Allergy and Immunotherapy

Allergy is the body's abnormal response to some foreign substance. Allergic individuals have overzealous immune systems which cause exaggerated responses to substances which cause no difficulty in most individuals. These substances are called allergens and stimulate the body to form sensitizing antibodies. Repeated exposure results in the allergen combining with the antibodies causing the body to release histamine and other chemicals, which sets off a chemical warfare inside the body.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF AN ALLERGY?

Some symptoms of allergies may include:

• Sneezing
• Watering/itching eyes
• Cold-like symptoms that won't go away
• Chronic cough
• Clear nasal discharge
• Nasal congestion

HOW COMMON ARE ALLERGIES?

Approximately 35 million people in the U.S. have allergies. Allergy symptoms account for more visits to the doctor than any other single disease and are the leading cause of missed school days in this country.

ARE ALLERGIES INHERITED?

Specific allergies are not inherited, however you can inherit the tendency to develop allergies. For example, if one parent has allergies their children will have a 50% chance of developing allergies. If both parents suffer from allergies the probability of their children developing allergies increases to 75-80%.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR ALLERGENS?

1. Seasonal - Active only during certain times of the year and include pollens such as:

• Trees
• Grasses
• Weeds

2. Perennial - Bother people all year long and include:

• Dust
• Mites
• Mold Spores
• Animal dander

HOW ARE ALLERGIES TREATED?

1. Avoidance:

• Dust free bedroom
• Mold control
• Pollen avoidance
• Eliminate pets or keep them outdoors

2. Medications:

• Antihistamines: help control "wet symptoms" (sneezing, runny nose and post nasal drip)
• Decongestants: help congestion by shrinking swollen nasal tissues
• Nasal sprays: reduce inflammation and swelling in the nose

3. Immunotherapy: allergy injections stimulates the formation of blocking antibodies which prevent your allergic reaction

Many of the common disorders that are treated by ENT specialists are complications of allergic disease. These include:

• sinusitis
• nasal polyps
• perennial and seasonal rhinitis
• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• recurrent ear infections
• dizziness and Meniere's disease
• enlarged tonsils and adenoids

If you have questions or would like some more information on allergies, contact our allergy department at: (304) 340-2201.