Allergy Relief Is Here
Dr. Edward L. Barnes provides comprehensive care to patients suffering from seasonal and year-round allergies. Beyond accurate diagnosis, he provides targeted treatment options to patients with allergy and sinus disorders. He will take a thorough history and conduct tests to determine what triggers your symptoms and will develop the best treatment plan for you and your lifestyle. Allergies can lead to other chronic conditions. Why suffer? Let us help improve your quality of life.
Common Allergy Triggers
Ragweed: Found along roadsides and in vacant lots, fields and other sunny spots, this common weed with finely divided leaves and tiny, greenish-white, downturned blossoms is the leading cause of fall allergy symptoms.
Mold: Indoor and outdoor mold counts peak in the humid months of late summer and early autumn and are especially problematic for people with asthma and allergies. Outdoor molds are found in falling leaves, soil vegetation and rotting wood. Indoor molds flourish in damp household areas such as basements, shower stalls and near washing machines and dryers.
Dust mites: Although present year round, dust mites thrive in humidity and can cause problems during the fall months when they are stirred up by dirty ventilation systems. When you turn on your furnace, you distribute a lot of mold and mites that have been sitting all summer.
Pollen: Many trees, grasses and weeds have pollens that are easily carried by the wind. Some of the major outdoor allergens that cause reactions are trees such as oak, elm, birch, ash, hickory, maple, walnut, cypress and western red cedar, and grasses such as timothy, bermuda, orchard, red top and sweet vernal.
Pet dander: Animal dander is the product of dry skin flakes that every animal sheds. Animal dander can come from short haired animals and any animal with feathers. It is important to understand, though, that it is not the pet’s hair or feathers that acts as the trigger. Simply being in an environment where an animal lives, even if they are not there at the same time as you, can be enough to set off allergy symptoms.
Testing Options
SPT (skin prick test): A set of allergens is applied to the skin using a device that pricks the superficial layer of skin and simultaneously applies a drop of allergens to the site. This test takes about 45 minutes.
RAST (radioallergosorbent test): A RAST test, using a person’s extracted blood, detects the amount of IgE that reacts specifically with suspected allergens. IgE is the antibody associated with type 1 allergic response. If a person exhibits a high level of IgE directed against pollen, the test may indicate the person is allergic to pollen proteins.
Treatment Options
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Prescription medications: An ever-growing list of new and improved course of treatments.
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SLIT- sublingual immunotherapy: A custom designed liquid mixed for each patient. Easy to administer drops that you place under the tongue. A great option for children.
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Intradermal injections: a custom designed injectable created for each patient.
Dr. Barnes is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and is a fellowship member of the American College of Surgeons. He has treated patients in northwest Oklahoma since 1993. He is a specialist in ear, nose and throat and the testing and treatment of allergies.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 580-237-7700.
The INTEGRIS Bass Baptist allergy clinic is located at 3201 N. Van Buren in Enid, OK.