Allergy Testing and Treatment
More than 50 million people in the United States have allergies. Finding out what you are allergic to is an important first step to effective allergy treatment. Today allergy tests are more convenient and accurate than ever before. When combined with a detailed medical history, allergy testing can identify the specific things that trigger your allergic reactions.
Allergy Testing
Allergy testing is a fifteen minute process that is done in the office. Patients are tested for forty-eight of the most common environmental factors in the East Texas area, including molds, pets, trees, grasses, and weeds. The testing is done by placing five skin testers on the skin, each containing ten extracts.
These are applied in a quick and timely manner by simply applying pressure against the skin with the skin testers. If positive reactions occur, there will be small local reactions in the relevant areas, similar to mosquito bites. Usually, any positive reactions are also accompanied with an itching sensation.
Results of the skin test are almost immediate after the testing is complete. Therefore, if the test is valid, patients will know which environmental allergens they react to before leaving the office. If allergies of the patients result in disruptions of their quality of lives, then immunotherapy options can be discussed in office. Immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, is where the body responds to particular amounts of antigens by developing immunity or tolerance to the allergen in gradually increased doses. Most environmental allergies are curable, some in as little as six months of treatments. On average, 85% are cured for life within two years of starting immunotherapy. The best part about the immunotherapy is that we will teach you how to do this so that you will be comfortable in completing the injections at home. Make an appointment with your local clinical allergy specialist to see if allergy testing and treatment is the right option for you.
