TREATMENT FOR ALLERGIES
Treatment can be :
- Preventive :
- Identification & Avoidance of Allergens :
- Symptomatic :
- Topical Sprays :
1. ORAL ANTI-HISTAMINICS & STEROIDS
Initial Management of these patients is MEDICAL, & may include use of antihistamines, decongestants, or intranasal steroids. This is a reasonable and effective approach in many patients.
CURATIVE : IMMUNOTHERAPY
Allergen Immunotherapy may be especially beneficial when avoidance and medications no longer control the patient's symptoms.
SURGICAL :
Chronic allergen exposure can lead to enlarged turbinates, polyps, etc. which are best addressed by surgery. Uncontrolled allergen exposure can lead to chronic irreversible changes in the upper and lower airway.
In patients with significantly discomforting or disabling symptoms that are NOT CONTROLLED with standard measures, surgery may also rarely be prescribed as an option WHERE NASAL OBSTRUCTION IS A PREDOMINANT SYMPTOM, SURGERY REMAINS THE METHOD OF CHOICE FOR AIRWAY CORRECTION.
Surgery may involve any or all of the following :
- Septoplasty
- Reduction of the turbinate size to reduce the sensitivity .
- Ablation of the vidian nerve (the nerve responsible for a hyper-reactive nose).
- Re-establishment of blocked pathways for the sinuses to aerate (allow sufficient oxygen to enter).
