If your mouth tingles every time you eat peanuts or strawberries, or you break out in hives when taking a prescription medication, you most likely have allergies. The team at ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC in Ashburn, Virginia, can help you discover your allergens with allergy testing and recommend allergy treatment to minimize or stop your allergic reactions. Call the office today or schedule an appointment online to learn more.
Allergies are abnormal immune system reactions to a substance, like bee venom, pollen, pet dander, medication, or foods. When you’re allergic to something, your immune system identifies the particular allergen as harmful. When you come into contact with that allergen, your immune system reacts.
Allergy severity varies from one person to the next, and can range from minor irritation, including inflammation, sinus problems, or digestive system reactions, to life-threatening emergencies.
Most allergies can’t be cured, but allergy treatments can relieve their symptoms.
Allergic reactions range from hardly noticeable to severe and life-threatening. Depending on the allergen causing your allergies, you could experience any of the following symptoms:
If you are allergic to a food, you can experience:
Severe food allergies can cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition that can restrict your ability to breathe.
If you experience drug allergies, you can have symptoms like:
Severe drug allergies can also result in anaphylaxis.
Hay fever symptoms include sneezing, itching eyes, mouth, or nose, and runny nose. Your eyes can also become watery, swollen, and/or red.
If you are allergic to an insect, you can experience:
Anaphylaxis is a common worry for people with severe insect-sting allergies.
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate medical treatment. Anaphylaxis can cause:
Call 911 or go immediately to a hospital emergency room if you experience anaphylaxis symptoms.
ENT & Allergy Specialists offer two kinds of immunotherapy to help get rid of your allergies. You can visit the office for allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy) or take allergy drops (sublingual immunotherapy) at home.
The team recommends allergy drops for children, asthmatics, the elderly, or anyone who doesn’t have the time to visit the office regularly.
Call ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC today or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment to be tested for allergies and receive treatment.