Allergy Clinic
Byron Allergy Clinic
Do you suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis) sinusitis, allergic conjunctivitis, facial itch, blocked nose, nocturnal mouth breathing, snoring, brain fog or fatigue?
Skin Prick Test Procedure
During your skin prick test a very small drop of 12 different allergens and 2 sub classes are applied with a prick into the skin of the forearm. The test is essentially painless and safe as allergens are applied in very small amounts.
This process takes approximately 20 minutes and the test is observed to see if a reaction develops. If a raised, itchy red bump is present this indicates the presence of an allergy.
Skin Prick testing is the most effective and efficient identifier of the persons allergy.
After the Doctor and Nurse have identified your specific allergies you will receive your desensitisation drops, specifically made up and customised to your individual allergies.
Sublingual Desensitisation
Sublingual Desensitisation is a non-pharmaceutical treatment specifically prescribed according to the patient’s allergy tests. It is self-administered by the patient at home under the tongue. Patients become more tolerant to the substances to which they are allergic to as their allergies neutralise
Sublingual Desensitisation appears to change the way the immune system reacts to allergens by switching off the allergy reaction. It involves regular administration of increasing doses of ultra-dilute allergen extract over a period of time. This increases your immunity or tolerance to the allergen and reduces the allergic symptoms.
Sublingual desensitisation is given as drops under the tongue and is therefore much less invasive than subcutaneous injections and now generally considered the treatment of choice for inhaled allergy (ASCIA).
Who Should Consider
- who would prefer to avoid pharmaceutical medications
- who have severe symptoms
- where the substance is difficult to avoid
- where medications are ineffective or cause adverse effects
- NO antihistamines or steroids are to be taken for he 5 days prior to testing
- NO high dose vitamin C is to be given on the day of testing (oral or IV)
Allergy Desensitisation - FAQs
Allergy desensitisation, also known as Oral Immunotherapy or Allergy Drops, is an alternative to allergy shots and involves placing drops of allergen extracts under your tongue.
The purpose of this treatment is to decrease your sensitivity to airborne allergens (pollens, pets, dust mites, etc.) so that when you are exposed to these allergens, you will experience fewer or no allergic symptoms.
These are the same extracts used for allergy shots but are given daily under the tongue.
You must have documented allergies, by skin or blood test which we can perform for you, to airborne allergies with nasal or asthma symptoms due to these allergens.
Both children over 3 years of age and adults are candidates.
For Children:
Please notify the clinic if your child has sensory sensitivities, as more time with the Nurse may be needed to settle them into the environment and the allergy panel altered.
Some children may experience some discomfort during the Skin Prick Test. It is advisable to bring their favourite comfort toy. Their skin may be irritated for up to an hour after treatment as the allergen extract subsides, it is advisable to plan a quiet day post testing
Asthma: You are at increased risk of a systemic reaction if you have poorly controlled asthma. Therefore, you should not start desensitisation until your asthma is under good control.
Pregnancy: Pregnant women may continue desensitisation but should not start this treatment during pregnancy.
Medications: Desensitisation may be contraindicated in people who take medications called beta-blockers, which are often used for high blood pressure, migraine headaches, or glaucoma.
Avoid if you have eosinophilic oesophagitis or if you have open sores in your mouth.
You should inform your allergy provider if you become pregnant or if there is significant change in your medical condition.
Like allergy shots, desensitisation slowly alters your immune system’s response to allergens by inducing tolerance or immunity to the allergens in the drops.
If effective, you should have fewer or no symptoms upon exposure to the allergens that trigger your symptoms.
Allergen extract drops will be placed under your tongue for 2 minutes, and then swallowed. The first dose will be administered in the office and you will be observed for 30 minutes. You will continue advancing doses at home.
Most clinical studies have shown improvement in symptoms and a decrease in need for medication in patients on allergy desensitisation.
Adjustments can be made to your treatment extracts to achieve the maximum effectiveness.
To determine if it is effective for you, you should plan on taking the drops for at least one year and have regular follow ups with your allergy provider.
During the initial months you may need to take the same medications as before. As the treatment begins to take effect, you will discuss decreasing the allergy medications with your allergy provider at your regular follow-up visits.
Mild side effects are common and include itching lips or mouth within minutes to hours of the dose. This can occur in up to 1/10 of patients, usually in the first 2 weeks of therapy and then goes away as therapy continues. These reactions may be treated with an oral antihistamine supplements
Moderate side effects occur rarely and can include:
- Lip swelling
- Eye itching, redness and swelling
- Sneezing, nasal itching, nasal congestion
- Hives, swelling
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea
- Asthma symptoms: cough, wheeze, shortness of breath
If you have moderate or severe reactions you must contact the office and stop the treatment until you have met and discussed these reactions with your allergy provider.
Severe side effects, such as a drop in blood pressure, are extremely uncommon and no fatalities have been reported from this form of treatment. For this reason, unlike allergy shots, we allow patients to take drops at home
Another rare, delayed reaction to desensitisation is eosinophilic oesophagitis. Basically, your oesophagus gets a rash from swallowing the drops. Symptoms consist of heartburn or difficulty swallowing. Symptoms are not permanent and resolve with discontinuation of allergy drops.
Pricing
| Initial Combined Consult | Practitioner | Pricing | MC Rebate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 Min Initial Consult Skin Prick Test | Dr Ann-Mary Amber Lorelei Berriman | $210 $150 $50 +GST | X X X |
| Follow Up Consult | Practitioner | Pricing | MC Rebate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Min Folllow Up Consult 15 Min Follow Up Consult Desensitisation Drops | Dr Ann-Mary Amber Lorelei Berriman Lorelei Berriman | $140 $120 $70 From $60 +GST | X X X X |
Learn With Us!
Our Education Portal provides you with the opportunity to learn from our exceptional team of integrative practitioners.
Explore articles, informative videos and resources created by our team to inform, educate and assist you in cultivating health and well-being in your daily life:
Environmental Allergy Testing and Sublingual Immunotherapy – watch here
Seasonal Pollen Allergens and Cross Reactions with Foods – read here
Easing-Sneezing on my European Adventure – read here
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