Thanks to our caring specialists, your days of sneezing, wheezing, coughing and itching due to allergies can finally come to an end. To pinpoint the cause of your allergies, we use the most advanced testing methods available. We recommend the appropriate test based on your symptoms and give you your results during the same office visit. That way your treatment can begin immediately. We can help you find welcomed relief from:

Hay fever/Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is an especially common chronic nasal problem in adolescents and young adults. Allergies to inhalants like pollen, dust, and animal dander begin to cause sinus and nasal symptoms in early childhood. Infants and young children are especially susceptible to allergic sensitivity to foods and indoor allergens.

Rhino-Sinusitis

Rhino-sinusitis: Clarifying The Relationship Between The Sinuses And Rhinitis

Recent studies by otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeons have better defined the association between rhinitis and sinusitis. They have concluded that sinusitis is often preceded by rhinitis and rarely occurs without concurrent rhinitis. The symptoms, nasal obstruction/discharge and loss of smell, occur in both disorders. Most importantly, computed tomography (CT scan) findings have established that the mucosal linings of the nose and sinuses are simultaneously involved in the common cold (previously, thought to affect only the nasal passages). Otolaryngologists, acknowledging the inter-relationship between the nasal and sinus passages, now refer to sinusitis as rhino-sinusitis.

The catalyst relating the two disorders is thought to involve nasal sinus overflow obstruction, followed by bacterial colonization and infection leading to acute, recurrent, or chronic sinusitis. Likewise, chronic inflammation due to allergies can lead to obstruction and subsequent sinusitis.

Eye allergies

People who have allergies are often quick to seek help for symptoms like sneezing, sniffling, and nasal congestion. But allergies can affect the eyes as well as the nose, causing red, itchy, burning, and watery eyes and swollen eyelids. The good news is that the same treatments and self-help strategies that ease nasal allergy symptoms work against eye allergies, too.

Like all allergies, eye allergies are caused by a glitch in the body’s immune system. The trouble starts when the conjunctiva (the mucous membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the whites of the eyes) comes into contact with something that, while actually harmless, is seen as a threat. In a mistaken attempt to fight off the threat, the immune system makes antibodies that cause your eyes to release histamine and other substances. That, in turn, makes eyes red, itchy, and watery. Eye allergy symptoms can happen alone or along with nasal allergy symptoms.

Occupational allergies

Work related sneezing, nasal discharge and obstruction should alert one to possible occupational disease.  The onset of symptoms may be similar to occupational lung disease occurring after prolonged and repeated exposure to the offending allergen. Quite often Occupational Rhinitis may precede occupational asthma, thus early diagnosis of occupational rhinitis may enable the employee to avoid further exposure and prevent the development of asthma.  Non-allergic Irritant Occupational Rhinitis may occur after exposure to coal dust, talc, chlorine and cold air.

Points to consider in suspected Occupational Allergy

• Where do you work?
• What exactly does your job involve?
• Are your allergies worse at work or in the early evening?
• Do your symptoms improve over weekends or when you are away from work on leave?
• Do you regularly get exposed to chemicals, paint, dust or fumes at work?
• Are you repeatedly exposed to high levels of these agents on a daily basis?
• Are other people at work similarly affected with symptoms?

Treatment Options

Avoidance Therapy – Once it has been determined what allergens you are allergic to a plan can be created to avoid these allergens in your environment if at all possible.

Pharmacology – There are many pharmaceutical products available to treat the allergic reaction such as antihistamines, nasal sprays and more depending on your symptoms.

Immunotherapy Allergy Shots – Allergen immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, is a form of long-term treatment that decreases symptoms for many people with allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, conjunctivitis (eye allergy) or stinging insect allergy. Allergy shots decrease sensitivity to allergens and often lead to lasting relief of allergy symptoms even after treatment is stopped. This makes it a cost-effective, beneficial treatment approach for many people.

Sublingual Therapy (SLIT) – Is a variation of immunotherapy that delivers and allergen solution under the tongue rather than through injection.

Food Allergies

Read more about food allergies here.