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Allergies
Overview
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Many people are allergic to something. About 50 million Americans are affected by allergies. For most people, allergies mean itchy eyes and a drippy nose. But for some, allergies cause a whole-body reaction that can be life-threatening. An allergy results when the body’s immune system has an abnormal reaction to a trigger (the allergen).  The good news is that most people can control their symptoms with a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. Allergies are typically passed down with the family genes and symptoms begin in childhood.  Even though the symptoms begin in childhood, they may not become serious enough to be recognized as a disease until years later.
Most people can control their allergy symptoms with a combination of lifestyle changes and medications.
Prevention
 If you are allergic to pollen, mold, dust mites or pet dander, you can help minimize reactions:
  • Filter the air in your home with a high-efficiency air filter. Clean furnace air filters frequently.
  • Prevent mold growth by keeping the humidity below 50 percent.
  • Avoid having pets that trigger your allergies. If you do, keep them out of your bedroom.
  • Use special covers for pillows, mattresses and box springs and avoid down-filled bedding.
  • Clean and vacuum often, and wear a face mask and gloves while housecleaning.
  • Choose hardwood, vinyl or ceramic flooring rather than carpeting.
Common allergens include animal dander and saliva, dust mites (actually, their airborne fecal matter), insect stings or bites, certain medications, injected anesthetics or dyes used in medical tests, latex, mold and pollen. Allergies to particular foods—most often peanuts, eggs and shellfish—are not unusual. Some individuals react to dairy products, wheat and other foodstuffs, but medical tests are necessary to determine if these are true allergies or simply an intolerance. The good news is that most people can control their symptoms with a combination of lifestyle changes and medications.

By staying alert to the types of allergens that trigger your allergic reactions, you can help avoid most exposure, and minimize or prevent symptoms.
Talk to your family physician about suspected allergies.  If you do not have a physician use our "Find A Physician" tool.

Find a Physician
Allergies are among the most common heath problems, with more than 50 million people afflicted with asthma, seasonal hay fever, or other allergy-related conditions each year. Allergies can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic class. Generally, allergies are more common in children, however, a first-time occurrence can happen at any age, or recur after many years of remission. There is a tendency for allergies to occur in families, although the exact genetic factors that cause it are not yet understood. Listed in the directory below are some common allergic conditions in the growing child, for which we have provided a brief overview.

It is easy to confuse allergies with “sensitivities” which produce symptoms that mimic allergies but do not involve the immune systems.  As these sensitivities take many years to develop they are rarely seen in children.  If the symptoms don’t respond to simple treatment an evaluation should be sought to determine if it is an allergy.

Lakeshore Health Partners-ENT is now offering Sublingual Immunotherapy
as a treatment for allergies.  Unlike injection immunotherapy or allergy shots, sublingual immunotherapy is given as drops under the tongue.  Allergy drops are used at home on a daily basis replacing the weekly trip to the doctor's office for allergy shots.