Allergy Testing
What are Allergies?
allergic rhinitis.
Allergy sufferers report a variety of symptoms, including:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Wheezing
- Dark under-eye circles
- Hives
How are Allergies treated?
Depending on the severity of allergies, symptom relief can range anywhere from the extremely simple-for example, eliminate the allergen source such as flowers, scented products, etc. from your home or routine, to the more comprehensive such as allergy testing and immunotherapy.
About Allergy Testing
At Orange Coast Head and Neck Surgery, we have extensive education and experience in the field of Allergy. Dr. Pettis completed a Fellowship with the American Academy of Otolaryngology Allergy, and Diana Pettis, R.N. is a trained Allergy Specialist who performs allergy skin testing under the supervision of Dr. Pettis. Allergy skin testing determines which environmental allergens a person is sensitive to, thus causing allergic reactions.
Once we pinpoint the source of your allergies, we will tailor a treatment plan specifically for you. Treatment can include medication and lifestyle recommendations, or potentially Immunotherapy in the form of either weekly injections given at our office, or Sublingual Allergy Immunotherapy (drops put under your tongue) which are administered daily by the patient at home. Immunotherapy, or allergen specific desensitization, is a common and standard approach to treat allergy and works by modifying the body’s immune response to allergens by increasing tolerance when exposed to them.
Schedule an appointment today so we can ease the burden of your environmental allergies and get you back to a healthy, productive life.