Allergy Treatment
Allergies affect millions of Americans each year, causing uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous symptoms. At Majmudar Allergy, we provide specialized testing and treatments tailored to each person.
Dr. Majmudar’s goal is to accurately identify your triggers and arm you with the knowledge and tools to manage your allergies effectively.
What Causes Allergic Reactions?
Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to a foreign yet typically harmless substance called an allergen. Common allergenic triggers include pollen, pet dander, dust mites, stinging insects, foods like peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, milk, eggs, and wheat, and certain medications.
When exposed to a trigger, an allergic individual’s immune system activates antibodies, leading to the release histamine and other chemicals. This causes reactions ranging from mildly annoying to severe and life-threatening.
Treatments aim to retrain this hypersensitive reaction to alleviate discomfort.
Ready to breathe easier?
Schedule your appointment and take control of your allergies!
Allergy Conditions We Treat
At Majmudar Allergy, our seasoned allergist, Dr. Sonali Majmudar, has years of expertise in accurately testing and treating the spectrum of allergic conditions. Dr. Majmudar is equipped to diagnose and treat:
Diagnosis, Treatments, and Management
After confirming specific allergy triggers through testing, Dr. Majmudar will develop customized treatment plans to deactivate immune system overreactions over the long term. There are a variety of ways that Dr. Majmudar diagnoses, treats and manages allergies:
Allergy Skin and Food Sensitivity Testing
Allergy Skin Testing
Skin testing is often performed in patients suffering from allergic reactions or unknown reactions to allergy triggers. Performing skin testing helps identify specific allergy triggers. During allergy skin testing, small amounts of suspected allergen are introduced. This is usually done through a small prick in the skin on your back. Dr. Majmudar will read these results about 15-20 minutes later. If there is a positive reaction, there will be a red, raised area surrounded by swelling, indicating histamine release and an allergy. Common skin tests performed include:
- Allergens to your environment like grass, trees, pollens, dust mites, and dander from dogs and cats
- Food allergens like milk, egg, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, and shellfish
Skin testing is a quick way of testing for allergies, allowing patients to receive their results during the appointment. However, it cannot be performed on all patients. Those who are taking antihistamines must be off medication for 72 hours before testing. If skin testing cannot be done, a blood test will be ordered to test your IgE and diagnose your allergies. RAST testing measure your IgE antibodies against certain allergens. IgE antibodies are immunoglobulins that are responsible for starting allergic reactions. When the body is exposed to an allergen, IgE antibodies bind to mast cells and trigger the release of histamine, leading to common allergy symptoms.
In-Office Allergy Immunotherapy Shots
Also called desensitization or allergy shots, this is considered a highly effective way to potentially reprogram the immune system’s faulty allergic reaction over time. It works by consistently exposing your body to customized allergen extracts via regular injections over a couple of years until it develops long-term tolerance.
Slit Allergy Drops
Sublingual immunotherapy allergy drops taken daily under the tongue can lessen allergic reactions and the need for medication. This works because the drops introduce tiny amounts of the allergens until it is better tolerated by the body.
Allergy immunotherapy can also be effective for patients with allergic asthma and/or atopic dermatitis.
Palforzia for Peanut Allergy
For those severely allergic to peanuts, this specialized oral immunotherapy methodically and safely exposes the body to controlled microdoses of peanut protein through capsules of powder to help reduce the chance of life-threatening reactions.
Biologic Injections
For some conditions and patients not responding to high dose traditional therapy, many biologics are available to target treatment at the highest level.
Results Management
Dr. Majmudar diligently tracks patients’ progress through follow-up skin and blood testing at regular intervals to see if treatments reduce allergic antibodies and indicate a lower risk for reactions over time.
By closely tracking your progress through repeat lab testing, Dr. Majmudar can fine-tune therapies until triggers lose their strength and your symptoms fade away.
This test data helps us take an active, customized approach, changing doses or plans if needed so your allergies steadily improve and life feels more comfortable.
Are you experiencing allergies? Schedule an appointment at Majmudar Allergy Algonquin or Hoffman Estates, IL, today!
