 Listen to our commercial about our
Allergy Services.
Our Allergy Department provides care for those patients with suspected
or diagnosed allergy problems. The care provided includes skin
testing and allergy injections. As asthma is often associated with
allergy problems, treatment can also include appropriate management with
inhalers or oral medication.
Based on your allergic history and results of allergy skin testing,
you may benefit from allergy injections. The purpose of the
injections is to decrease allergy symptoms following exposure to certain
allergens. Approximately 75% to 80% of patients notice some
benefits within six to twelve months after starting immunotherapy.
Usually, treatment is continued for up to five years. While you are
receiving allergy injections, your allergy physician will still need to
see you at regular intervals. These re-evaluations are necessary
in order to assess your condition and make medication changes.
It usually takes about 15-20 separate visits as the dose is being
increased gradually to reach the "top dose" or "maintenance dose."
During the first four to six months of treatment, the injections are
given at a frequency of 3-14 days, usually weekly. After the
maintenance dose has been reached, the injections are usually given
every one to two weeks and in some cases after one year the interval may
be gradually lengthened depending on symptom response. Some
patients, after achieving their maintenance dose, benefit from weekly
injections during a period when allergy symptoms are more bothersome.
Whether you receive one, two or three at each visit depends upon the
number of positive skin tests and your allergic reaction.
You may have a reaction to your allergy injections and it is very
important that you are aware of the possible symptoms that could
develop. A LOCAL REACTION is the persistence of swelling or
redness surrounding the injections site which is larger that a 50 cent
piece and lasts longer than 24 hours after the injection is given.
If this occurs, please inform the nurse before your next injection.
If your arm is uncomfortably sore or swollen after you return home from
receiving an injection, you may apply an ice pack to the site
intermittently for a few minutes until you feel more comfortable.
A SYSTEMIC REACTION is more serious than a local reaction. The
most common symptoms may be any or all of the following: generalized
skin itching, itching of the nose and abdominal cramps. These
symptoms usually occur within 20 minutes after an injection. If
you have any signs of a systemic reaction, please report them to the
nurse immediately. Strenuous exercise one hour before or after an
allergy injection increases the likelihood of a reaction and should be
avoided.
Each time you return to the office for an injection, tell the
receptionist your full name and the fact that you are here for an
"allergy injection." Before the nurse gives the allergy
injections, she will ask if your last injections were tolerated.
The nurse must also be informed of any troublesome allergy symptoms,
current illness, pregnancy, new medical diagnosis or new medications.
Allergy injections may not be given if you are taking beta blocker
medications.
|
