Dr. David Peloza, MD
Our Ask the Allergist series brings expert insights from Dr. David Peloza, MD, our board-certified allergist and immunologist. Dr. Peloza answers questions from patients and families on topics like seasonal allergies, asthma, food sensitivities, and immune conditions. Patients can book an appointment with Dr. Peloza in our Columbus or Sun Prairie, Wisconsin clinics.
Shortness of breath can be due to a variety of causes. Asthma is a chronic lung condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, wheezing and chest tightness. Many patients with asthma also have allergies to “aeroallergens” (pollens, dust mites, pet dander), which can trigger and worsen asthma symptoms.
Allergic rhinitis, commonly referred to as “hay fever,” can also be triggered by aeroallergens. Symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion which can cause difficulty breathing. Allergy testing and spirometry (breathing test) can help determine if you might have allergies or asthma and help determine the best treatments for you.
If you have symptoms of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, it is important to talk to your healthcare professional. Read more about the allergy and immunology services we offer at Prairie Ridge Health’s Columbus and Sun Prairie clinics.
Allergy Clinic at Prairie Ridge Health
Differentiating between a viral cold and allergies can sometimes be challenging. Both can cause nasal symptoms of congestion, sneezing, and runny nose. If you have associated symptoms of fever, muscle aches, or sore throat, this may be more indicative of a viral cold. Cold symptoms typically last about a week or less.
However, if symptoms such as runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and itchy eyes last more than 7-10 days, seem to recur during certain seasons (such as spring or fall), or come on when around certain environmental triggers (such as pets or dust), this may suggest allergies.
Allergy testing can help determine if your symptoms may be due to allergies. Knowing whether your symptoms are caused by a cold or allergies will help determine the most effective treatment options. Allergy testing can be done at Prairie Ridge Health’s Columbus location.
Allergy Testing at Prairie Ridge HealthShortness of breath can be due to a variety of causes. Asthma is a chronic lung condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Symptoms include shortness of breath, cough, wheezing and chest tightness. Many patients with asthma also have allergies to “aeroallergens” (pollens, dust mites, pet dander), which can trigger and worsen asthma symptoms.
Allergic rhinitis, commonly referred to as “hay fever,” can also be triggered by aeroallergens. Symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion which can cause difficulty breathing. Allergy testing and spirometry (breathing test) can help determine if you might have allergies or asthma and help determine the best treatments for you.
If you have symptoms of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, it is important to talk to your healthcare professional. Read more about the allergy and immunology services we offer at Prairie Ridge Health’s Columbus and Sun Prairie clinics.
Allergy Clinic at Prairie Ridge HealthDifferentiating between a viral cold and allergies can sometimes be challenging. Both can cause nasal symptoms of congestion, sneezing, and runny nose. If you have associated symptoms of fever, muscle aches, or sore throat, this may be more indicative of a viral cold. Cold symptoms typically last about a week or less.
However, if symptoms such as runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and itchy eyes last more than 7-10 days, seem to recur during certain seasons (such as spring or fall), or come on when around certain environmental triggers (such as pets or dust), this may suggest allergies.
Allergy testing can help determine if your symptoms may be due to allergies. Knowing whether your symptoms are caused by a cold or allergies will help determine the most effective treatment options. Skin testing is quick and performed in the Allergy Clinic during an office visit.
Allergy Testing at Prairie Ridge Health10% of the population reports an allergy to penicillin antibiotics. However, less than 1% of the population is found to be truly allergic after undergoing evaluation. This is in part due to the loss of sensitivity to penicillin and resolution of the allergy over time.
Why is it important to know if you truly are allergic to penicillin? Penicillin antibiotics are often the most effective therapies for many types of infection (such as pneumonia, strep throat, and sinus infections). Further, having a penicillin allergy label can lead to the use of alternative antibiotics which are associated with higher prescription and healthcare costs, antibiotic resistant “superbugs,” C. difficile infection, and adverse drug reactions.
Penicillin allergy testing is considered safe and effective and performed in the outpatient Allergy Clinic.
penicillin allergy testing at Prairie Ridge HealthFortunately, most insect bites and stings result in mild localized symptoms such as skin redness, pain and itching. You should remove any visible stingers and gently clean the area. Symptoms can be treated with cold compresses, antihistamines, topical hydrocortisone and non-prescription pain medications. You should always see a healthcare professional if the swelling gets worse, the site shows signs of infection, or you don’t feel well.
Sometimes stings from bees, yellow jackets, wasps, hornets can cause severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, swelling, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, feeling lightheaded or loss of consciousness. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and may be fatal. If you have these symptoms, get immediate emergency medical treatment. After this treatment, an allergist can complete testing and discuss if venom desensitization (immunotherapy), which can significantly lower your risk for another severe reaction, is right for you.
Yes, it is possible to outgrow allergies. Many children will outgrow their food allergies. In fact, it is estimated that about 25% of children outgrow peanut allergy, and 75% outgrow egg and milk allergies. Additionally, some adults can develop “adult-onset allergies.”
Yes, it is possible to develop new allergies in adulthood. Allergies are much more common to develop in childhood; however, adult-onset allergies can occur.
Asthma can affect people of all ages, including older adults. It’s often diagnosed in childhood, but it can worsen later in life, potentially presenting unique challenges in diagnosis and management. Additionally, asthma can develop in adulthood, which is called adult-onset asthma.
Asthma is a chronic lung condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Common triggers for asthma include common colds (viruses), allergens (pollens, dust mites, animal dander), exercise, and certain weather conditions (cold air, dry/windy day).
Asthma is the most common chronic illness in childhood. Some children have a persistent asthma that worsens with exercise. Other children may only have symptoms when they exercise, which is commonly referred to as exercise-induced asthma. It is important to note that even patients with mild and well-controlled asthma can experience severe and life-threating asthma attacks. Albuterol is typically the first-line treatment. With proper treatment, most can manage their symptoms and live active lives without limitation. In fact, there are successful Olympic athletes with a history of asthma.
Indoor pets are a common source of allergy, and most pet-allergic patients are reactive to cats, dogs, or both. Common symptoms include itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and sometimes asthma symptoms of cough, wheezing and shortness or breath. Allergy skin testing can help determine if you have an allergy to an animal, or potentially to a different indoor allergen such as dust mites. After the sources of allergy are determined, measures to decrease allergen exposure and treatments can be recommended.
Skin testing is a way to help find out if a person has an allergy to a test substance. The testing is usually done by making small “pricks” in the skin of the back or forearm with a small amount of various suspected allergic substances. There is typically only mild discomfort when the skin test is performed. If there is a positive test, typically a small, itchy, red hive will develop under the drop within fifteen minutes. Interpreting the clinical significance of skin tests requires skillful correlation of the test results with the patient’s clinical history.
Not all patients need to have skin testing, and this procedure is only done as indicated based on clinical history. These tests are extremely effective in detecting allergic sensitivity to penicillin, inhaled substances (like pollen, dust mite, animal dander) and at detecting potentially dangerous reactions for foods. Testing is generally performed if there are symptoms of hay fever (runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes) or asthma (wheezing, cough, shortness of breath) or of an allergic-type food allergy. More specifically, food allergy testing is only valid at confirming true allergic-type reactions and does not have benefit or predictive value for other conditions such as food sensitivities/intolerances. Therefore, skin testing is not indicated for food sensitivities/intolerances or intestinal food reactions, and we do not perform food panels or sensitivity testing.
Additionally, a different type of test often referred to as a “patch test”, is needed to evaluate sensitivity to things contacted on the skin which cause rashes, like cosmetics, chemicals in creams and plants such as poison ivy. We do not perform this type of test but it is generally performed by dermatologists.
More information about Allergy testingThis content is for informational purposes only. This does not constitute medical advice. You should seek medical evaluation if you are having symptoms.
