Allergies are something that is common across all people groups of all ages. Someone can be allergic to one thing or many things. There are food allergies, scent allergies, and pet allergies as well. No one has any control over exactly what they might be allergic to, but most people will do whatever it takes to eliminate the impact of the allergies, which can range from having the sniffles to going into anaphylactic shock. Knowing what someone is allergic to is important, which is why many people see an Allergist in Evansville, IN.
Determining an Allergy
There was once a time that the only way to determine what someone was allergic to was to seclude them and then slowly expose them to new potential allergens until they had a reaction. This was a slow and tedious way to determine an allergy. Today, an allergy can be determined by a scratch test.
A scratch test sounds scary when it’s described, but it’s not that bad. The Allergist in Evansville IN will scratch someone’s skin and then apply different types of allergens to the scratch to see if there is a reaction. Keeping this test small prevents most severe reactions and helps a doctor to determine the best course of treatment.
Treatment Options
In quite a few cases, a doctor will recommend an over the counter allergy medicine for their patients to take. Everything from Benadryl to generic non-drowsy allergy pills can be effective for different allergies. However, some allergies are resistant to over the counter medications and reqire a doctor to take a more personalized approach to treatment, potentially prescribing pills, shots, nasal sprays or eye drops, depending on the symptoms.
For someone with a severe allergy, the doctor will recommend that they keep an epinephrine pen on hand in case of an emergency. Epinephrine can prevent a severe allergic reaction from becoming fatal if it is injected in time after being exposed to an allergen.
If you’re suffering from allergies, and over the counter medications aren’t helping, you may be taking treatment for allergies you don’t have. Visiting an allergist will ensure that you know what your allergies are and treat them correctly for the best outcome. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a doctor that can help.