Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Treatments for allergies



Millions of people treat their mild, intermittent allergic reactions (hay fever symptoms) with over-the counter and/or prescription antihistamines.  We hear TV commercials for ‘Claritin clear’ and other antihistamines.  These drugs dry up the stuffy nose and make life more bearable.  The Medline Plus website gives good information about allergies at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000005.htm
For people who suffer serious allergy reactions, an allergy specialist (a doctor who specializes in allergies and immunology, the study of the immune system) has the knowledge and skills to help with diagnosis and treatment.  Avoiding the allergen (after it is identified) may be a part of the treatment plan.  For many patients, allergy shots (immunotherapy) improve quality of life greatly.  More about allergy shots next time.  

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