Allergy Desensitization

Allergies affect millions of people in America. Allergens are the particles that cause an allergic reaction in the body. Allergens are numerous and may be present year round or only seasonally. Season allergens include pollen, ragweed, and certain types of mold. Perennial or year round allergies may be due to foods or pet dander. There are many possible allergens, and often the only way to determine what specific allergies a patient has is through allergy testing.

Allergy testing is performed by an allergy specialist. Chicago physician Dr. Ayesha Siddiqi is a board-certified allergist and immunologist. During a first visit to Dr. Siddiqi, she will review a patient’s medial history, symptoms and perform a physical examination. Following this, she may recommend allergy testing to determine the specific allergens that are causing your symptoms. There are several types of allergy testing that can be performed. All involve testing the blood or skin with multiple substances (common allergens) to determine which cause an allergic response.

If allergy testing confirms and allergic disorder, there are many available allergy solutions in Chicago. Depending on the type of allergen and the severity of disease, Dr. Siddiqi may recommend chronic allergy treatment with pills, nasal sprays, or allergy desensitization injections ("allergy shots"). Allergy desensitization is a process of introducing the afflicting allergen into the body in very small quantities. Over time, this allows the body to adapt to this allergen and decreases the body’s reaction to the allergen. Allergy desensitization requires weekly injections. The frequency of injections and length of injections will be determined by Dr. Siddiqi after evaluation and diagnosis.

Whatever the cause, allergies can cause significant problems with sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, nasal congestion, skin rash, or even severe, life-threatening problems such as shock and airway obstruction. The same disease mechanisms that cause allergies can also lead to asthma. Dr. Siddiqi also provides chronic asthma treatment in Chicago. You can make an appointment with Dr. Siddiqi at the Advanced Center for Specialty Care to discuss you symptoms and determine if allergy or asthma treatment is right for you.