Allergies
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Med South Primary Care
Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician, and Physician Assistant located in Stockbridge, GA
Allergy treatment at Med South Primary Care can help to reduce or eliminate your symptoms. The team led by Ira C. Robinson II, MD, offers allergy testing in the office and personalized treatment so you can find relief from your symptoms. To schedule an appointment, use online booking or call the office in Stockbridge, Georgia, today.
Allergies Q&A
What causes allergies?
Allergies develop when your immune system reacts to a harmless substance as though it’s a danger to your body.
When that happens, the substance — now an allergen — is recognized every time it enters your body in the future, and your immune system responds by releasing chemicals that cause an allergic reaction.
These are a few of the most common allergens:
- Airborne allergens: pollen from trees, grasses, and ragweed, dust mites, and mold spores
- Contact allergens: poison ivy, soap, nickel, and latex
- Insect stings: bees, wasps, and hornets
- Medications: aspirin, antibiotics like penicillin, and NSAIDs like ibuprofen
Most food allergies are caused by eight kinds of food: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, shellfish, fish, wheat, and soy.
What symptoms develop due to allergies?
Your symptoms are associated with the type of allergy. For example, airborne allergens tend to cause eye and nose symptoms, while a contact allergy causes a skin rash.
This list covers the range of symptoms caused by all types of allergies:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Itchy nose, eyes, or mouth
- Skin rashes, hives, or eczema
- Fatigue
- Headache
Food allergies cause problems in your digestive tract, such as abdominal pain, nausea, or diarrhea.
How are allergies treated?
Before treating your allergies, your doctor at Med South Primary Care will perform a panel skin test in the office to identify your allergens. Your treatment may include:
Avoidance of your allergens
Your doctor works with you to develop a plan to avoid your allergens as much as possible. If you have a food allergy, the only treatment currently available is to eliminate that food from your diet. However, immunotherapy for peanut allergies may be available down the road.
Medications to treat symptoms
Over-the-counter or prescription medications may be enough to relieve mild-to-moderate allergy symptoms.
Immunotherapy (allergy shots)
During immunotherapy, you receive a series of shots that contain your allergen(s), starting with a small dose and gradually increasing the amount that’s injected. Over several years of receiving allergy shots, your immune system builds a tolerance to the allergen, and your allergic reactions are significantly reduced or they stop.
If you’re ready to stop suffering from allergies, schedule an appointment online or call Med South Primary Care today.
