Allergy
At Gainesville ENT & Allergy Associates, we offer a wide range of allergy testing and treatment techniques. As we constantly evolve to meet the needs of our patients, we are proud to now offer "at home" Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) as an alternative to traditional in-office allergy shots. With SLIT, purified extracts are delivered in drops under the tongue (sublingually) rather than injected into the skin. The leadership of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) has long recognized the potential of the SLIT technique which has been the standard of care in Europe for decades, and has endorsed SLIT as an effective alternative to traditional allergy shots for appropriate patients. The technique offers several potential advantages including the fact that it is extremely safe and can therefore be self administered by patients at home. It is considered to carry a lower risk for patients with asthma who require immunotherapy, is well tolerated with very few side effects, and offers a less invasive method of immunotherapy for children. SLIT has been a benefit to many of our patients who require immunotherapy, but simply can not travel to the office on a regular basis to maintain a shot regimen. Again, depending on your allergy and specific needs, SLIT may or may not be recommended as an alternative to traditional allergy shots. To learn more, please contact our office to schedule an appointment at 352-331-0090.
Why are those allergy symptoms flaring?! While we don't have a pollen counter accessible to the public in Gainesville, those from surrounding areas give an idea of what's in the air. Useful links you may want to bookmark:
PROCEDURES FOR IN-OFFICE ALLERGY SHOTS
Immunotherapy will be administered during the office hours listed below on a walk-in basis unless otherwise posted. Shots are not given unless one of our physicians is in the office WITHOUT EXCEPTION. This may rarely result in times when early afternoon shots are postponed as a result of our physicians being delayed in surgery. Our staff will notify you immediately if this is the case.
Please notify the receptionist upon your arrival. If another patient is undergoing allergy testing, there may be a slight delay before you receive your shot. You will need to plan to relax in our office for 20 TO 30 MINUTES after each shot WITHOUT EXCEPTION, depending on the severity of your allergies and whether or not you have asthma. Your wait time will be determined before you begin your course of immunotherapy so you can plan accordingly. We have gone to great lengths to make our office a comfortable and relaxing environment, but please do not hesitate to let our staff know if there is anything we can do to make your wait more enjoyable. You will be given a countdown timer after each shot and MUST have your injection site examined for any adverse reaction before you depart the office. These policies are meant to insure the highest level of safety and failure to comply with them will result in termination of your immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy hours of operation are as follows:
Monday
8:00 AM - 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
ALLERGY LINKS
GENERAL ALLERGY RESOURCES
The American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy:
http://www.aaoaf.org
AllAllergy:
http://allallergy.net
ALLERGY - ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND AVOIDANCE
Allergy Control Products:
http://www.allergycontrol.com
National Allergy Supply:
http://www.natlallergy.com
FOOD ALLERGY
Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network:
http://www.foodallergy.org
Ener-G Foods:
http://www.ener-g.com
