Summer Allergies? Family Allergy Clinic Offers A User-Friendly Alternative To Shots
Industry: Healthcare
Summer is usually less allergy-prone than spring, but many people still experience symptoms through the warm months due to pollinating grasses and weeds.
Phoenix, Arizona (PRUnderground) July 7th, 2015
While spring and fall are known as peak allergy seasons, summer is not immune. For those who find themselves suffering with summer allergies, the Family Allergy Clinic offers a no-shots, no-hassle alternative to allergy shots: sublingual allergy drops.
Like shots, the drops work to desensitize the body to pollens in the environment, but instead of being injected into the skin, they are taken as under-the-tongue drops that are carried into the blood stream by cells in the mouth.
While trees are usually done pollinating by the time temperatures rise, grass and weeds can stir up allergy symptoms throughout summer, including hay fever, itchy eyes, eczema, and chronic cold symptoms.
According to Stuart Agren, M.D., director of the Family Allergy Clinic near Phoenix, Arizona, other factors may be at play, too.
“Some people develop what is referred to as a ‘summertime cold’ which mimics a typical cold but is often caused by ragweed or grass pollens or molds that thrive in summer humidity,” said Dr. Agren.
Dr. Agren said that he considers two criteria when prescribing allergy drops to patients. The first is duration of symptoms.
“If someone just has a short flare-up in spring or fall, they may be fine with over-the-counter or prescription medications, but if they experience symptoms for more than a few months of the year, it’s a good idea to consult an allergist,” said Dr. Agren.
Dr. Agren said the second measure is severity of symptoms: “Even if patients’ symptoms last a shorter period of time, if they are impinging significantly on quality of life, allergy treatment may be in order.”
Summer allergies can develop anytime, including adulthood.
“I see a lot of patients who have never had summer allergies, then suddenly develop symptoms,” said Dr. Agren. “Allergies can strike in any season and at any age.”
Allergy drops were developed as an alternative to shots in the mid-1980s. In Europe, about half of all allergy treatment is prescribed as drops (rather than shots). In the U.S., the drops are becoming increasingly popular. Because they are safer than shots, they can be dosed at home. They have also been shown to be safe for children under 5. (Shots are not usually prescribed until age 7 or 8.)
According to Dr. Agren, the drops can often work more efficiently than shots.
“Shots can be taken a couple times a week, but drops can be dosed daily,” said Dr. Agren. “I have found that my patients progress faster with drops.”
And unlike shots, drops have been shown to be effective for treating food allergies as well as pollen allergies.
About Family Allergy Clinic
Doctors at this Arizona allergist clinic offer sublingual immunotherapy (under-the-tongue allergy drops) for pollen and pet allergies as well as for food allergies (including milk wheat, gluten, nut, and fruit). The treatment is effective for kids with allergies, asthma, hay fever, eczema, sinus infections, and more.
(These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.)
