D’Nae Johnson

ISM- Period 6

Clinic, Mayo. “Allergies.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research,

6 Jan. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/diagnosis-treatment/drc-

20351503. Accessed 20 Mar. 2019

• If a doctor believes that the condition of a person with allergies is severe they’ll
recommend treatments and medications.
• To prevent allergic reactions doctors will take steps to classify and avoid any allergy
triggers.
• Medications can reduce your immune system.
• Sometimes doctors suggest over the counter or prescription medication whether it be
pills/liquid, eyedrops, or nasal sprays.
• For allergies that are severe, doctors will recommend allergen immunotherapy.
• Immunotherapy involves several injections of allergen extracts and it is given over a
period of few years.
• Another form of immunotherapy is a tablet that is placed under the tongue .
• Sublingual drugs are sometimes used to treat pollen allergies.
• People with severe allergies may need to carry an emergency epinephrine.
• EpiPen’s , Auvi-Q , and others will ease and reduce the symptoms until you get medical
treatment.
• Acupuncture has been proven in clinical practices to be beneficial to people with allergic
rhinitis.
• Antihistamines, decongestants, combination drugs, corticosteroids , and etc. are all
allergy drugs.
• Antihistamines are taken as pills, liquid, nasal sprays , or eye drops.
• Some examples of antihistamines over the counter include; Zyrtec, Allegra, Xyzal,
Claritin, etc.
• Some examples of histamines prescription: include; Clarinex, Astelin, Optivar , etc.
• People who have allergies present an “exaggerated immune system.”
• Most over the counter antihistamines can cause drowsiness.
• Decongestants are prescribed with antihistamines and they alleviate congestion.
• Decongestants can come in the form of nasal spray, eye drops, liquid, or pills.
• Nasal spray and eye drop decongestants are used for a few days at a time.
• Pills and liquid decongestants are taken longer for safety.
• Examples of decongestants that are available over the counter include pseudoephedrine,
phenylephrine, oxymetazoline, etc.
• Decongestants can raise blood pressure.
• Allergies can get worse during certain seasons.
• Reducing your symptoms can take time depending the person .

From this source I gained important and useful information about how certain treatments and
medications worm to ease and reduce allergy symptoms.
 D’Nae Johnson
ISM- Period 6

Foundation, Asthma and Allergy. “AAFA.” Allergy Prevention | AAFA.org, 25 Oct. 2018,
www.aafa.org/prevent-allergies/. Accessed 25 Mar. 2019

• Controlling your allergies and preventing allergic reactions depends on the type of allergy
you are diagnosed with.
• Some allergens are easier to avoid than others which allows you to reduce your contact
with them.
• Taking your medicine as prescribed can be helpful to help your symptoms go down.
• People who are at risk for anaphylaxis should always keep their epinephrine auto-
injector.
• Epinephrine is mainly the only treatment for severe allergic reactions.
• Epinephrine is only available through a prescription from your doctor.
• Taking note what you do, what you eat, and when your symptoms occur can help your
doctor find what causes your symptoms.
• Wearing a medical alert bracelet will help let others know that you have a life-threatening
allergy.
• You should always know what action to do during an allergic reaction.
• Having a written anaphylaxis emergency action plan can inform you and others what to
do in case you have allergic symptoms or severe allergic reactions.
• It is serious to recognize that you are having an allergic reaction and to respond quickly.
• When you have an allergic reaction, it is best to stay where you are so an ambulance can
transport you.
• The law says that food manufacturers should always label any foods that contain
something that’s a known cause for allergic reactions.
• If you have allergies to insect bites and stings then when outdoors you should cover
exposed skin, wear shoes, apply insect repellent, and avoid wearing strong perfumes or
fragrances because they can attract insects.
• If you have a food allergy you can avoid places where different types of food come in
contact with each other like buffets.
• If you have a food allergen you should always check what allergens are in the dish just to
be cautious.
• People with a pet allergy don’t necessarily have to remove the pet from the house but
they could also try keeping the pets outside as much as possible.
• The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to always avoid the substance you’re
allergic to even though it’s not always easy.
• You should educate family, friends and others about you allergies, so they can be aware.
• Avoiding outdoors during the season of pollen can help you avoid allergies.
• Doctors sometimes advise patients to check weather reports for the pollen count before
they go outside.

This provides material it takes for a person to prevent allergies or for easing the symptoms.
 D’Nae Johnson
ISM- Period 6

Clinic, Mayo. “Allergies.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 Jan.
2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351503.

• Sometimes they perform physical exams.

• Doctors usually have patients keep a detailed diary of symptoms and possible triggers.
• If you have a food allergy, then the doctor will ask if you’ve stopped eating the suspected
food during the allergy evaluation.
• A doctor or a nurse will prick your skin to expose you to small amounts of the proteins
found in possible allergens.
• If your allergic to that substance you will most likely develop a raised bump at the test
location of your skin.
• Some allergy test can be falsely positive or falsely negative.
• Radioallergosorbent test or immunoCAP testing measure the number of allergy-causing
antibodies in your bloodstream.
• A blood sample can be tested for evidence of sensitivity to possible allergens.
• If the doctor suspects your problems are caused by something else, then they do different
tests to rule out other medical problems.
• When doctors diagnose patients, they try to treat more than their symptoms , but other
things that are bothering them.
• Develop a personalized plan that eliminates your symptoms.
• Allergy tests are ordered and chosen based on symptoms, environmental exposures , age,
and sometimes hobbies.
• Tests can be done for common allergens such as plant pollens, molds, dust mites, animal
dander, and various foods such as peanuts, eggs, wheat, shellfish and milk.
• Testing also is accessible for some medicines , such as penicillin.
• The prick test pricks the surface of the skin with a tiny amount of the allergen.
• The prick test is done on your back or the inside of your arms with several allergens
tested at once.
• If your allergic , redness and swelling appear at the site of the prick.
• The intradermal test injects the allergen with a fine needle under the first few layers of
the skin.
• The steps can make patients feel exhausted and drained
• The steps to diagnose can be different depending on the person.
• Sometimes doctors arent sure what’s causing a person to react the way they did, so they
have to do multiple test to figure out the solution.
• Doctors always have to ask the patients if they can take certain tests.
• Doctors will discuss information about their patient to other co-workers if they’re not.

This source provided a lot of information and details about the steps doctors take to
diagnose people with allergies.
 D’Nae Johnson
ISM- Period 6

 D’Nae Johnson
ISM- Period 6