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Allergy Department
Our physicians, David L. Jetmore, MD, Rohit Bawa, MD, and Tim Hirons, MD, are board certified or eligible Otolaryngologists. They have been trained in allergy by the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy and are members of that organization (AAOA). Our allergy practice directs its attention towards the testing of inhalant allergies, including grasses, trees, weeds, molds, insects, dust mites, cats and dogs, and also food allergies. Other specific antigens can be tested if desired (depending on your environment).
Symptoms of allergy may be mistakenly thought of as signs of a common cold, flu or other illnesses. These symptoms can include runny nose, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip with clearing of the throat, coughing, sneezing, sniffling, dark circles under eyes, itchy and/or watery eyes, headaches, rashes, hives, eczema, asthma, excessive fatigue, stomach and intestinal problems, itching, popping and fullness of ears, frequent ear infections, sore throats, sinus infections, and hoarseness. All of these can be symptoms of allergy.
Allergies can be seasonal or year-round, and environmental or food related. Food allergy symptoms can be related to any symptom in any part of the body. After the food enters through the digestive tract, it is carried throughout our body. It then can react on any organ in the body. Food allergy can result in multiple symptoms from migraine headache to nasal congestion. Food allergy offenders are usually some of our favorite foods, and we often will experience cravings for them. One may have an allergy to more than one or two foods. If one reacts to a few foods, then there most likely are more foods that can be causing problems. One way to check for these sensitivities is to refrain from eating these culprit foods, but this is very hard when they are “hidden allergies”. The offender is usually unknown. These allergies can also be found by simply skin testing. Your doctor may order this type of testing if he suspects a food allergy by your physical exam and medical history. No food is skin tested that has caused you a severe reaction.
After your Doctor has determined that you need allergy testing, he will arrange for our Allergy Staff to schedule a time for you to come to our clinic for your testing. The testing may be a simple blood test or skin testing. At that time one of the allergy nurses will explain the type of testing the doctor has ordered and schedule you an appointment. You will be given written pre-testing instructions along with your date and time. If you are to have a RAST blood test, blood will be drawn at that time. If you are scheduled by telephone for testing, the instructions will be explained at that time and also a copy will be mailed to you. Also, a reminder post card will be mailed to you ten days before your appointment as a reminder of the test date and also to remind you to refrain from any medications that you will need to stop seven days before that date. Click here to see a list of these medications.
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