What is a Board-Certified Allergist?

Board certified allergists are specialists who have met the highest level of nationally-recognized standards for education and expertise in the field of allergy, asthma and immunology. This formal and lengthy education process is necessary to cultivate the expertise required to provide the highest-quality of care for patients with allergies and asthma. By achieving board certification, allergists demonstrate their commitment to excellence and expertise in their field, which translates to state-of-the-art, evidence-based care.

What are the Benefits of Seeing a Board Certified Allergist?

Board certification tells you that your doctor has attained the highest level of expertise to treat your health issues.

How do you find a Board-Certified Allergist?

When you start searching for an allergist/immunologist, it’s important to make sure you find a doctor you are comfortable with and you can trust. Search online for information about the doctors you are considering and ask people you trust for names of physicians they recommend. Then visit Certification Matters and enter your doctor’s name to determine if he or she is board-certified. This is a service that allows you to see if a specific doctor is certified.

Can you detect allergies through a blood test?

Yes. When you become allergic to an allergen, your body creates special antibodies to fight against it. These allergic antibodies are called IgE antibodies. IgE antibodies are formed in the bone marrow and travel in the bloodstream before being deposited in the skin and other tissues where they remain for weeks to months. Although allergy skin tests are considered the gold standard for allergy testing, blood testing can also be used to measure IgE antibodies circulating in your bloodstream

What types of tests are there for allergies?

There are three main ways to get tested for allergies: Skin Tests – Skin tests are commonly used to identify many potential allergens, including airborne, food-related, and contact allergens. Blood Tests – If you are not a candidate for an allergy skin test, your allergist may suggest a blood test. Elimination Diet – To detect which foods are causing an allergic reaction, your allergist may recommend an elimination diet. This involves removing certain foods from your diet and determining if you're symptoms improve, and then adding the food back to see if you have a reaction.

Do allergy tests hurt?

The skin prick or scratch test and intradermal test may cause slight discomfort. If you are sensitive to any of the allergens being tested, your skin may itch where the allergen was placed.

How can you treat non-life threatening allergic reactions at home?

The first step is to avoid the allergen if you know what triggers a reaction. But if an allergic reaction occurs, there are several ways to treat them at home: Antihistamines – Helps treat minor allergic reactions regardless of the cause. Anti-inflammatory Medication – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) can help temporarily reduce allergy symptoms. Saline Sinus Rinse – If your allergies cause sinus problems, it’s recommended to rinse your sinuses with saline to clear the allergens from your airways. Skin Allergy Treatments – If a skin allergy occurs, you can apply corticosteroid creams or calamine lotion to reduce symptoms, an ice pack can also help reduce inflammation and allergy symptoms.

How long does an allergy test take to administer?

Not very long. The skin prick and intradermal tests are performed in the allergist’s office and take about 20 minutes total. Your skin may start to show reactions to certain allergens such as foods, environmental allergens or insect venoms. Patch tests are used to identify if a chemical may be the cause of delayed skin rashes. The patches are applied and worn for about 48 hours and then removed. Blood tests results may take up to a week to return from the laboratory.

Are hay fever and allergic rhinitis the same thing?

Yes, allergic rhinitis is simply the proper medical term for hay fever. “Hay fever” is somewhat of a misnomer since allergic rhinitis is usually not caused by hay, nor does it result in a fever.

When is hay fever the worst in Jacksonville?

The mild temperatures in Northeast Florida mean that trees start producing spring pollen early in our area– in some years as soon as December. Unfortunately, the Jacksonville area does not really have a hay fever “off-season.” Our warm winters and early springs mean that allergic rhinitis sufferers may be exposed to pollen year-round.

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Jax Allergy

Is it the Flu, Cold, or Allergies: How to Tell The Difference

Updated: Nov 2021 — to address questions and concerns about the novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)

Please see our message about COVID19 procedures at our clinics

Feeling run down and stuffed up?

Are your eyes itchy and your nose running?

One thing is for sure—you’re not feeling like yourself. But are you suffering from allergies, the common cold, or even worse, the flu or potentially coronavirus/COVID-19?

It’s not always easy to identify the cause as you might think. The symptoms for each of these illnesses frequently overlap. However, there are some tell-tale signs to be aware of that may help you determine what the problem is and decide the best course of action.

Study the following symptoms to make sure you’re properly treating the underlying cause of your discomfort. As always, remember discussing this with your physician is the best option.

Updated Nov 2021: Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19

In late 2019 a new virus started spreading, all indications being that its onset began in China and started spreading rapidly. This particular virus, part of a family of viruses called Coronavirus (which include the common cold). This specific virus had been previously unknown. This is why initially it was called a novel coronavirus.

Common Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19:

The reported illnesses for coronavirus diseases 2019 range from very mild (including some cases where the individual shows no symptoms) to severe illness, respiratory distress, and in extreme cases death. Most symptoms appear somewhere between 2 and 14 days after exposure. This is what makes this virus extra concerning, it is possible to carry for a long time without symptoms but passing on the virus.

Symptoms include:

Fever
Dry, unproductive cough
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Some people present with body aches and pains

A big difference between allergies and COVID-19 is that individuals with allergies tend to have allergy symptoms that are regularly occurring and allergies are unlikely to cause a fever.

Who is most at risk for COVID-19?

This is still a new virus and many health agencies are learning how COVID-19 affects individuals, some things seem clear: older individuals (especially over 60) and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or COPD/lung disease) appear to be most in danger of developing the worst symptoms of COVID-19.

Other risk factors:

Current information indicates overseas travel or travel aboard cruise lines potentially puts individuals at higher risk for exposure to COVID-19. Additionally, being in close proximity to someone who may have been exposed or is showing symptoms could put you at risk.

How to prevent illness

COVID-19 is spread person-to-person. Primarily when an infected person coughs or sneezes and produces droplets into the air. It can also spread between individuals who are within 6 feet of each other. The droplets and contact cause the virus to be inhaled. Additionally the close contact touching can result in it being spread to the eyes, mouth, nose when individuals invariably touch their face.

CDC and common sense recommendations to help prevent illness and the spread of the virus include:

Clean hands often. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (water temp does not matter). If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer.

Avoid touching your face and others. Especially with unwashed hands. Face touching is a common problem, so you must be vigilant about limiting it.

Limit close contact with others. This is especially true if you suspect you may be sick or suspect someone else of being sick. In addition practice limiting ‘social gatherings’ where large groups may be together. The less social contact during this time the better potential outcomes we should see. If you are sick (or suspect you are) and cannot stay home, wear a mask when possible.

Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly. All surfaces you frequently touch should be regularly washed and disinfected. This includes handles, doorknobs, counters, phones, keyboards, and sinks.

When should you contact a doctor?

If you believe you are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or feel ill, call your healthcare provider. Older patients or immunocompromised individuals should contact their healthcare providers very early, even if symptoms are extremely mild. Your doctor will best be able to help determine if you should get tested.

If you or a loved one develop any EMERGENCY WARING SIGNS for COVID-19 you should seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY.

These emergency warning signs include (but may not be limited to):

difficulty breathing or extreme shortness of breath
chest pain
confusion or an inability to be awoken or aroused
bluish lips or face

all information and guidance is available via the CDC at coronavirus.gov and through the World Health Organization Coronavirus page

For local information visit the Florida Department of Health — Duval Dashboard

Signs of the Common Cold

The dreaded common cold. It’s common enough for everyone to experience it, but somehow it still doesn’t have a cure. It comes around frequently enough to be a problem as adults suffer from an average of 2 to 3 colds a year.

If you’re feeling under the weather, keep an eye on the following cold-like symptoms:

Mild fever
Thick, green or yellow mucus
Coughing
Sore throat
Development of symptoms over a few days’ time
Mild body and headaches

Colds are most common in the spring and winter, but can show up any time of year.

Flu Symptoms

Flu symptoms tend to be similar to cold symptoms but are often more severe. An estimated 200,000 Americans are hospitalized due to the flu or flu-related complications each year. Some groups of the general population especially children and the elderly are more likely to suffer from life-threatening cases of the flu.

The following tell-tale signs point to the flu:

A high fever lasting 3 to 4 days
Severe body aches
Fatigue/exhaustion
Development of symptoms over a few days
Coughing
Sore throat

Like the common cold, it’s possible to get the flu at any time of year but its peak season lasts from December to February.

Allergy Symptoms

Allergies have the uncanny ability to mimic cold and flu symptoms. However, they’re not caused by viruses but instead, provoked by an allergen or allergens. Allergies may develop at any stage of life and can cause chronic symptoms.

If you suspect you have allergies, watch out for the following:

Chronic congestion and coughing
Seasonal patterns of symptoms
Clear nasal discharge
Congestion
Coughing
Watery, itchy eyes
Pain under cheekbones and teeth
Reaction right after exposure

Allergies may develop any time an allergen is present.

When to Talk to an Allergy Specialist

We often think of allergies as being as simple as a sniffle or a cough, but they can progress if not cared for. An allergy specialist will help you manage allergies and help you improve your quality of life.

Allergists can identify what triggers your allergies and then determine the most appropriate course of treatment. In some cases, over-the-counter medications may be ineffective. Your allergist may prescribe medications to reduce the symptoms of your allergies and prevent reactions.

If you’re having trouble performing everyday tasks or your allergy symptoms are getting in the way of you enjoying life, it’s time to meet with an allergy specialist—contact Allergy and Asthma Specialists of North Florida to set up a convenient appointment to meet with one of our board certified allergy specialists.

Symptoms such as chronic infections, chest tightness and breathing difficulties may require immediate attention.

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