Patient Information | Types of Allergens | Testing Options | Allergy Treatment | Tools for the Patient

As an allergy patient, you may be allergic to more than one thing. It is important to know what you are allergic to so that your doctor can design the appropriate treatment for you. Once diagnosed, there are three courses of treatments for allergy, which may be used in combination with one another.

Avoidance and Environmental Control
Not really a treatment for the patient in the classical sense, avoidance aims to manage the environment surrounding the allergic patient. For food allergy, the food is eliminated from the diet. (Not an easy task, since there are so many hidden allergies in processed foods manufactured in the U.S and abroad.) For dust mite allergy, allergen-barrier covers are available for bedding. Take the necessary steps to minimize your exposure to the triggers of your allergies.

Immunotherapy
Classical immunotherapy is a treatment in which a solution of the allergen is injected into the allergic patient in an effort to develop the immune system’s tolerance of the allergen. New methods for immunotherapy are emerging in which the injections are replaced by tablets or drops that are placed under the tongue (sublingual immunotherapy).

Pharmacotherapy
Perhaps the most common treatment for allergies is an antihistamine, either over-the-counter or prescription. Most patients take these and other prescription allergy drugs without the benefit of identifying the allergens that are causing their symptoms. As a result, many of the patients who receive these drugs will require on-going therapy, the long-term health effects of which are unknown.

This information is intended for education purposes only and is not a substitute for the care of your health care provider. Allergic patients are encouraged to consult their physicians.