Allergy Conditions We Treat
There are several types of allergy conditions that we treat at Integrated ENT, all of which are discussed below. Learn more about the different conditions, symptoms, and treatment options available for each.
Your doctor will recommend which allergy treatments are best for you depending on the type of allergy you have.
Nasal, Sinus and Eye Conditions
There are several different types of allergies that affect nasal and sinus passages, as well as the eyes, including:
- Seasonal and Indoor Allergies
- Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)
- Allergies to Pollen, Pet Dander, Mold, and Dust
- Non-Allergic or Vasomotor Rhinitis
- Allergic Conjunctivitis (eye allergies)
Allergic rhinitis (or hay fever) refers to inflammation of the nasal passages. Symptoms often include sneezing, itching, congestion (stuffy nose), runny nose, and postnasal drip. Many seasonal and indoor allergens, such as pollen, pet dander, mold or dust, can cause allergic rhinitis, among other things.
Environmental Control for Allergies
Pets
All animals produce dander, so there are no such things as a non-allergic pet. The protein in your pet’s saliva, urine, and dander causes an allergic reaction. The best strategy for pet owners that are allergic to their pets is to keep the pet out of the bedroom. Below are some additional suggestions that can help.
- Consider replacing bedding and carpeting once the pet has been removed from the bedroom.
- Have your pet bathed once a week.
- Have your pet brushed outside on a regular basis.
- Reduce animal dander in the air with a HEPA air purifier.
- Place an efficient filter in your furnace to help remove pet dander from circulating air.
Dust Mites in Colorado
The most allergic component of dust is the dust mite. Dust mites do not survive well at high altitudes and dry climates such as Colorado’s. If you are sensitive to dust mites and travel to humid parts of the country, it is important to focus on controlling them in the bedroom and other rooms where a lot of time is spent. Below are some suggestions that can help.
- Vacuum carpets, wet mop all hard surface floors, and dust with a damp cloth twice weekly.
- Remove carpeting from the bedroom, or use a low-pile carpet, if necessary.
- Eliminate “dust collectors” in the bedroom such as books, stuffed animals, and knick-knacks.
- Cover furnace vents with cheesecloth.
Pollen in Colorado
Due to the Colorado dry air, pollen can travel many miles through the air. The best way to reduce your exposure is to keep your windows closed in your bedroom where you spend the most concentrated time. Below are additional suggestions that can help.
- Try to avoid going outside in the early morning or late evening when pollen counts are highest.
- Have someone else do the yard work if possible.
- Do not hang clothes or bedding outside to dry.
Trees pollinate February through May.
Grasses pollinate May through July.
Weeds pollinate July through our first hard frost.
____________________________________________
Some patients have no identifiable allergies on testing and fall into the category of non-allergic or vasomotor rhinitis, which usually indicates a hyper-responsiveness of the nose due to a nerve imbalance.
Treatments for allergic rhinitis include avoidance techniques, medications, and immunotherapy (allergy shots). Non-allergic rhinitis is treated with avoidance (if possible) and medications.
Allergic conjunctivitis (or eye allergies) often coincides with nasal allergies, but it can also occur on its own. Eye symptoms include itchiness, wateriness, or redness. Treatment options include medications, such as eye drops and/or oral antihistamines, and immunotherapy.
Lung Conditions
Lung conditions affect your breathing, and for some people breathing trouble can be a sign that there is a problem with their lungs, keeping them from working as they should. If breathing problems come on suddenly or are severe, call 911.
There are several types of lung problems that can affect your breathing, including asthma, exercise-induced bronchospasms, and chronic cough.
Asthma is a long-term disease that makes your airways swollen, inflamed and narrow, so it is hard to move air in and out of your lungs. Symptoms often include cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Diagnosis is based on history, exam, chest x-ray, and blood test. Allergen exposure and certain illnesses may cause intermittent symptoms or exercise may induce symptoms (exercise-induced bronchospasms, EIB). Symptoms can also be persistent and require daily medications (e.g., albuterol inhaler) to prevent or control lung inflammation. For children, a chronic cough can be a sign of asthma and is known as “cough variant” asthma. Immunotherapy (allergy shots) can help prevent the progression of allergies to asthma when utilized in children. Asthma-related coughs won’t respond to cough drops, suppressants or antibiotics. You would need asthma medication.
Triggers for allergic asthma may include dust mites, mold, perfume, pet dander, and pollen. Of course, you should stay away from these triggers whenever possible, but if they cannot be avoided, your doctor may prescribe antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays, other nasal sprays or allergy shots. There are also other things you can do in your home to avoid such triggers, such as using special filters in your vacuum cleaner.
Besides being a possible symptom of asthma, chronic cough can also be a sign of rhinitis, allergic or non-allergic. Reflux is another common cause of a chronic cough. Treatment of a chronic cough is based on a diagnosis, which usually requires evaluation and testing.
Other Conditions
There are many other conditions that can cause allergic reactions, including
- Anaphylaxis
- Food Allergies
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Latex Allergy
- Oral Allergy Syndrome or Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe systemic reaction to a trigger that needs medical treatment right away. The most common causes are allergies to peanuts, insect bites, and seafood. If you have an anaphylaxis reaction to a trigger, you need an epinephrine (adrenaline) shot right away, and someone should call 911. If left untreated, it can be deadly. As a follow-up, doctors will do a thorough history and physical, and testing to determine allergen triggers, so patients can avoid such triggers in the future.
Patients who have confirmed drug and food allergies should wear a medical alert bracelet or pendant or carry a card with information about their allergy. They should also carry at least two doses of epinephrine with them at all times, as once you’ve had an anaphylaxis reaction before you are at a higher risk of having another one.
Allergens. Food Allergies (e.g., peanuts, shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, soy wheat); Drug allergies (e.g., penicillin, aspirin, ibuprofen, muscle relaxants, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-seizure medications); Insect Bites and Stings (e.g., bees, wasps, hornets, Lone Star ticks, yellow jackets, and fire ants); Latex; Pollen (e.g., tree, grass, ragweed); or a Combination of These Triggers
Symptoms. Throat Swelling, Shortness of Breath, Wheezing, Coughing, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Cramping, Low Blood Pressure, Fainting, Swollen or Itchy Lips or Tongue; Skin manifestations, such as hives, swelling, and flushing are usually in conjunction with the other systems listed above.
Treatment. Avoidance of Triggers, Epinephrine Injections or Emergency Room Care for More Severe Cases
Food Allergies
Food allergies are different than food intolerances. In the case of a food allergy, the immune system triggers an abnormal response to a food. Food intolerance has no immune system response. For example, being allergic to milk is different than not being able to digest it properly due to lactose intolerance.
Allergens. Eggs, Casein, Fish, Milk, Nuts, Shellfish, Soy, Sulfites, Wheat, and Nuts
Symptoms. Abdominal Pain, Diarrhea, Digestive Problems, Hives, Itching in the Mouth, Swallowing, Swollen Airway, Swollen Lips, Trouble Breathing, and Vomiting
Treatments. Antihistamine Drugs and Bronchodilators for Minor Cases; Epinephrine Injections or Emergency Room Care for More Severe Cases
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic immune system disease affecting the digestive system. Patients with this disease have a white blood cell that builds up in the lining of the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach (esophagus). This build-up, which is a reaction to foods, allergens or acid reflux, can inflame or injure the esophageal tissue, which can lead to difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or cause food to get stuck when you swallow. Other symptoms include chest pain that is often centrally located and does not respond to antacids, persistent heartburn, upper abdominal pain, no response to gastroesophageal reflux disease medication, and backflow of undigested food (regurgitation).
Your doctor may order a blood test to confirm the diagnosis and to begin to look for the sources of your allergic reaction (allergens). If you have a higher than normal eosinophil count or total immunoglobulin E levels, this would suggest an allergy.
Latex Allergy
Some people are allergic to latex, which is found in rubber gloves and other products, such as balloons, condoms, elastic bandages, envelope adhesive, rubber bands, and anesthesia face masks. Symptoms from latex exposure can vary from a contact rash to a full-body systemic reaction or anaphylaxis. If you have a severe reaction, call 911. Avoidance is key, even in those with just a rash as progression to anaphylaxis is unpredictable. Patients who have a confirmed latex allergy should wear a medical alert bracelet or pendant or carry a card with information about their allergy.
Allergen. Latex Products in Community and Hospital Settings
Symptoms. Red, Itchy Rash Where Your Skin Touched Latex; Swelling Around the Skin Where it Touched You; Sneezing, Runny Nose, or Teary Eyes
Symptoms for Severe Reactions. Trouble Breathing or Swallowing, Chest Pain, Drop in Blood Pressure, Wheezing, Tightness in Chest
Treatments. Avoidance; Oral Antihistamine (avoid antihistamine creams or gels, as they make your skin feel worse); Calamine Lotion or 1% Hydrocortisone Cream; Emergency Care for Severe Reactions
Oral Allergy Syndrome or Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome
People who have these allergies usually have symptoms right after they eat or within an hour after eating. They take a bite of an apple or a banana, and they immediately experience itching, tingling, and swelling to the mouth, lips, and throat. This happens because their immune systems cannot tell the difference between proteins in these foods and pollen due to the cross-reactivity of pollen with certain raw fruits and vegetables. Many people don’t even know they have these allergies. They usually find out when their allergy testing is negative for foods, but positive for pollen (e.g., birch, grass, or ragweed). In most cases, symptoms don’t last long. It is also rare to have a severe or life-threatening reaction (anaphylaxis), but it can happen. Fortunately, some patients have found that if they heat the raw fruit or vegetable, denaturing the cross-reactive protein, it allows them to eat the food without incident.
Allergen. Allergic Antibody (IgE) to a Specific Food
Symptoms. Itching, Tingling, and Swelling to the Mouth, Lips, and Throat; Hives, Respiratory Distress, Cramping, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Lightheadedness, Dizziness, Fainting
Treatments. Oral Antihistamines; Immunotherapy (e.g., allergy shots); Epinephrine and Emergency Care for Severe Reactions; Avoidance of Triggers; Heating the Fruit or Vegetable
Contact Us
If you think you are suffering from an allergy, call Integrated ENT of Lone Tree at
(303) 706-1616 to schedule a full allergy workup. We treat adults as well as children, 5 years and older. Note that children often present symptoms differently than adults. Their symptoms may include, ear infections, snoring, hives, swollen airways, irritability, and dietary problems. Please contact us to see how we may help you or your loved one. You may also request an appointment online.