the first is the "skin test," done by scratching or lightly injecting a small amount of allergen into the surface of the patient's skin. Then having the patient wait for about 20 minutes to see what the reaction is to the various allergens introduced. If a large hive develops, it usually means the patient is "sensitive" (allergic) to that allergen. Skin tests help to determine the patient's sensitivity to each allergen. This makes it easier for the physician to formulate a plan to alleviate the symptoms caused by the allergens.

Environmental factors

Counselling in proper environmental control is often included as part of allergy treatment. Learning to avoid substances that cause allergic reactions may make symptoms more manageable. Preventative measures can reduce the frequency and severity of allergic reactions significantly.

Medications

Medications such as antihistamines and decongestants are commonly used to prevent and relieve allergy symptoms. They can easily be gotten at a local drugstore and are available over the counter or by prescription in some cases. Anti-inflammatory agents (such as cromolyn, nedocromil, and corticosteroids) are also used to prevent allergy symptoms. These drugs work by helping to reduce inflammation in the airways caused by allergens. Low-dose corticosteroid nasal spray (Flonase) has become very popular and has proven to be extremely effective in managing the rhinitis (nasal inflammation) caused by allergies.

Immunotherapy (allergy shots)

Allergy shots are given to patients with moderate to severe allergies. If the patient's allergy symptoms occur year round (Cronic Allergies), or if the allergy is caused by a substance that is not easily avoidable, allergy shots may be the most effective form of treatment. In immunotherapy, the patient is given a series of shots or vaccinations to help build immunity to the allergen. Patients are given an injection once a week for the first 20 weeks then a maintenance dose once a month afterwards, containing only the allergens to which the patient reacts. As the weeks progress, the concentration of the allergen in each shot is gradually increased (The first 20 weeks, then the patient gets a maintenance dose monthly thereafter). Typically, patients will receive injections for 3 to 5 years or more. (The start of year 2 or 3 etc, the patient goes weekly for about 6 weeks then back to their maintenance dose)
Immunotherapy is a relatively safe if somewhat old-fashioned method of treatment. The effectiveness of these shots can be quite variable but most of the time allergies are reduced if not all together lessened to the point of being "cured".