Allergy Clinic
Allergy testing and immunotherapy are currently available to patients in our department. Skin testing and ongoing treatment is provided by the nurse practitioners in our clinic. The clinic is open on Monday and Thursday 8 am – 4pm. New patient testing takes approximately two hours, and can be scheduled for the morning or afternoon. Scheduling for return immunotherapy patients is flexible.
If you feel allergy testing may be beneficial to you, you should discuss this with your physician. Allergy testing must be recommended by a healthcare provider. Appointments can be made by calling 800-789-PENN (7366). If you are making a new appointment, please read through the following information with special attention to medications that may interfere with allergy testing.
Allergy Clinic Staff:
Alexander Chiu, MD, Director
Saoirse Owens, MSN, CRNP, Nurse Practitioner
Christine Reger, MSN, CRNP, Nurse Practitioner
Definition and Symptoms of Allergies
Allergies are reactions of a person's immune system to natural substances, which do not cause symptoms in most people. Symptoms of environmental allergy include sneezing, itching, watery eyes and nose, and/or wheezing. They are usually found in people allergic to pollens, grasses, dust mites, molds or animals.
Testing for Allergies
Allergy skin testing is performed by placing a uniform amount of an allergen under the skin. At our clinic, thirty common area allergens, along with positive and negative controls, are applied to determine the degree of reactivity. This lets us know which allergens may be causing symptoms of environmental allergies, and the best way to treat them.
Treatment of Allergies
Environmental allergies can be treated through environmental control/allergen avoidance, medical management and allergy immunotherapy.
Environmental Control/Allergen Avoidance |
Having identified a patient's allergies through the skin testing, the patient is able to approach and modify their environment so as to minimize their exposure to these same identified allergens. For example, if a patient is identified to have an allergy to dust, it is recommended that the patient minimizes his/her dust exposure through frequent house dusting, weekly linen washing, removing extra throw pillows and blankets, and exchanging curtains and carpets for the more easily cleaned blinds and hardwood floors. Although the patient may not be able to eliminate the allergen completely, minimizing his/her exposure can drastically improve symptoms.
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Medical Management |
Allergy medical management includes the use of nasal saline irrigations, antihistamines, and nasal steroid sprays. Nasal saline irrigations are an effective non-pharmacological measure used to flush the allergens out of the nose. Antihistamines, a popular means of treating allergies, help to block the body's histamine receptors and subsequently block the allergy immune response. Finally, nasal steroid sprays treat the nasal and sinus congestion associated with allergy symptoms. Often times a combination of these medications with environmental control are sufficient to manage a patient's allergy symptoms. However, when these measures fail to adequately treat the patient's symptoms, allergy immunotherapy may be considered.
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Allergy Immunotherapy |
Immunotherapy is performed by progressively exposing a patient to small incremental doses of the allergens to which they tested positive, until the immune system is able to adjust to the exposure and build up protection rather than experience an adverse reaction, thus rendering the patient symptom-free from offending allergens. Traditionally, this is accomplished through subcutaneous injections given weekly, then biweekly, and eventually monthly. As an alternative to injections, sublingual immunotherapy is now available. This method of immunotherapy involves placing a dropperful of medication under the tongue on a daily basis, and can be done at home. For the full benefits of immunotherapy to be achieved with either method, the patient must be compliant and dedicated to the treatment plan, including a time commitment of up to 3 years. |
Drugs That May Interfere With Allergy Testing
The following are drugs that may interfere with your allergy testing: antihistamines, beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, MAO inhibitors. Please inform us if you are on any of these drugs. Before discontinuing any drugs (except antihistamines), you must consult your primary care physician to be placed on alternate medications prior to allergy testing. If you are on any antihistamines, you must discontinue use at least one week prior to allergy testing.
