ALLERGY

ANAPHYLAXIS

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can be caused by exposure to certain allergens. The immune system becomes sensitized to a particular allergen (sensitizing dose), and later exposure to the offending allergen causes a severe, whole body allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis is triggered when the immune system overreacts to a usually harmless substance (an allergen such as peanut or penicillin) causing mild to severe symptoms that affect various parts of the body. Symptoms usually appear within minutes to a few hours after eating a food, swallowing medication or being stung by an insect. Sometimes symptoms go away, and then return a few hours later, so it is important to get to a hospital (call 911) or seek medical care as soon as an anaphylactic reaction begins and to remain under medical observation for as long as the reaction and symptoms continue.

ASTHMA

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory disease caused by the oversensitivity of the lungs and airways to certain triggers such as allergens (dust, pollen, animal dander, mold), cold air, exercise, certain perfumes or colognes, or emotional stress.

DRUG ALLERGY

All medications have the potential to cause side effects, but only about 5% to 10% of adverse reactions to drugs are allergic. A drug allergy happens when you have a harmful reaction to a medicine you use. Your body's immune system fights back by setting off an allergic reaction. Most drug allergies are mild, and the symptoms go away within a few days after you stop using the medicine. But some drug allergies can be very serious. Some drug allergies go away with time. But after you have an allergic reaction to a drug, you will probably always be allergic to that drug. You can also be allergic to other drugs that are like it. Symptoms and treatments of different kinds of adverse reactions vary. When this occurs your doctor will want to find out if you have a true drug allergy or if you have another type of reaction that is different in nature.

EYE (OCULAR) ALLERGY

Allergies of the eye (also called ocular allergies) and related structures affect about one in five (20%) individuals in the United States and are on the rise. About 50% of people with ocular allergy have a family history of allergy. One-half of seasonal and indoor allergy sufferers also have some form of ocular allergy.

FOOD ALLERGY

As with any allergy, a food allergy develops when the immune system attacks a normally harmless substance and creates specific antibodies for this substance. From this point on, whenever the food allergy sufferer eats the food to which they're allergic, the antibodies respond by releasing chemical mediators, like histamine, which cause allergic symptoms to appear.

IMMUNOTHERAPY

Immunotherapy (IT) is a series of injections (shots). In each injection you are given a small amount of a mixture containing extracts to which you are allergic. You start out at a very low concentration and gradually build up to the highest concentration or what we call the “maintenance” strength. Depending on the series prescribed, you will go through 5 or 6 concentrations until you reach the maintenance strength. Each concentration has a different color top on the vial. The usual maintenance strength is a red top vial.

INSECT ALLERGY

Insect allergies are allergic reactions to the bite or sting of an insect. Insects which commonly generate allergic responses include either stinging insects such as bees, wasps, hornets, ants (which can cause life threatening reactions) or biting insects such as mosquitoes and ticks (rarely causing severe reactions). Stinging insects normally inject venom while biting insects normally inject anti-coagulants (proteins that thin the blood).

LATEX ALLERGY

Latex allergy is a medical term that describes a range of allergic reactions to natural rubber latex. With a latex allergy, the body's immune system identifies latex as a harmful substance which triggers certain cells to produce antibodies to fight the latex component (the allergen). The next time you come in contact with latex, either through direct contact or inhalation, the antibodies sense it and signal your immune system to release histamine and other chemicals into your bloodstream, resulting in the allergic reaction.

NASAL POLYPS

Nasal polyps are small sac-like growths that line the nose and are made of inflamed tissue. Nasal polyps start near the ethmoid sinuses and grow into the open areas of the nasal cavity. Large polyps may block the airways leading to respiratory constriction and difficulty breathing.

SINUSITIS

Sinusitis is the condition consisting of the inflammation or infection of the paranasal sinuses caused by infection from a multitude of issues including bacterial, fungal, viral, allergic or autoimmune.

SKIN ALLERGY

Skin allergies can take several forms and have a variety of causes. They can be painful, unpleasant, and frustrating. There are things you can do to treat and prevent an allergic skin reaction. The most common allergic skin conditions are:

RHINITIS

There are two types of rhinitis: allergic and non-allergic. Allergic rhinitis, commonly referred to as “hay fever”, is the inflammation or irritation of areas in the nose caused by inhalation of airborne allergens such as pollen, dust, or pet dander. According to recent studies completed in the United States, more than 50 million Americans are current sufferers of rhinitis.