• Fall allergies typically begin in August and can last through October.
• To diagnose allergies, doctors may recommend either a blood test or a skin test.
• Some treatment options include over-the-counter medications, nasal sprays and immunotherapy.
For fall allergy sufferers, the misery may already have started, but Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers discusses allergy testing options to put patients on the path to relief.
People who suffer from seasonal allergies usually start to experience the impact of fall allergy triggers in August, as ragweed begins to release pollen, according to WebMD.
These symptoms can last through September and October. The wind can carry ragweed pollen for hundreds of miles, so people who don’t live where ragweed grows can still be affected. Another common fall allergy trigger is mold, which can grow in piles of damp leaves.
“The techniques have gotten more patient-friendly, less invasive,” Khanna told the Gateway Reporter. “In skin testing now, the needles that are used are very tiny and tolerated extremely well. I mean, patients barely feel the prick, and whether it’s on their shoulder or their back area, that’s tolerated well and it’s relatively fast.”
But pain is not the biggest hesitation most patients have when it comes to allergy testing, Khanna said.
“Patients just have to be off their antihistamine medications for 10 days prior, and that is probably more the issue with patients, as opposed to any discomfort from the procedure itself,” Khanna said. “In that case, then we send patients for what’s called RAST testing. It’s a blood test to look for allergens as well, but the preferred method really is to test the patient directly and to do skin testing.”
Seasonal allergy sufferers could also be impacted by dust mites, which can stir as people begin to turn on the heat in their homes in the fall. Dust mites are also common in schools, and they can impact students going back to their classrooms. Common allergy symptoms include a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes and noses. To diagnose allergies, doctors will go over the patient’s symptoms and medical history, and then may suggest either a blood test or a skin test, according to WebMD.
For a skin test, the doctor will put a small portion of the allergen on the patient’s skin, usually on the forearm or back. If the patient is allergic to that particular allergen, a small, itchy bump will become visible.
Depending on the type and severity of the allergies, your doctor could recommend various treatment options. Some treatments options are over-the-counter medications, nasal sprays, immunotherapy or, for very severe allergies, carrying an emergency epinephrine shot, such as an EpiPen.
If you’re suffering from allergies and are considering seeking treatment, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
