The only board certified allergy clinic in the Mercy system providing care for the following conditions:

· Hay fever, allergic rhinitis

· Sinus disease and infections

· Eye allergies

· Nasal polyps

· Asthma

· Chronic cough

· Food allergies

· Skin eczema and hives

· Angioedema (swelling)

· Anaphylaxis (allergic reactions)

· Eosinophilic esophagitis

· Drug allergy

· Aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD)

· Immunodeficiencies

In 2012, 7.5% or 17.6 millions of US adults were diagnosed with hayfever. 10.6% or 7.8 million children reported respiratory allergies in the past 12 months.

Allergy symptoms can be severe. They can interfere with day-to-day activities and sleep. Allergies are the most common reasons for loss of productivity, missed work or school and an overall poor quality of life. Allergies can first occur at any stage in life, from infancy to late adulthood. 

Common symptoms of allergic rhinitis are nasal congestion and drainage, sneezing, watery and itchy eyes, postnasal drip and cough. Symptoms also sometimes associated with allergic rhinitis are sore throat, headache, fatigue, and loss of senses of smell, taste, and/or hearing. Allergies can also trigger asthma. In fact, “allergic asthma” is the most common form of asthma.

Treatment includes avoidance. However, that is frequently not possible. Therefore, management with medications or allergen immunotherapy is frequently utilized.

Asthma causes airway obstruction, irritability, and inflammation that temporarily narrows the pathways in the lungs. This chronic disease affects more than 25 million Americans, to include an estimated 7 million children. Symptoms can start during childhood or adulthood. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Symptoms may be triggered by exposure to an allergen (such as ragweed, pollen, pet hair or dust mites), irritants in the air (such as smoke, chemical fumes or strong odors) or extreme weather conditions.  “Allergic asthma” is the most common form of asthma. When not controlled, asthma can cause multiple visits to the ER and hospitalization. Fortunately, with monitoring and medication, the symptoms of asthma are manageable.

Any medicine can cause an allergic reaction. Most reactions to drugs are not due to an allergic reaction but side effects. For example, aspirin can cause nonallergic hives or trigger asthma. Augmentin will frequently cause diarrhea in children. Recent studies show that more than 90% of patients who believe they have a penicillin allergy were misdiagnosed.

 Our practice only tests for penicillin and cephalosporin allergies at this time. 

 There are three types of reactions that can occur:

A normal local reaction will result in pain, swelling and redness confined to the sting site. A large local reaction will result in swelling well beyond the sting site. For example, a sting on the forearm could cause the whole arm to swell - a condition that usually peaks two to three days after the sting and can last a week or more. These reaction do not indicate an allergy and no testing is needed.

A systemic allergic reaction is the most serious and requires medical attention. Symptoms of a systemic allergic reaction can range from mild to severe. They may include the following (either alone or in combination):

· Hives, itching, swelling in areas away from the sting site

· Flushing

· Dizziness or a sharp drop in blood pressure

· A hoarse voice, swelling of the tongue or difficulty swallowing

· Hives, itching and swelling in areas other than the sting site

· Abdominal cramping, vomiting, intense nausea or diarrhea

· Unconsciousness or cardiac arrest

Anaphylaxis is a severe life-threatening allergic reaction can occur within minutes of a sting. 

People who have already experienced a systemic allergic reaction to an insect sting are at significant risk of a similar or worse reaction if they are stung again. Those who have had a possible systemic allergic reaction to an insect sting should carry two epinephrine auto-injectors. Venom immunotherapy is strongly recommended. After completing a course of venom shots, the risk of future reaction is reduced to 5 percent or lower. The few patients who do have recurrent systemic reactions tend to have much milder symptoms.

PLEASE NOTE: At this time, we do not provide skin testing or immunotherapy for venom allergies.

In the U.S., 5% of children and 4% of adults have food allergies. While food allergy symptoms are most common during childhood, people can develop a food allergy to food they have eaten for years at any age. An allergic reaction happens when your immune systems identifies a danger in a food substance and overreacts. While individuals may develop an allergy to just about any food, eight foods account for 90% of allergic food reactions: soy, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and eggs. Symptoms can include hives, vomiting, wheezing, shock, trouble swallowing, tongue swelling, pale or blue skin, dizziness, or a weak pulse. Most reactions happen within two hours of eating the problematic food. Treatment consists of identifying and then avoiding the food.

Your immune system protects your body.  Sometimes your body is not able to fight infections. Symptoms typically include infections that are more frequent or harder to treat than in those with a healthy immune system. Examples include recurrent pneumonia, bronchitis, meningitis, ear, sinus and skin infections. The only known risk factor is a family history of a primary immune deficiency disorder.