4 Questions to Ask Your Allergy Specialist

The symptoms of allergies vary according to the specific allergy that an individual is dealing with, such as a food allergy, insect sting allergy, drug allergy, or an allergy to airborne irritants like pollen. With that in mind, the following is a list of common allergy symptoms:

• Congestion, sneezing, and an itchy or runny nose (allergic rhinitis)
• Cracked, dry, or red skin
• Diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, or vomiting
• Itchy, red, or watering eyes (allergic conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye)
• Itchy, raised, and red rash (hives)
• Light-headedness
• Lowered blood pressure
• Swollen eyes, face, lips, or tongue (anaphylaxis)

If you experience any of the above after eating a particular food, getting stung or bitten by an insect, taking a specific medication, or spending time outside, you may have an allergy. While we can help with most allergy symptoms at Piniella Asthma & Allergy, seek emergency room treatment if you or someone you know are experiencing any of the following possibly life-threatening symptoms associated with allergic reactions:

• Confusion
• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath (dyspnea), or wheezing
• Dizziness
• Hives or rash spreading all over the body
• Loss of consciousness
• Rapid and weak pulse
• Sudden feeling of weakness

While the presence of various allergy symptoms can make a person suspect that they have an allergy, symptoms alone are sometimes not enough to definitively say whether someone has an allergy. As such, there are several different tests that an allergy specialist can perform to diagnose a person’s allergies accurately. Some standard allergy tests include the following:

• Blood tests, such as radioallergosorbent (RAST) testing or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing
• Intradermal tests
• Elimination diets
• Skin patch tests
• Skin prick tests

While there is no cure for allergies, they can be effectively managed and controlled with various treatments. Moreover, allergies can be outgrown or go away on their own in some cases. With that being said, some familiar and effective treatments for managing and controlling allergies include the following:

• Allergen avoidance
• Allergy shots, which are also referred to as immunotherapy
• Emergency epinephrine shots
• Over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription allergy medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, or corticosteroids

Allergies are not a sign of a weak immune system; in fact, the opposite is actually true! Allergies occur when your immune system responds too strongly to irritants and substances that are otherwise harmless. As such, allergies are more accurately a sign of an overactive or misguided immune system.

If you would like to learn more about allergy testing or treatment or want to schedule an appointment with our allergy specialist Dr. Carlos Piniella, MD at Piniella Asthma + Allergy, we would be pleased to hear from you! Please feel welcome to give us a call or schedule an appointment through our website. We have two clinics located in Coral Gables and Palmetto Bay, Florida. We serve patients from Coral Gables FL, Palmetto Bay FL, Westchester FL, Brownsville FL, Kendall FL, Pinecrest FL, Richmond West FL, and Goulds FL.