We provide complete allergy testing services, seasonal/perennial allergy treatment, asthma and sinusitis care, immunology, environment counseling, and more. We also offer treatment for a variety of afflictions, including allergic rhinitis, asthma, chronic sinusitis, atopic dermatitis, and many others.
Immunotherapy
We offer accelerated immunotherapy with a shorter treatment schedule. Immunotherapy is a small-dose vaccine made from the very substance that you’re allergic to—pollen, grass, etc. This then prompts your body to respond. Throughout the course of the treatment, your body is exposed to more and more of the vaccine to help increase your resistance. At this point, it doesn’t matter that an allergen like grass or tree pollen fills the air you breathe – you usually feel terrific and show no signs of allergy. Some patients go into full, permanent remission after five or more years of regularly administered injections and are never again bothered by their former allergies.
As for getting your immunotherapy treatment, it’s as easy as dropping in without having to make an appointment. And you don’t need to be concerned about delaying your treatment program due to a vacation or other inability to get your treatment. If you miss a treatment once in a while, don’t worry; you’re still on the road to recovery.
How is Immunotherapy different from other medical treatments?
Immunotherapy
- Initially develops blocking antibodies, freeing the patient from experiencing multiple allergy symptoms.
- Develops long-term T-cell memory to permanently relieve allergic immune damage.
- Normalizes immune response; enables appropriate physiologic responses against infections.
- Increasing dosage results in higher level of protection; residual protection develops over time.
- Protection against allergy allows patient, in most cases, to experience a completely normal lifestyle without undue restrictions.
- Results in allergy symptom scores plummeting by 60% to 70% (thereby dramatically increasing patient satisfaction).
- May be continued through pregnancy.
Medication
- No long-term effect; effect stops when usage is discontinued.
- No significant beneficial effect on immune system.
- Partial improvement of allergy condition requires the use of several medications since each medication partially blocks only one specific mediator and many mediators aren’t treatable with currently available medications.
- Side effects can disrupt lifestyle enjoyment.
- Results in allergy symptom scores waning by a mere 10% to 20%; patient dissatisfaction is significant.
- Use during pregnancy limited.
Hives
If you’ve ever had hives, you know how terrible they are. They typically appear as red, itchy, and swollen areas of skin. They can range in size and be found anywhere on your body. Sometimes they occur suddenly, most likely due to an allergic reaction to medication, food, viral infections, temperature extremes, water, sun, or physical exercise. Worse yet, they can last for months, and in some cases, years. Treatment typically consists of oral antihistamines and is usually successful.
Angioedema
Alongside hives, some people also experience Angioedema, which is the swelling of the deep layers of your skin. Typically, it affects the soft tissues of the eyelids, mouth, or genitals. Angioedema is called “acute” if the condition lasts only a short time (minutes to days). Similar to hives, it’s caused by an allergic reaction and can last over a long period of time.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease involving the airways in the lungs. In people with asthma, the airways become swollen or inflamed making it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs, which can make it hard to breathe. In many cases, asthma symptoms can be caused by caused by exposure to allergens such as pet dander, dust mites, pollen or mold. Non-allergic triggers include smoke, pollution, cold air, or changes in weather.
Symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness or pain
- Chronic coughing
- Trouble sleeping due to coughing or wheezing
To ensure you receive the best treatment for your asthma before you come into our office pay attention to your symptoms including when they occur:
- At night or early morning
- During or after exercise
- After laughing or crying
- When exposed to common asthma triggers
Child Asthma
Pediatric asthma is a serious chronic disease that can be difficult to diagnose.
Common symptoms include:
- Wheezing (whistling sound) when breathing
- Coughing
- Rapid breathing
- Labored breathing
- Complaints of chest hurting
- Reduced energy
- Feeling weak or tired
Just like in adults, childhood asthma can’t be cured, but it can be managed with the right medications. At the Allergy Medical Group, we can help you come up with the appropriate regimen to manage their asthma.
Allergic Rhinitis
Caused by allergens, allergic rhinitis may cause a runny nose, sneezing, congestion and sinus pressure. It can also contribute to other problems such as asthma, sinus or ear conditions, or trouble sleeping.
For some individuals, their allergic rhinitis is seasonal and caused by outdoor allergens such as pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds. Or it can be year-round and triggered by allergens such as pets, dust mites, or food. Strong odors, pollution, smoke, and other irritants may cause symptoms of non-allergic rhinitis in some individuals.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is a condition that causes an infection or inflammation in your sinuses. Typically, symptoms last for three weeks or less, though chronic sufferers can experience symptoms for years.
Symptoms include:
- A headache when you wake up in the morning
- Aching upper jaw and teeth and tender cheeks
- Swelling of eyelids and surrounding tissue
- Stuffy nose, loss of smell and tenderness around the nose
- Pain between the eyes
- Earaches, neck pain and aching at the top of the head
- Fever
- Weakness and exhaustion
- A cough that worsens at night
- Sore throat
If you suffer from allergic rhinitis, you may also develop sinusitis because of the increased assaults on the delicate tissues within your sinus cavities. At first, it’s tough to tell the difference between sinusitis and a common cold. A cold will usually go away within a week or two without treatment. Acute sinusitis typically lasts longer and causes more symptoms.
Contact Dermatitis and Patch Testing
Allergy reactions upon contact with an allergen occur primarily on the skin. Sometimes, systemic contact reactions occur due to ingested allergens (food and drugs). At the Allergy Medical Group, we provide comprehensive Patch Testing to diagnose immediate or late contact reactants. This helps us to institute an appropriate therapy.
Contact Dermatitis causes inflammation on your skin as a result of contact with an allergen or irritant.
Symptoms include:
- Red rash, bumps or burn-like rash on the skin
- Itchy, painful or burning skin
- Blisters and draining fluid
Food Allergy and Intolerance
Patients with a life-threatening reaction to food and intolerance to foods are diagnosed at our office using skin tests, blood tests, and challenge tests. Typically, we’ll help figure out if you have an intolerance or food allergy by completing an oral challenge, where you are put in contact with a tiny amount of food.
Common food allergies and intolerances include:
- Cow’s milk
- Eggs
- Fish
- Peanuts
- Shellfish
- Soy
- Tree nuts
- Wheat
At the Allergy Medical Group, we’ll help you determine if you are allergic to a particular food, or just intolerant. The practice can help induce tolerance to food as well. In either case, you’ll gain the information you need to live a healthier life.
Drug Allergy and Intolerance
Drug allergies and intolerance are common and occur in every age group. Our office is able to diagnose and advise appropriate management of these issues. Common testing includes Aspirin, Penicillin, NSAID drugs, Antibiotics, Injectables, Biological, Chemotherapeutic drugs using published protocols.
Eczema
Eczema is a chronic or recurrent inflammatory skin disease that usually begins in the first few years of life. It is often the initial indication that a child may later develop asthma and/or allergic rhinitis (hay fever). In infants, eczema usually appears as tiny bumps on the cheeks. Older children and adults often experience rashes on the knees and elbows (often in the folds of the joints), on the backs of hands or on the scalp.
Symptoms include:
- Patches of skin that are red or brownish
- Itchy skin, especially at night
- Dry, cracked or scaly skin