At Chicago ENT, our allergists are experts in diagnosing and managing allergies, asthma, and immunodeficiencies. We provide comprehensive care to both children and adults suffering from all forms of allergies and breathing issues.
Who Can Have Allergies?
Allergies can affect anyone and do not discriminate based on age. You can develop allergies even if you didn’t have them when you were younger as a child.
Symptoms of allergies may include a runny nose, coughing, congestion, sinus infection, and headaches. Allergies can also worsen other conditions, such as bronchitis and asthma.
There’s usually a hereditary or genetic component to allergies, meaning your children may be more likely to develop them if you have them.
How Can You Get Allergies?
Developing allergies can be due to several combinations, including your environment and genetics. Allergies occur when you overreact to an allergen. Allergens include dust mites, pollen, animal dander, bee venom, molds, certain medications, and some foods.
Once you come into contact with or encounter one of these allergens, you may start exhibiting symptoms like itchiness or a runny nose. However, these can become more severe and may lead to concerning symptoms like swelling, an asthma attack, or anaphylaxis. How severe of an allergic reaction you have will depend on your immune system and genetics.
Why Do I Need to Be Tested for Allergies?
Allergy testing allows your allergist at Chicago ENT to identify what you’re allergic to and determine the most targeted and effective treatment options. Rather than relying on traditional allergy medications, allergy testing allows us to provide the most personalized advice on avoiding allergens and tailor medications for optimal effectiveness.
If avoidance is not possible and your symptoms continue, we can look into other treatments like allergy shots or allergy drops. Proper allergy treatment can reduce ear and sinus infections. It can also improve symptoms associated with asthma and eczema and help alleviate bronchitis.
What is Allergy Testing?
Allergy testing at Chicago ENT begins with a medical history review and physical examination with a member of our team. If allergy testing is appropriate, we’ll provide detailed information and an “Allergy Testing Information Packet.”
The packet will include information about avoidance measures you can take, consent forms to fill out, and guidance on your medications and what not to take before allergy testing. Chicago ENT primarily uses skin prick testing for allergy testing.
Skin prick testing is not painful and is suitable for adults and children. We can perform this on the back or arm to accurately test for over 30 allergens. You’ll see a small mosquito-bite-like reaction at the test site if you’re allergic to a substance.
Allergy Avoidance Techniques
- Wear a pollen mask if you’re mowing the lawn or cleaning your home, which you can find in most drugstores
- Change air filters regularly in your air conditioners and heating systems
- Install an air purifier
- Remove any sources of mildew from your home
- Keep windows and doors closed during more active pollen seasons
- Don’t let dander-producing animals like dogs and cats into the house, especially the bedroom or on the bed
- Stop using feather pillows, wool blankets, and wool clothing and switch to cotton or synthetic materials when possible
- Enclose your mattress, box spring, and any pillows in a plastic barrier cloth
- Use antihistamines and decongestants to help relieve symptoms
- Sleep with the head of your bed tilted up
- Elevate the head of your bed, which can help relieve nasal congestion
- Stay healthy by exercising daily, don’t smoke, avoiding air pollutants, eating healthy, and taking vitamins, especially Vitamin C
- Use a humidifier in the winter months
- Clean your humidifier regularly to avoid the build-up of mold
- Discuss any hay fever and allergy symptoms with your doctor if you’re experiencing an allergic reaction
Immunotherapy Treatment for Allergies
Chicago ENT also offers various treatment options in addition to over-the-counter options. These include nasal antihistamine sprays, decongestants, nasal steroid sprays, saline sprays, and oral antihistamines.
If you have more severe allergy symptoms, we may prescribe stronger antihistamines. Immunotherapy, which introduces safe levels of the allergens you’re allergic to into your body, can potentially cure allergies. Immunotherapy helps desensitize your body.
Chicago ENT offers two kinds of immunotherapy:
Allergy Drops (SLIT-Sublingual Immunotherapy)
SLIT is a modern way of treating allergies that provides patients with advantages like:
Convenience
Allergy drops are taken at home, eliminating the need for frequent office visits.
Safety
SLIT allergy drops have a lower risk of severe allergic reactions compared to allergy shots, making them safe to take.
Versatile
Allergy drops can treat a wide range of allergies, including tree allergies, mold allergies, dander allergies to pets, grasses, weeds, dust mites, and even some food allergies.
How SLIT Works
With allergy drops, you place the drops under your tongue each day. Each drop contains a small amount of the allergens you’re allergic to.
As you continue taking SLIT, your body will start building up a tolerance to the allergens. Allergy drop treatment typically takes 3-5 years.
Many patients start seeing relief the first month they begin SLIT treatment. Most patients can tolerate allergy drops, including:
- Children
- Those who travel a lot
- College students
- People with busy schedules
- Patients who had reactions while taking allergy shots
- Patients with severe asthma
Although SLIT is safe, it’s normal to experience some minimal side effects at the beginning of treatment, like an itchy mouth or an upset stomach. However, these usually improve over time as patients continue taking SLIT and get used to allergy drops.
Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT): Traditional Allergy Shots
In addition to allergy drops, Chicago ENT also offers allergy shots to patients. Allergy shots are an effective treatment for allergies and asthma for many patients.
Patients receive allergy shots in the office at Chicago ENT once or twice a week. The dose is gradually increased each time.
It takes patients about 5-8 months to reach the maintenance dose. Once this is reached, shots are then given monthly. Allergy shots are given over 3-5 years.
Over 80% of patients experience significant relief in asthma and allergy symptoms after having allergy shots. The effects of allergy shots continue to be felt, even after treatment is stopped.
Once you’ve received your allergy shot, you’ll need to wait at our office for 20-30 minutes, where you’ll be monitored for signs of any adverse reactions. Although severe reactions to allergy shots are rare, the staff at Chicago ENT is equipped to handle emergencies.
Preparing for Your Immunotherapy Session
Whether you’re receiving allergy shots or beginning allergy drop treatment with us, remember these points:
For Allergy Shots
- Wear short sleeves so we have easy access to your arm while giving the shot
- If you tend to get local reactions, you may take antihistamines before receiving your allergy shot
- Please notify us of any changes in your medications
- Avoid exercising for 2 hours after receiving your allergy shot
- You cannot receive your allergy shot if you have a fever, an asthma flare-up, or a viral infection
For Allergy Drops
- You will receive your first allergy drop treatment in-office at Chicago ENT
- Please follow all instructions carefully for taking allergy drops at home
- Let us know when you’re running low on allergy drops so we can order more without stopping your treatment
Penicillin Allergy Skin Testing
While penicillin is a common drug allergy reported amongst patients, the reality is that less than 1% of patients are actually allergic to penicillin, even if they have had reactions in the past. This misdiagnosis can lead to limited treatment options for patients experiencing infection and overprescription of alternative antibiotics that may encourage resistant bacteria.
The specialists at Chicago ENT offer penicillin allergy skin testing to help you discover whether you’re currently allergic to the drug, improving the accuracy and efficacy of your treatments.
What is Penicillin Allergy Skin Testing?
Penicillin allergy skin testing can be used to determine whether patients have a sensitivity to the antibiotic class penicillin. This medication is used to treat a wide variety of conditions including:
- Sinus infections
- Strep throat
- Ear infections
- Pneumonia
- Staph infections
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Meningitis
- Urinary tract infections
- Lyme disease
- Salmonella infections
- Tooth infections
- Skin infections
Penicillin class antibiotics also happen to be the preferred antibiotic during pregnancy due to their effectiveness and safety for mother and baby.
The reason this testing has become so relevant in treatment for these conditions is that many patients have wrongly suspected or been told they have a penicillin allergy. As a result, these patients may not receive the most appropriate medication for their condition and instead resort to alternative medications that pose a risk of antibiotic resistance.
What Happens During Penicillin Allergy Skin Testing?
During penicillin allergy skin testing, your allergy specialist will gently prick the skin with a small applicator that contains a mixture of histamine, saline, PRE-PEN skin testing antigen, and diluted penicillin G. Then, they will have you wait 15 minutes before documenting the results.
If this first test is negative, the allergy specialist will then conduct intradermal testing of the above testing agents. Intradermal testing involves injecting a small amount of the testing agents into the top layer of the skin. The allergy specialist will then determine if there is any reaction to the testing agents after 10 minutes.. If both the prick and intradermal tests are negative, the final step involves a graded oral challenge to amoxicillin. Under close supervision, the patient will be administered escalating doses of amoxicillin while being monitored. If a patient does not develop any allergic signs and symptoms during this graded oral challenge, then the patient is not allergic to penicillin class antibiotics.
If your penicillin allergy skin testing results and oral challenge are negative, penicillin can be removed from your allergy list, and you can safely take penicillin antibiotics in the future. However, it’s important to note that while very rare, it is still possible to have a reaction to penicillin in the future even after a negative test.
Who Should Get Penicillin Allergy Skin Testing?
If you think you may be allergic to penicillin or have a history of penicillin sensitivity, you may be a good candidate for penicillin allergy skin testing. This test can help improve the efficiency of future treatments you may need, as well as prevent the unnecessary prescription of alternative, less effective drugs.
However, you may not be a good candidate for penicillin allergy skin testing if you have a history of extreme sensitivity to penicillin. The best way to find out whether penicillin allergy skin testing is right for you is by attending an evaluation with your allergy specialist at Chicago ENT.
They will ask you questions about your medical history and any previous reactions you may have had to penicillin to determine whether the testing will be beneficial for you.
Insurance and Billing for Allergy Treatment
Chicago ENT will bill your insurance company for preparing antigen vials used in your allergy shots, as was determined during allergy testing. Although allergy shots are typically covered by insurance, they can vary between providers.
If your insurance requires a copay, you must pay this before each allergy shot visit. Your initial consultation and occasional follow-up visits with our allergists are necessary to ensure proper medical supervision.
These are billed separately to your insurance. You should check with your insurance provider about coverage and copay requirements for allergy treatments. Standard billing codes for our allergy services include 95165, 95115, and 95117. However, additional codes may apply depending on your specific treatment plan.
Do you have allergies? Learn more about the best way to treat them by requesting an appointment at Chicago ENT and one of our five convenient locations, today!
