ENT allergy clinic

     The examination to diagnose the cause of an allergy is performed at the ENT Allergy Clinic during a single appointment, with the results available within a few hours.
Specifically, an allergy skin prick test (Prick Test) is performed by applying small drops of different allergens to the patient's forearm.
Allergy skin tests are simple, quick and painless.

     Each drop corresponds to a specific allergen, allowing clear identification of the cause of the allergy and allergic rhinitis.
This is particularly useful because the patient can identify the allergen responsible for their troublesome symptoms and take appropriate measures to avoid exposure.

     More specifically, the most common allergens detected by skin testing include various plants, such as olive trees, or weeds and shrubs, such as pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria); dust mites, microscopic organisms that live in bedding, duvets, pillows, carpets and other household environments; fungi and molds, either outdoor or indoor, commonly found in basements, bathrooms and other damp areas; as well as domestic animals, such as dogs and cats.
There are also food allergens, including egg, fish, milk, peanuts and almonds.

     Allergy skin prick testing (Prick Tests) has advantages over blood testing (RAST tests) in terms of both reliability and cost.
The examination is performed at a specialized ENT Allergy Clinic and takes approximately 20–30 minutes, with the results becoming available to the patient within the following half hour.
The only requirement before undergoing the examination is to avoid taking antihistamines or corticosteroids for at least one week beforehand.

     Conventional symptomatic treatment with antihistamine tablets and corticosteroid nasal sprays can provide temporary symptomatic relief but does not address the underlying cause of the allergy and, for obvious reasons, cannot be used indefinitely.
Allergen immunotherapy is the causal treatment of allergic rhinitis, as it directly targets the allergen responsible for the allergic reaction, gradually reducing the body's sensitivity to it.

     This desensitization treatment can be administered easily using sublingual drops containing the relevant allergen. In this way, the allergic patient is gradually exposed to the allergen in controlled doses, allowing the immune system to become progressively less sensitive to it.
The duration of treatment may range from 2 to 5 years, depending on the patient's response. The treatment can provide long-lasting results, with patients experiencing a significant reduction in their allergy and living with substantially fewer troublesome symptoms.

     During allergen immunotherapy, anti-allergic treatment with antihistamines and corticosteroid nasal spray may also be used, at least until the first significant benefits of desensitization are achieved, which may take approximately 1 to 2 years.

     During this period, the allergy skin prick test is repeated once a year to monitor the patient's allergic sensitization.