A few words about Allergies of the Ear, Nose and Throat

You’re not alone if you suffer from allergies. In fact, millions of Americans have them. Allergies can appear at any age, and can even disappear in childhood only to reappear in adulthood. Allergy is a condition, often inherited, in which the immune system of the affected person reacts to something eaten or in the environment that doesn’t affect most other people. People often think of allergy as only

“hayfever,” with sneezing, runny nose, nasal stuffiness and itchy, watery eyes.  However, allergies can also cause symptoms such as chronic “sinus” problems, postnasal drip, head congestion, frequent “colds,” recurring ear infections, hearing loss, dizziness, chronic cough and asthma. Even stomach and intestinal problems, many skin rashes, chronic headaches and fatigue can be symptoms of allergy.

Your Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Allergist is a specialist who can diagnose and treat allergies

affecting the ear, nose and throat. The specialty of Ear, Nose, and Throat is also called Otolaryngology, and we sometimes refer to allergy problems in this area of the body as Otolaryngic Allergy.

Allergy Treatment

Despite the advances in allergy care during the past several decades, there are still only three

basic, accepted approaches to allergy care:

1 Avoidance of the offending allergens

(the things to which a person is allergic);

2 Pharmacotherapy (medications); and

3 Immunotherapy (allergy shots or

desensitization).

Avoidance

The first most basic treatment step, once an allergen has been identified, is to eliminate or avoid contact with it, if possible. Unfortunately, avoiding some allergens (such as dust, molds, and animals) is often difficult and thus allergen avoidance alone may not be effective.

Pharmacotherapy

Medications can frequently control allergy symptoms. These may include antihistamines,  decongestants, prescription nasal sprays, leukotriene inhibitors and other types of products.

Immunotherapy

When allergen avoidance and medications do not successfully control allergy symptoms, the Otolaryngic Allergist can alter the body’s overactive response by carefully challenging the patient’s immune system through regular injections of the actual allergens to which a patient is sensitive. This treatment, very similar to the vaccination for infectious diseases such as the flu, can be given after allergy testing has revealed what it is that a patient is allergic to. Over time it may be possible to actually alter a person’s excessive response to these environmental allergens, and both improve symptoms, as well as decrease the need for medications and allergen avoidance for many years.

Why seek the care of an Otolaryngic Allergist?

An Otolaryngic Allergist is able to diagnose and treat disorders of the upper respiratory

tract (ear, nose, throat etc.) caused by allergic conditions. Because the Otolaryngic

Allergist is an ear, nose, and throat surgeon and specialist, other non-allergic diseases

of the upper respiratory tract can also be efficiently diagnosed and treated.

To diagnose and treat your allergies, the Otolaryngic Allergist uses methods that

have been shown to not only identify specific allergens, but also to achieve effective control of allergies quickly.