Accurate diagnosis is the first step in developing an effective therapeutic plan. Allergists have years of specialized training to perform allergy testing, identify the cause of your symptoms, and develop a personalized treatment plan.

 

 

Finding out what you are allergic to is an important first step to effective allergy treatment. Allergy tests are more convenient and accurate than ever before. When combined with a detailed medical history, allergy testing can identify the specific things that trigger your allergic reactions.

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Allergy shots are the most commonly used and most effective form of allergy immunotherapy. Shots are effective in treating reactions to many allergens, including trees, grass, weeds, mold, house dust, dander, and insect stings.

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Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is an alternative way to treat allergies without injections. Small doses of allergens are administered under the tongue to boost tolerance to the substance and reduce symptoms. Currently, the only forms of SLIT approved by the FDA are tablets for ragweed, grass pollen, and dust mite.  The safety and efficacy of allergy drops is still being established by the FDA, and they are only used off-label in the United States.

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Spirometry is an important test to diagnose and understand asthma severity and control. It doesn’t hurt at all; you just blow very hard into a tube. The tube is connected to a computer that measures how well your lungs are functioning.

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In a challenge test to determine allergies, a very small amount of an allergen is inhaled or taken by mouth. Challenges are done mostly to diagnose food or medication allergies. It is very important for challenge testing to be supervised by an allergist/immunologist.