Some patients at our Knoxville Tennessee office are just not sure what they are supposed to expect the first time they visit an allergist. What they need to do to prepare and what exactly will happen at the office is a mystery to most of our patients.
Some patients aren't clear on why they even need to see an allergist with all of the over the counter medications that are available. Allergies can be more than an irritation. Allergies can be the underlying cause of frequent sinus, ear, and upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Untreated allergies can even exacerbate or cause asthma. Allergies cause approximately 80 percent of all asthma in children and 50 percent of all asthma in adults.
The first time a patient visits an allergist they should expect the visit to take two to three hours. In order to be prepared for the visit the patient may be asked to stop taking antihistamines or other decongestant drugs prior to the visit. Some drugs may interfere with the results of the tests, and getting the most accurate results from the initial assessment is very important.
Once the visit with the allergist begins the allergist will conduct a patient history including an analysis of the patient's symptoms, a relevant physical exam and a thorough environmental evaluation. The allergist will conduct a skin test to determine the patient's specific allergies. This skin test is effective to evaluate both inhalant and food allergens. Common allergies include allergies to dust mites, pollens, mold, and pet dander.
A skin test is a simple procedure that is best described as tiny scratches made on the surface of the skin on the patient's back. The scratches are conducted with a small instrument that looks like a plastic toothpick, which contains trace amounts of a single allergen. If the patient is allergic to a substance, a small mosquito bite-like bump will appear. The allergist can determine the patient's unique allergy profile and the severity of the allergies based on the results of the skin test.
Once the allergens that are causing symptoms are identified, a treatment plan can be recommended. These treatment plans include avoidance of allergens, medications, and/or immunotherapy. After the initial visit with the allergist treatment should begin. For those going through immunotherapy they can expect two injections per week for three months followed by a year of weekly injections. Many patients going through immunotherapy show improvement after six months.
For more information about allergies and related problems visit our website at AllergyASC.com.
Some patients aren't clear on why they even need to see an allergist with all of the over the counter medications that are available. Allergies can be more than an irritation. Allergies can be the underlying cause of frequent sinus, ear, and upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Untreated allergies can even exacerbate or cause asthma. Allergies cause approximately 80 percent of all asthma in children and 50 percent of all asthma in adults.
The first time a patient visits an allergist they should expect the visit to take two to three hours. In order to be prepared for the visit the patient may be asked to stop taking antihistamines or other decongestant drugs prior to the visit. Some drugs may interfere with the results of the tests, and getting the most accurate results from the initial assessment is very important.
Once the visit with the allergist begins the allergist will conduct a patient history including an analysis of the patient's symptoms, a relevant physical exam and a thorough environmental evaluation. The allergist will conduct a skin test to determine the patient's specific allergies. This skin test is effective to evaluate both inhalant and food allergens. Common allergies include allergies to dust mites, pollens, mold, and pet dander.
A skin test is a simple procedure that is best described as tiny scratches made on the surface of the skin on the patient's back. The scratches are conducted with a small instrument that looks like a plastic toothpick, which contains trace amounts of a single allergen. If the patient is allergic to a substance, a small mosquito bite-like bump will appear. The allergist can determine the patient's unique allergy profile and the severity of the allergies based on the results of the skin test.
Once the allergens that are causing symptoms are identified, a treatment plan can be recommended. These treatment plans include avoidance of allergens, medications, and/or immunotherapy. After the initial visit with the allergist treatment should begin. For those going through immunotherapy they can expect two injections per week for three months followed by a year of weekly injections. Many patients going through immunotherapy show improvement after six months.
For more information about allergies and related problems visit our website at AllergyASC.com.
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