Monthly Archives: November 2022

What is Allergy Desensitization

You can have allergy shots regularly and it is generally given over the course of three to five years to reduce or stop allergy attacks. Allergy shots are an excellent form of treatment known as immunotherapy. Each shot has a small number of certain substances that trigger allergic reactions. These are known as allergens and they contain enough allergens that can stimulate your immune system, but it is not enough to cause an unbearable allergic reaction.

Even if allergen immunotherapy involves the typical administration of increasing allergen doses gradually over a certain period, immunotherapy can be given as injections or tablets.

In case you want to visit an allergy specialist doctor for allergy desensitization you can learn more about it here.

Oral Immunotherapy Treatment (OIT)

Desensitization treats peanut allergies, tree nut allergies, milk allergies, and other food allergies. The process will require patients to consume different allergen doses. Initially, food should be consumed under an allergist’s supervision. After this, patients must eat fixed amounts of the allergen until they reach a maintenance dose.

With the completion of OIT, individuals have to maintain the consumption of periodic doses of certain foods to ensure that there is ongoing desensitization. Normally, successful patients would have reduced the chances of allergic reactions. With the approval of an allergy doctor, it could even be possible to reintroduce it into your diet.

Risks

Most people do not experience a lot of trouble when they get allergy shots. However, they contain substances that cause allergies – so there can be possible reactions, which can include:

  • Systemic reactions – These are less common, but are more serious. You could develop sneezing, hives, or nasal congestion. Other severe reactions can include wheezing, throat swelling, or chest tightness.
  • Local reactions – This can involve redness, irritation, or swelling at the injection site. Normally, these common reactions start within a few hours after the injection and they clear up soon after that.
  • Anaphylaxis – Life-threatening reaction to allergy shots. It causes low blood pressure and trouble breathing. Most of the time, anaphylaxis starts within 30 minutes after injection, but they sometimes start at a later time.

If you will get allergy shots weekly or monthly, you are less likely to have a serious reaction.

When you take an antihistamine before an allergy shot, it reduces the risk of a reaction, mainly a local reaction. You should check with your doctor to find out if this is recommended.

Immunotherapy

It is similar to oral immunotherapy treatment, but with the use of allergy shots, seasonal allergies are less common and you will no longer be affected by indoor triggers or insect bites. Allergy shots can be used to treat pollen allergies, mold, dust mites, pet dander, and bee stings by giving small allergen doses via injection. When you administer incremental doses of the allergen, your immune system will become desensitized to its existence in your body.

Even if immunotherapy requires periodic visits to the allergy clinic, treatments will offer more benefits to patients. An individual can reduce their dependency on medication, and the immune system will get used to its presence in the system.

Where the Shots Should be Given

This kind of treatment must be supervised by a physician in a facility with the right staff and equipment to treat and identify adverse reactions to injections. The idea is that immunotherapy should be given at the allergy clinic. In case it is not possible, the allergist or immunologist should give the supervising physician clear instructions about the treatments of allergy shots.

You can check an allergy center Germantown MD if you need allergy desensitization.

 

 

Signs You Need an Allergist Vs. ENT

An allergist is a trained specialist to diagnose, treat, and prevent allergies. These allergists are the ones who can provide asthma care, immunotherapy treatments, allergy testing, holistic treatments, and related assistance.

ENTs treat medical issues in your nose, ear, and throat, together with the neck and head. A lot of these conditions might require surgical treatments, like corrections to bone or cartilage. An ENT will normally treat structural issues that need surgery – this will differ from an allergist who can diagnose allergens that are causing an allergic reaction.

You should not think that an allergist is an ENT, but there are instances such as sinus infections when they collide, for most of it, where those two positions specialize in different health niches. Read on to know more:

When to Visit an Allergy Clinic

In some cases, you could identify the allergen that may cause inflammation. For example, if you suffer from a food allergy, then you may feel an allergic reaction after eating that food. You could experience swelling in your skin rash and mouth. As a consequence of this, you can prevent a reaction by avoiding specific types of foods. However, on the other hand, you are unable to understand certain allergens such as dust allergies or other environmental issues like:

  • Runny nose
  • Shortness of breath
  • Itchy throat
  • Skin rash
  • Sinus infections
  • Eye-watering redness
  • Swollen lips and tongue

If you are experiencing these symptoms, then you need to go to an allergy clinic and not ENT doctor. However, there are a couple of symptoms that may need ENT treatment.

Signs You Need an ENT

You could be dealing with issues in your ears, nose, and throat. Even if the symptoms in these areas are intertwined with allergies, there is a difference between them. An ENT doctor is helpful in diagnosing and treating any conditions in your ear, nose, throat, neck, and head. You should see an ENT if you have any of the following:

  • Ear infections
  • Tonsil infection
  • Complications in hearing
  • Ear, nose, or throat pain
  • Issues with swallowing
  • Head and neck tumors or cancer
  • Deviated septum
  • Chronic sinusitis
  • Tinnitus
  • Cleft palate
  • Vertigo symptoms

If You Put it all Together

Allergists and ENT work together to maximize control of your sinus/nasal congestion and it is possible that you might need evaluation from specialists. Allergists will normally refer patients to ENTs when they need surgery and ENTs will refer patients to allergists when they need a formal allergy assessment.

Allergies are not the only reason why you experience nasal symptoms. So, if you have a structural problem or you suspect one, an ENT specialist is a good first choice. However, if you suspect that you are experiencing breathing or sinus issues related to asthma or allergies, consider seeing an allergist. They can help treat, diagnose, and control symptoms through non-surgical methods.

When you have allergies, many areas of your body can become affected. This includes your eyes, nose, throat, lungs, mouth, stomach, and even sinuses. For most people who experience allergic reactions, an allergist should be the first person they contact. An allergist is used to identify the causes of immune system response and allergic reaction and develop a solution that removes or reduces any threat to you.

Treat Your Allergic Reactions

If you suffer from ear, nose, and throat-related issues in certain seasons, then you could be suffering from allergy problems. That is why you might have to visit an allergist instead of an ENT. They will provide what you need.

You can visit an allergy clinic Manassas VA anytime if you think you need an allergist instead of an ENT.

Allergens that Cause a Sore Throat

Among allergy symptoms that affect daily life, getting a sore throat caused by allergies is irritating. If you have a runny nose and itchy eyes, a sore throat can be discomforting which can disrupt your routine.

Allergy sore throat symptoms can include a scratchy and dry feeling in your throat. The different kinds of allergies that cause this can be seasonal or something at home that is affecting you.

There are different steps you can take so you can manage or reduce symptoms.

Your allergy specialist will also tell you that histamines trigger your body to produce more mucus so your nose, mouth, and throat will not dry out. Most of the time, you will not notice the body’s mucus production.

Allergens and How they Affect You

Post-nasal drip is the culprit when it comes to an allergy-induced sore throat.

It is because of exposure to allergens and they occur when there is congestion in the sinuses and nose to your throat. This will cause scratchy or tickling pain.

The drainage can also cause:

  • Excessive swallowing
  • Coughing
  • Throat discomfort and clearing
  • Difficulty in speaking

A lot of allergies, like pollen, are seasonal.

If your symptoms are all-year-round, your symptoms could worsen during the seasons when there are a lot of airborne irritants.

Other Symptoms that Appear

  • Fatigue
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Sneezing and coughing

Symptoms of cold, flu, and other infections, but not normally allergies – include:

  • Body and muscle aches
  • Fever
  • Swollen lymph nodes

If you feel itchy, have watery eyes, and have a sore throat, it is most likely caused by an allergic reaction because the eye symptoms do not occur with the flu or cold.

Another clue is how long the sore throat lasts. A flu or cold does not last more than 2 weeks.

However, your allergic reaction can last for as long as you are exposed to the allergen. For instance, someone with a pollen allergy can have reaction symptoms for about 6 weeks, which depends on the season.

Oral Allergy Symptoms

  • Itchy mouth
  • Irritated, scratchy throat
  • Swelling and redness of the mouth and lips
  • Other symptoms of seasonal allergies

Anyone who has a sore throat or other allergy symptoms after they eat raw fruits or vegetables should talk to an allergy doctor.

How to Prevent Sore Throat Caused by Allergies

If you want to prevent sore throat caused by allergies, you would want to take steps in order to limit exposure to the substances that trigger you.

You should do your best to stay away from known irritants, like pet dander and cigarette smoke. If your allergies are seasonal, such as hay fever, are caused by trees and flowers in bloom, there are a couple of things you can do:

  • Keep your windows and doors closed
  • Wear a pollen mask when you are outside if it is “allergy season” to protect yourself from any airborne allergens
  • Take a shower after you come from outdoors
  • Wash clothing that you wore outside
Treatment

Preventing allergies is important in alleviating a sore throat, as well as other related symptoms. The primary step is to limit your allergen exposure as much as you can.

Avoid any known irritants, like pet dander or cigarette smoke, as much as possible. You should keep windows closed or wear a surgical mask outside so you can protect yourself from airborne allergens during the worst seasons.

You will not be able to avoid allergens all the time. This is the time when allergy shots and medication can help.

You can contact an asthma doctor Germantown MD anytime if you need a sore throat allergy treatment.