Allergy
Allergies can be caused by a number of foreign proteins, which include, pollen, mold, animals, food, dust/dust mites, drugs and venom. The inappropriate response to these triggers is what we know as allergies. The results include allergic diseases such as chronic sinusitis, asthma, hives and eczema. Drug, food, and venom-related reactions can be severe, requiring immediate medical attention and even death. The physicians at Paris Asthma & Allergy Centers are specialists in diagnosing and treating allergic conditions.
Pollen
Pollens typically cause seasonal symptoms with tree pollen prevalent in the spring, grass pollen in the summer and weed pollen in the fall. Typical symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes. Pollens can also exacerbate asthma symptoms with chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezing. Pollens depend on the local flora where one lives. In some areas, pollen levels are year-round.
Our doctors can test for pollen allergy with a skin test or allergy blood test to diagnose what factors are contributing to your symptoms and offer a treatment plan to alleviate your symptoms.
Mold
Mold spores can cause symptoms of nasal congestion, itching and sneezing. Mold spores can also exacerbate asthma, causing shortness of breath and wheezing. They tend to exist in the air during times of high humidity. They can, however, cause perennial symptoms if mold is present in the home.
Our doctors can help diagnose mold allergy and offer a treatment plan to improve nasal and asthma symptoms.
Animal
Pet dander, including cat and dog dander, hamsters and even horses can cause allergic symptoms of nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose and ocular itchiness. They can also exacerbate asthma, causing shortness of breath and wheezing. They can also cause hives and swelling of the lips and eyes.
Our doctors can help diagnose pet allergy and offer treatment options to alleviate your symptoms.
Food
Food allergy is a complex medical problem. It can cause hives, eczema, upset stomach, diarrhea and even constipation. The most fearful complication of food allergy is a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life threatening. Common food allergies include peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, dairy, wheat and eggs.
Our doctors can help diagnose and treat food allergies with proper evaluation and appropriate skin and/or blood testing.
Dust/Dust Mite
Dust mite allergy is a very common allergy to have. Symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose and cough. Dust mites are microscopic animals that feed on our dead skin cells. They are very prevalent and hard to avoid. They can also exacerbate asthma symptoms with increased coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing. Frequently, they can cause nighttime or morning symptoms because they tend to exist in our bedding.
Our doctors can help diagnose this allergy and offer treatment plans to alleviate the above symptoms.
Drug
Drug allergy is a complex medical problem that should be seen by one of our specialists. Drug allergy can cause upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea or the acute, life-threatening allergic reaction referenced above known as anaphylaxis. Drug allergy can be life threatening and is often misunderstood. It is important to identify drug allergy to allow for proper drugs to be given without risk of anaphylactic reaction.
Our doctors can help diagnose drug allergy and perform skin testing (with penicillin) and can provide guidance on what to do. In select cases, we can perform allergic desensitization to aspirin or penicillin so people can take these important drugs when needed.
Venom
Venom allergy to bee stings and fire ants can become a medical emergency. Symptoms include swelling and hives. The swelling can become so severe as to cause obstruction of the airway and possible death. As with any severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, hypotension and cardiovascular collapse without any typical hives can occur.
Seeing a specialist is very important if you display any of the above symptoms so that you may be properly diagnosed and treated with immunotherapy, which can desensitize you to the specific venom(s).
Paris Asthma & Allergy Centers (Livonia) 
