 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.
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