Allergy Diagnosis & Therapy
Is endless sneezing becoming your calling card, announcing your presence before you can even say a word? Do itchy, watery eyes seem to constantly disrupt your day? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
Allergies are no fun. Hay fever and seasonal allergies can be particularly bothersome because pollen, grass, pet dander, dust mites, and other common environmental allergens are so hard to avoid. This is especially true in rural areas like Mount Ayr, Iowa, where chances are good you spend a lot of time outdoors.
Well, you don’t have to suffer any longer. At Ringgold County Hospital, we offer quick and convenient allergy testing right here, close to home. We even offer immunotherapy (allergy shots and allergy drops), a highly effective method of preventing allergic reactions from occurring in the first place.
Allergy Testing
If you suffer from allergies and would like relief from bothersome allergy symptoms, you’ll want to start with a visit to one of the providers at Mount Ayr Medical Clinic, conveniently located inside Ringgold County Hospital.
After an assessment, and allergies are confirmed to be the suspected cause of your symptoms, you will be referred to an RCH certified clinical allergy technician/specialist (CAT/CAS) for the appropriate skin tests. We can test for a wide variety of environmental, food, and penicillin allergies.
During your allergy testing – a skin prick test, also sometimes called a scratch test – a designated area of your skin is exposed to suspected allergens, and you will be observed for signs of an allergic reaction. These tests are safe and can effectively narrow down the specific allergens that are causing you problems.
Allergy Shots & Other Treatments
After you receive your test results, your Mount Ayr Medical Clinic provider will decide on treatment course specifically designed for you.
Depending on the type of allergy you have, your provider may recommend immunotherapy. This involves gradual exposure to a target allergen over time, under physician supervision. It is typically delivered as a customized regimen of allergy shots or allergy drops, which are placed under the tongue.
Immunotherapy is the only disease-modifying allergy treatment that “teaches” your immune system to gradually decrease its response to the allergen in question. Eventually, you can be in the presence of an allergen without developing an allergic reaction to it – all without having to regularly take antihistamines or other medications.
Benefits of Immunotherapy
People suffering from seasonal allergies are seeing remarkable results with immunotherapy. In fact, clinical studies show that 85% of patients who receive allergen immunotherapy will eventually become symptom-free. At Mount Ayr Medical Clinic, our results have been even better: 100% of the patients we’ve treated with immunotherapy have reported improvement or complete relief from their symptoms!
Benefits of immunotherapy (allergy shots or allergy drops) include:
- It’s a long-term, drug-free solution
- You save on the cost and hassle of having to take daily antihistamines or other medications
- Treatment is covered by most insurance carriers
- Symptom relief typically begins within the first year of treatment
- It’s highly effective when continued for the recommended 2-5 years of treatment
- By the third year of treatment, patients often experience substantial symptom relief – at which point, discontinuation of the allergy shots or drops can be discussed
- Many patients experience symptom relief that lasts for up to 12 years
Ask your Mount Ayr Medical Clinic provider if you are a good candidate for allergen immunotherapy.
Allergy Testing & Allergy Shots in Mount Ayr, IA
Ringgold County Hospital is pleased to provide its allergy testing and treatment to patients in Mount Ayr, Iowa, through a partnership with United Allergy Services.
Do you have allergies and would like to be rid of its bothersome symptoms once and for all? To get started, schedule an appointment to see a provider at Mount Ayr Medical Clinic, located in the hospital, by calling (641) 464-4470 or simply request your appointment now.
