Welcome to the Allergy Clinic
Allergy Testing
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Allergy testing is indicated and ordered by our physicians depending
on your diagnosis, patient history, and current symptoms. Allergy
testing involves having a skin or blood test to find out what
allergen(s) triggers an allergic response. Dust mites, trees
weeds, molds and cat/dog dander are tested.
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Allergy Shot Guidelines
Allergy
shots are indicated for the patient who is not being controlled with regular use
of allergy medications and/or avoidance of allergy triggers and patients who
cannot tolerate medications.
For patient safety allergy injections must be
given in a medical facility, with physician present and emergency medical
equipment readily available in case of an allergic reaction.
There are two basic types of potential reactions
to injections. The most common type is a “local” reaction that may include
minimal swelling, a small hive, redness and/or itching at the site of the
injection. The less common type is a “systemic” or “anaphylactic” reaction which
may include immediate itching, hives, wheezing, shortness of breath, increased
allergy and/or asthma related symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
The first year of allergy injections require 1-2
visits per week at our office or your primary care physician until a maintenance
dose is reached. Injections start at the weakest dilution advancing to the
strongest (maintenance) dilution. Once maintenance is achieved, the
recommended schedule is weekly. During peak allergy season your schedule may
need to be adjusted to reduce symptoms.
After the first year of weekly injections, we can
usually extend the schedule to every 2 weeks and hopefully every 3 weeks by the
third year. Consistency in maintaining your shot schedule is important to your
overall benefit from immunotherapy.
We are open daily for allergy injections. No
appointment necessary. Please review clinic hours.
