Allergy Treatments at South Florida ENT Associates

When an allergen re-enters the body, the immune system rapidly recognizes it, causing a series of reactions. These reactions often involve tissue destruction, blood vessel dilation, and the production of many inflammatory substances, including histamine. Histamine produces common allergy symptoms such as itchy, watery eyes, nasal and sinus congestion, headaches, sneezing, scratchy throat, hives, shortness of breath, etc. Other less common symptoms are balance disturbances, skin irritations such as eczema, and even respiratory problems like asthma.

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Available Treatments

  • Allergy testing
  • Allergy shots
  • Allergy drops
  • Biologic therapy
  • Food allergy testing
  • Drug allergy testing

Allergy Treatment Methods 

Allergy Shots

Allergy shots can help patients build a tolerance to their environmental allergen. The treatment begins with one to two injections a week and slowly decreases until only maintenance is required. As you continue with the treatment, the dosage of the allergen will increase, leading to a tolerance of the allergen and lasting relief.

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Allergy Drops

Allergy drops are a form of immunotherapy, and use your allergy to help decrease sensitivity. The formula will be customized to your specific allergen and can be taken by placing a few drops beneath the tongue. Over time, these drops will help you find relief from your allergy symptoms. 

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Allergy Testing

Some patients have a suspected allergy, but may not have received a definite diagnosis yet. Our staff can perform testing to give you confirmation. We offer several types of allergy testing including:

Drug Allergy Testing

There are several methods used for drug allergy testing, including a skin prick, patch testing, oral tests, and more. These tests can help you avoid any medications that may be harmful to you and ensure you don’t unnecessarily avoid medications that may be beneficial. 

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Food Allergy Testing

Our staff can test food allergies using a skin prick test, blood testing, or an elimination diet where certain foods are removed from your diet and then slowly added back in. 

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Environmental Allergy Testing

This type of allergy test is performed by injecting a small amount of a specific allergen beneath the skin and monitoring any reaction. Our staff can test common environmental allergens such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and mold.

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Biologic Therapy

Biologic therapy can help treat certain conditions that affect the immune system. This includes hives and eczema, asthma, nasal polyps, chronic rhinosinusitis, and more. Biologic therapy can target specific components of the immune system to help stop chronic inflammation. 

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How Can Allergies be Managed?

Allergies are rarely life-threatening, but often cause lost workdays, decreased work efficiency, poor school performance, and a negative effect on the quality of life. Considering the millions spent on anti-allergy medications and the cost of lost work time, allergies cannot be considered a minor problem.

Symptoms may be seasonal for some allergy sufferers, but for others, it’s a year-round discomfort. Allergy symptom control is most successful when multiple management approaches are used simultaneously.

They may include minimizing exposure to allergens, desensitization with allergy shots, and medications.

If used properly, medications including antihistamines, nasal decongestant sprays, steroid sprays, saline sprays, and cortisone-type preparations (provided by one of the best allergists in Miami) can be helpful. Even over-the-counter drugs can be beneficial, although some may cause drowsiness. SFENTA offers allergy testing, allergy drops, allergy shots, and more to help manage your allergies and provide long-term relief. 

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When Should an Allergy Doctor in Miami be Consulted?

The most appropriate person to evaluate allergy problems is an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist). Aside from gathering a detailed history and completing a thorough examination of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck, your doctor or allergist in Miami will offer advice on proper environmental control, and will evaluate the sinuses to determine if infection or structural abnormality (deviated septum, polyps) is contributing to the symptoms.

In addition, the doctor may advise testing to determine the specific allergen that is causing discomfort. In some cases, immunotherapy or allergy shots may be recommended or an alternative allergy treatment option. Immunotherapy is a unique treatment because it induces the buildup of protective antibodies to specific allergens.

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Why Choose SFENTA?

At SFENTA, our staff is committed to helping you achieve long-term allergy relief. We’ve been helping patients across South Florida find allergy relief for over 30 years. Over this time, we’ve continued to grow and now have over 35 locations and 50 ENT specialists. Our team strives to deliver a comprehensive solution that is tailored to your specific needs.

We offer specialized allergy care at many of our locations, combining state-of-the-art treatments and highly trained physicians. Patients who have chronic allergies, suspected allergies, or who are interested in allergy treatment methods should contact SFENTA to schedule an appointment.

Tips For Reducing the Exposure to Common Allergens

  • Change the air filters regularly in heating and air conditioning systems.
  • Install an air purifier.
  • Keep windows and doors closed during heavy pollen seasons.
  • Rid the home of sources of mildew.
  • Don’t allow dander-producing animals (i.e., cats, dogs, etc.) into the home.
  • Change feather pillows, woolen blankets, and woolen clothing to cotton or synthetic materials.
  • Enclose mattress, box springs, and pillows in plastic barrier cloth.
  • Use antihistamines and decongestants as necessary and as tolerated.
  • Sleep with the head of the bed tilted upward (elevating the head of the bed helps relieve nasal congestion).
  • Observe general good health practices such as exercising daily, not smoking, avoiding air pollutants, eating a balanced diet, and supplementing diet with vitamins, especially C.
  • Use a humidifier in the winter. Be sure to clean the humidifier regularly to avoid mold buildup.
  • Discuss hay fever and allergy symptoms with a physician when experiencing an allergic reaction.
  • Wear a pollen mask when mowing grass or house cleaning (most drug stores sell them).

FAQ

How common are allergies?

If you suspect you may have an allergy, don’t underestimate the possibility that you could be right. Each year, more than 50 million Americans are affected by allergies. They are the sixth largest cause of chronic illness, and treating them in the U.S. alone costs more than $18 billion each year.

A Miami allergy doctor can tell you with certainty whether you belong in this group, but if you’re suspicious, it makes good sense to have a consultation. This is not a rare affliction, and it’s one that is usually easy to manage.

Do I have an allergy or a cold?

Some of the symptoms of a common cold are very similar to the symptoms of allergies. Runny noses, watery eyes, congestion, and other symptoms are common to both. However, there are differences between the two:

  • If your eyes feel itchy, you’re wheezing, or you have a skin rash or hives, it’s likely allergies.
  • If you’re tired, have a fever or sore throat, or other aches and pains, it’s likely a cold.
  • It’s not a hard and fast rule, but as you may have noticed, colds are much more common during the fall and winter.
  • If you regularly get “colds” in the spring and summer, there’s a good chance you’re reacting to a sudden influx of pollen.
  • How long are your symptoms persisting? Your allergy won’t calm down until you get treated or remove yourself from whatever is causing it.

If you experience any of these symptoms and are in the south Florida area, it may be time to see an allergist in Miami.

When should I see an allergist in Miami?

Even though the symptoms you’re experiencing have a significant impact on your quality of life, there’s an excellent chance that the right treatment can make a big difference very quickly. 

If you’re fairly sure that exposure to certain environmental factors (spring flowers, for example) sets you into a cycle of misery, you always have the option to try to “live with” your problems. But if that isn’t working, here are good some reasons to make an appointment with an allergist:

  • Your symptoms are making it hard to get through the day at work and home
  • You have problems for several months out of the year
  • You are getting no results from over-the-counter medications
  • You spend enough time affected by your symptoms or thinking about them that it’s affecting your ability to enjoy your life

As frustrating as these problems can be, it won’t take forever for South Florida ENT Associates to help you put them behind you.

What allergens should be avoided?

Many common substances can be allergens, including pollen, food, mold, dust, feathers, animal dander, chemicals, drugs such as penicillin, and environmental pollutants.

  • Pollens: One of the most significant causes of allergic rhinitis in the United States is ragweed. It begins pollinating in late August and continues until the first frost. Late springtime pollens come from the grasses, i.e., timothy, orchard, red top, sweet vernal, Bermuda, Johnson, and some bluegrasses. Early springtime hay fever is most often caused by pollen from trees such as elm, maple, birch, poplar, beech, ash, oak, walnut, sycamore, cypress, hickory, pecan, cottonwood, and alder. Colorful or fragrant flowering plants rarely cause allergy symptoms because their pollen is too heavy to be airborne.
  • Household Allergens: Certain allergens are present all year long. These include house dust, pet danders, some foods, and chemicals. Symptoms from these are frequently worse in the winter when the house is closed up, and where there is poor ventilation.
  • Mold: Mold spores can also cause allergy problems. Molds are present all year long and grow outdoors and indoors. Dead leaves and farm areas are common sources of outdoor molds. Indoor plants, old books, bathrooms, and damp areas are common sources of indoor mold growth. Mold is also common in foods, such as cheese and fermented beverages.

With 37 convenient locations across the South Florida area, we’re never far away.

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