Why Choose an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Physician for Your Allergy Needs?
Many times it can be difficult for a patient to know whether a problem with the sinuses is caused by allergy, infection, a structural problem, or some combination of these. An ENT physician is trained to help sort this out, and then to treat the causes.
You may be a candidate for allergy skin testing if you find experiencing any of the following symptoms affect your lifestyle:
- Sneezing, runny nose, post nasal drip, or itching eyes.
- Chronic sinus or ear infections, or if your symptoms are ear, nose, or throat related.
Our Method of Testing Is the SET Method. What Does This Mean for You?
Serial Endpoint Titration, or SET, is a method of allergy skin testing that determines whether or not an allergy exsists, and also predicts the highest and safest starting dose for allergy injections (immunotherapy), if this treatment method is needed. Because each person’s degree of sensitivity is different, it is helpful for us to determine your exact degree of sensitivity to each allergen. This custom-fit approach to treatment results in quicker achievment of symptom relief.
Now, How Do You Get Started?
You will need to make an appointment with our physician to discuss allergy skin testing. Once seen, we will send through a referral, and one of us will call you within a week to discuss setting up an appointment for testing. The test takes about two hours to complete. We suggest that you eat a good meal prior to testing.
There may be limitations for the following referral scenarios:
- Adults with inhalant allergies who do not have asthma.
- We do not treat venom sensitivities, drug allergies, food allergies, hives, atopic, and contact dermatitis.
- One of our physicians must see the patient in consultation prior to scheduling testing since sometimes we can recommend alternative types of therapy.
- Since successful immunotherapy (if appropriate) can take up to three years, patients who know they will be relocating within that time frame may be better served by other forms of therapy.
- Patients on beta blockers are not eligible for testing or immunotherapy
Also, ask ahead if you feel you may want to use a topical anesthetic cream to help numb your upper arms for testing. A prescription can be called in to the pharmacy of your choice. You will be given important environmental control information at the time of your test, and you will receive your test results as soon as you are finished. A follow-up appointment is then made to discuss whether or not you are a candidate for immunotherapy.
Once your personal treatment mixture is prepared, we will give you a call and you can begin your Build-Up Phase to feeling better!
Allergy injections are given in the office on a walk-in basis: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Plan a 20-30 minute wait time after each Build-Up Phase injection. You may also be given the option of coming in twice a week to receive your injections, thus cutting your personal Build-Up Phase almost in half; of course, this is providing you are able to receive an injection every time you come in. The length of your personal Build-Up Phase will be discussed with you at your first injection appointment.
What Can You Expect as You Begin Immunotherapy?
We believe in taking a conservative approach to your immunotherapy. Because we choose to build you up in a slow and calculated manner, you may find that you experience little to no reactions at all! Our goal is to slowly introduce the allergens that you tested positive for, causing your body to naturally build up the necessary antibodies to relieve your bothersome symptoms. You may experience some localized reactions at the test or injection sites in the form of itching, redness, and warmth. These are usually relieved by the application of ice or an over-the-counter topical anti-itch cream such as Benadryl. Again, this will be discussed at length at your initial appointment.
When Can You Expect Relief from Those Bothersome Symptoms?
Typically we have found that you can expect to start feeling the benefits from immunotherapy once you have reached your personal maintenance dose.
Because each patient is different and your course of treatment is based upon your test results, this will vary from person to person. Your personal course of treatment will be discussed at your initial immunotherapy appointment. Once you have reached your maintenance dose, several options become available to you. From learning the self-injection technique to choosing to receive your injections at a location more convenient for you, we are devoted to making your course of treatment easy. Before you know it, you will be well on your way to a happier, symptom-free you!
Allergy Care
Wilmington Health is the area’s only practice to provide a multidisciplinary approach to Allergy care for patients of all ages. Allergy providers treat patients with disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and neck. In addition to diagnosing and treating patients’ hypersensitivity to particular substances such as pollen or food.
Our Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics teams diagnosis, treat, and manage general allergy conditions. Pediatrics cares for Allergy patients under the age of 18, while our Internal Medicine team treats patients over the age of 18. Our Family Medicine providers care for patients of all ages.
Our specialty care teams in Ear, Nose, and Throat and Pulmonary offer referral-based care for a variety of conditions.
To schedule an appointment, please call the appropriate specialty and location.
For information regarding our Allergy/Immunology Department, click here.