Allergies

Allergy symptoms can cause severe symptoms that may diminish your quality of life. At Northern Medical Group, Primary Care Division, Fishkill, Hopewell Junction, Poughkeepsie, and Wappinger Falls, New York, the primary care team provides comprehensive allergy care that starts with accurate diagnostic testing and treatment. Call the nearest office or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about allergies.

What are allergies?

Allergies are overreactions from your immune system to substances that usually don’t trigger responses. While allergy symptoms vary, most are uncomfortable, inconvenient, and life-threatening in some instances. Understanding your allergy triggers and the treatments that work for you can help minimize your risk of severe reactions.

Are there different types of allergies?

There are multiple types of allergies, including:

Pet dander

Pet dander allergies are among the most common types. Red, itchy, watery eyes and sneezing can be signs of these types of reactions.

Pollen

Pollen allergies are especially common in spring when plants and trees begin to fertilize other vegetation with this powdery substance.

Food

While you can have allergies to any type of food, shellfish, nuts, and dairy are especially common triggers. Food allergies typically cause throat swelling, hives, and other uncomfortable symptoms.

Insect bites and stings

Many insects can cause allergic reactions, such as redness and swelling at the sting site, but the most common are wasps, bees, and hornets.

Latex

Latex is a rubbery substance found in balloons, erasers, gloves, and other frequently-used materials. A latex allergy can cause hives, itching, swelling, and other potentially serious symptoms.

Medication

A medication allergy occurs when you experience unwanted symptoms after taking certain drugs, like antibiotics. Mouth swelling, wheezing, and shortness of breath are common signs of drug allergies.

If the Northern Medical Group, Primary Care Division, team suspects you have an allergy, they perform a series of tests to diagnose your condition.

How are allergies diagnosed?

The team uses multiple types of tests to diagnose allergies, including:

Skin prick test

During a skin prick test, the team places a drop of an allergen — the substance to which you may be allergic — onto your skin. Then, they carefully prick the skin, allowing the allergen to penetrate it. If you’re allergic to the substance, you will experience a reaction within 15 minutes.

Intradermal skin test

An intradermal test involves injecting an allergen beneath your skin. Drug and venom allergies are the most popular uses for intradermal skin tests.

Blood test

The team may test your blood if you have an underlying condition that can interfere with the results of a skin prick test.

You may need more than one type of test to accurately diagnose your allergies and determine the appropriate treatment.

Call Northern Medical Group, Primary Care Division, today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about allergies.