Allergy Treatment
There is no single treatment that works for every person with allergies. At the Allergy & Sinus Center at Georgetown ENT, we treat you like the individual you are. Dr. Scott W. Franklin will work with you to develop a treatment plan that not only addresses your specific allergy symptoms but involves therapies that you prefer.
Treating your allergies often involves a combination of methods, including:
Allergen Avoidance
It is sometimes possible to avoid the triggers that set off your allergic reaction – most often, a specific food or drug allergies as well as allergies to pet dander, insect stings, and latex.
When utilizing an allergen avoidance strategy, it is important to be educated about the relationships between substances. For example, certain types of nut allergies (cashew) may cause an allergic reaction if you come into contact with the seed of some fruits (mango).
Other times, people with a latex allergy may also have an allergic reaction to avocado or mangoes. Those with a mango allergy may have a severe reaction to poison ivy. Ask your doctor for information to help you avoid your allergens and any related substances.
Medications
A variety of prescription or over-the-counter medications may be used to relieve your allergy symptoms. In this case, the aim of treatment is to control your symptoms. The Allergy & Sinus Center at Georgetown ENT can help you identify exactly what types of medications may work for you such as:
- Antihistamine or steroid creams for eczema
- Antihistamine pills for nasal symptoms like a chronic runny nose
- Inhalers for asthma
- Epinephrine (EpiPen®) for severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock)
Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots or Allergy Drops)
Many people with allergies turn to immunotherapy as a way to “train” the body not to have an allergic reaction at all. Immunotherapy is especially popular among those who would like to get off the medication merry-go-round that involves constantly treating allergy symptoms.
Immunotherapy is a form of medical management in which a minute quantity of an allergen is regularly administered so that your body can build up a tolerance to it. It is commonly delivered either beneath the skin in the form of an allergy shot or as allergy drops applied sublingually (under the tongue). In both cases, the medication is custom-made for each allergy patient.
Immunotherapy is a common way to treat allergies to pollen, venom, and pet dander. Allergy drops, in particular, are especially convenient because you can administer the drops yourself, at home. There is no need to make periodic trips to the doctor’s office for a shot.
Ask Dr. Franklin if immunotherapy is right for you.
Allergy Therapies & Allergy Drops in Georgetown, Texas
Treating allergies often involves a combination of approaches: allergen avoidance (when possible) and medical management, including immunotherapy (allergy shots or allergy drops). The allergy experts at the Allergy & Sinus Center at Georgetown ENT can help determine the best treatment plan for you.
Do you suffer from allergies? Get tested and treated by calling the Allergy & Sinus Center at Georgetown ENT in Georgetown, Texas, at (512) 869-0604 or request your appointment now.
