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

Pediatric Allergies: Information Every Parent Should Know

If you are concerned that your child is suffering from allergies, asthma or other related conditions here are some things to keep in mind. Some allergies are mild and can be managed with periodic over-the-counter medicine. However, types ofpediatric allergies and asthma vary between children and should not be treated with a “cookie cutter” approach. Often, allergies and asthma can be quite severe with a substantial impact on the child’s quality of life. Additionally, pediatric allergies and some of their treatments can have broad effects on the immediate and long-term health of children. Getting support early in life or near the onset of allergic symptoms can help children have the best chance for a positive long-term outcome.

Why see a Board-Certified Pediatric Allergist?

There are many health specialists who can provide general guidance regarding allergic conditions. But, as with other specialties, specific experience with childhood allergic disease is very important.

A pediatric allergist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and other allergic conditions in children. The allergist has undergone extensive training to identify the various factors that can trigger allergies and asthma.

After graduating from a four year undergraduate program and earning a medical degree (M.D. or D.O) following four years of medical school, the allergist then completes a three-year residency training program with an additional two or three years of fellowship study solely dedicated to the field of pediatric allergy and immunology.

You can be certain that your child’s physician has met these requirements if he or she is certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. All allergists at Allergy & Asthma Specialists of North Florida are certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology and actively participate in maintenance of certification (MOC), which assures they are up to date with the latest scientific and clinical advances in the field.

Allergy Testing and Diagnosis for Children

Time is valuable and an accurate diagnosis is essential to the successful management of allergies. It is crucial to make the correct diagnosis as early as possible. Accurate interpretation of allergy test results is particularly important for children with food allergies, so that the culprit food is identified and other foods are not unnecessarily placed on the child’s food allergy list.

We emphasize bringing value to every patient’s appointment and begin by obtaining a detailed history of your child’s symptoms. Based on that information, we develop the most appropriate treatment plan for your child while explaining the diagnosis in detail and answering your questions. We also believe it is important to help our young patients understand their illness, which gives them knowledge and confidence to share their condition with other adults who may care for them.

Pediatric Allergy Treatment Options

There are several treatment options available to help cope with the symptoms of allergies and asthma. Over-the-counter treatments are often used as temporary stopgap measures and some come with notable side effects (i.e. drowsiness or hyperactivity). Prescription medications may offer better long-term symptom control with fewer side effects, but they also do not address the underlying triggers for allergy and asthma symptoms. For this reason, allergists rely on the details of the health history before deciding on the best course of action.

Our treatments center on identification and avoidance of underlying allergic triggers.

We strive to use the least amount of medication possible to control symptoms, improve quality of life, and improve long-term outcomes. We recognize that children often have better results when they receive coordinated care and that’s why we will partner with you and your child’s pediatrician to assure the best possible outcome. By working together, we can better identify allergic triggers and develop a unique therapy tailored for your child.

We also understand that some parents are concerned about any medications being used and prefer to take a more holistic approach to treating allergies. Allergen immunotherapy (also known as allergy shots or allergy injections) is a more natural option for patients. It is the ultimate long-term treatment for many people with allergic nasal conditions, allergic eye conditions and severe insect sting allergies (bees, wasps, fire ants, etc…). Allergen immunotherapy works by gradually retraining the immune system to be more tolerant of environmental allergens without the use of medications. Its success rate is high—75-85% and is the one of the most cost effective long term treatment for allergies.

Continuing Care for Childhood Allergies

The long-term management of allergies and asthma can be challenging and it’s important to remain mindful about how the illness and the medications may be affecting your child’s quality of life. There are various medications that can be used to treat allergies, but some can impart undesirable effects. Some children may find that their sleep patterns are disrupted while taking antihistamines or decongestants. Sometimes it’s best to start new medications when there is going to be a break from school or closer to the weekend to give children time to adjust and cause the least amount of disruption.

Children may carry some childhood allergies well into adulthood and therefore it is important for parents to work with trained pediatric allergists who can help you and your children cope with these illnesses as they move forward.

Ultimately, through a concerted group effort, we can help children learn how to best handle their symptoms and whether their treatment is effectively controlling their allergies.

Dr.’s Patrick DeMarco, Thomas Lupoli and Edward Mizrahi are board certified allergists who practice at Allergy and Asthma Specialists of North Florida, P.A.

Please visit our homepage at jaxallergy.com and contact us or call 904-730-4870 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

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