We strive to create individualized treatment plans for each of our patients as each person has a unique history and unique needs. Some of our services include:
- Venom Allergy Testing
- Spirometry/NIOX Testing
- Allergy Drops
- Aspirin Desensitization
- Allergy Shots (IT)
- Immunoglobullin Replacement
- Allergy Tablets
- Food/Drug Graded Challenge
- Fiberoptic Evaluation (nose)
- Chemical/ Food Patch Testing
- Penicillin Drug Testing
- Xolair/Nucala Injections
- Orthopedic/Dental Implant Testing
- Rapid Allergy Desensitization
- Allergy Skin Testing
Venom Immunotherapy Specialist
When patients find they have a systemic reaction to an insect bite, venom immunotherapy (VIT) can help reduce the severity of future reactions. The team of board-certified allergists at North Texas Allergy & Asthma Associates welcome new patients at any of the three locations serving North Texas: Texas Health Dallas, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, and Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
Spirometry/NIOX Testing
Spirometry is a type of pulmonary function test that measures the amount of air taken in (volume) and exhaled as a function of time.
During a spirometry test, a patient places their mouth over the mouthpiece of the spirometer, takes a deep breath in, and then blows out as forcefully as possible.
• Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) – how much air you can blow out of your lungs
• Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1) – the amount of air you can blow out in 1 second
Your doctor may use the results of your spirometry to diagnose emphysema or asthma. If you have a lung disease such as asthma, this test can give important information on whether or not medications are working, or if your disease is worsening.
Allergy Drops
Sublingual immunotherapy is a preventive treatment that uses allergy drops under the tongue to treat symptoms caused by pollens, molds, or even pet dander. The team of board-certified allergists at North Texas Allergy & Asthma Associates can help diagnose allergic responses and treat them effectively so patients can continue feeling their best. Call or schedule an appointment online to visit the staff at any of the three locations serving North Texas: Texas Health Dallas, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, and Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
Aspirin Desensitization
Adults who suffer from Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD) often suffer from asthma, sinus congestion, and recurrent nasal polyps. The team of board-certified allergists at North Texas Allergy & Asthma Associates can help patients manage this sensitivity at any of their three locations in North Texas: Texas Health Dallas, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, and Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
Allergy Shots (IT)
Using allergy shots, or immunotherapy, the team of board-certified allergists at North Texas Allergy & Asthma Associates helps patients overcome allergy symptoms in a fast, effective way. If you’re looking to control your allergies with a long-term solution, visit the highly trained staff at three premier locations in North Texas: Texas Health Dallas, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, and Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
Immunoglobullin Replacement
Immunoglobulins are proteins found in human blood. This protein is called an “antibody” and is an important part of the body’s defense against disease. When the body is attacked by harmful bacteria or viruses, antibodies help fight these invaders. Immunoglobin can be referred to by a number of abbreviations, including IgG, IGG, IGIV and IVIG.
Allergy Tablets
Sublingual immunotherapy is a preventive treatment that uses allergy drops under the tongue to treat symptoms caused by pollens, molds, or even pet dander. The team of board-certified allergists at North Texas Allergy & Asthma Associates can help diagnose allergic responses and treat them effectively so patients can continue feeling their best. Call or schedule an appointment online to visit the staff at any of the three locations serving North Texas: Texas Health Dallas, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, and Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
Food/Drug Graded Challenge
Food patch testing is used to detect possible food allergies. This test differs from ImmunoCap blood tests or skin prick tests, which are used to evaluate for immediate reactions that may result in symptoms such as hives or anaphylaxis (severe allergy reaction).
IIn contrast, patch tests are used to evaluate delayed-type reactions. Combining these two types of testing may better identify foods that are causing disease symptoms.
Patch testing may be useful for patients with diseases such as eosinophilic esophagitis or atopic dermatitis that may be caused, in part, by underlying food allergies.
How Is Food Patch Testing Performed?
Food patch testing, in most situations, will require three separate visits to the Food Allergy Center:
Visit 1:
During the initial visit, food patch test panel(s) will be placed on the back of you/your child. These panels consist of prepared food extracts placed on shallow aluminum disks, which are taped to the skin. These panels must remain intact for 48 hours. This requires that they do not get wet or shift their location on the back. The selection of foods for testing will be determined by your allergist. In general, foods that are positive by blood or skin prick testing will NOT be included for patch testing.
Visit 2:
48 hours after patch placement, the patient will return to the clinic for patch removal and evaluation by a nurse.
Visit 3:
72 hours after patch placement, the patient meets with the physician for evaluation and interpretation of patch testing results.
Fiberoptic Evaluation (nose)
Using allergy shots, or immunotherapy, the team of board-certified allergists at North Texas Allergy & Asthma Associates helps patients overcome allergy symptoms in a fast, effective way. If you’re looking to control your allergies with a long-term solution, visit the highly trained staff at three premier locations in North Texas: Texas Health Dallas, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, and Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
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Chemical/ Food Patch Testing
A patch test is used to find allergic causes of eczema/dermatitis and some other types of skin reactions such as reactions to drugs, chemicals, metals, or foods.
Every patient is tested to the common chemicals known to cause allergy (such as nickel in metals, fragrances & other cosmetic ingredients, rubber chemicals found in gloves etc) together with additional allergens related to your specific problem e.g.
Visit 1:
work chemicals or extra ingredients of cosmetics or treatments. Each chemical is applied to a disc (about 1cm in diameter and then taped to your back in strips of 10). Each patient may be tested for allergy to up to 100 different substances. You will also be asked to take a small sample of any material that you think is causing a reaction (such as a cosmetic) to be tested as well.
During the initial visit, test panel(s) will be placed on the back of you/your child. These panels consist of chemicals placed on shallow aluminum disks, which are taped to the skin. These panels must remain intact for 48 hours. This requires that they do not get wet or shift their location on the back. The selection of chemicals for testing will be determined by your allergist.
Visit 2:
48 hours after patch placement, the patient will return to the clinic for patch removal and evaluation by a nurse.
Visit 3:
72 hours after patch placement, the patient meets with the physician for evaluation and interpretation of patch testing results.
Your doctor may refer you for a patch test:
1. If you suspect an allergy as a cause of your eczema such as to cosmetic ingredients or hair dye
2. If you have eczema that is proving difficult to treat to ensure you are not allergic to ingredients of the treatment for your eczema
3. If you have a work related eczema/dermatitis
Penicillin Drug Testing
If you’re concerned you have a penicillin allergy, but want to know for sure before risking an allergic reaction, seek help from the North Texas Allergy & Asthma Associates team to learn more about skin testing. They can help patients identify their reaction using Pre-Pen skin tests in a safe way. Call or schedule an appointment online to visit any of their locations in North Texas: Texas Health Dallas, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, and Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
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Xolair/Nucala Injections
What is XOLAIR?
Xolair for subcutaneous use is an injectable prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older with:
• moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma who have had a skin or blood test that is positive for allergic asthma and whose asthma symptoms are not controlled by asthma medicines called inhaled corticosteroids.
• chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU; chronic hives without a known cause) who continue to have hives that are not controlled by H1 -antihistamine treatment. Until now, H1-antihistamines have been the only approved therapy for CIU, with about 50 percent of patients having an inadequate response.
What is Xolair (Omalizumab)?
An allergic person makes too much of a certain protein in the body, called IgE antibody. The overproduction of this protein may result in various allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis (hayfever), allergic asthma and CIU. Omalizumab is a drug that binds to the allergic antibody (IgE) in the blood stream and neutralizes (blocks) its actions
Benefits of Omalizumab
Omalizumab has been shown to decrease the number of asthma attacks in patients with more moderate to severe asthma, and in some patients it allows a reduction in, and sometimes complete elimination of, other asthma medications.
How is it administered, how often is it given, and for how long?
For asthma, your Omalizumab dose will be chosen based on your body weight and the results of a blood test that measures your level of IgE. For CIU, your Omalizumab dose will be based on your doctor’s recommendation. You will receive 1-2 injections of Omalizumab in your upper arm every 2 to 4 weeks depending on the above factors. Unless your weight changes significantly, the dose and injection schedule should not change once your treatment has started. It may take several months before you begin to notice benefits from Omalizumab. Once benefits are observed, they should last for as long as you continue to receive your regular injections. If for some reason your injections are stopped, we would expect the effects to wear off within 6 months to a year.
Orthopedic/Dental Implant Testing
The use of orthopedic implants is booming, largely a result of an aging population with comorbid conditions such as obesity and inflammatory arthritis. Most implants are metal alloys, containing combinations of common contact allergens (e.g., nickel, cobalt, palladium, gold, and chromium).
Rapid Allergy Desensitization
The team of board certified allergists at North Texas Allergy & Asthma Associates want to help patients get the highest quality care, including managing their sensitivity to inhalant allergens with techniques like rush immunotherapy (RIT). The staff serve patients at three premier locations in North Texas: Texas Health Resources of Dallas Hospital, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, and Baylor University Medical Center – Downtown Dallas.
Allergy Skin Testing
During allergy skin tests, your skin is exposed to suspected allergy-causing substances (allergens) and is then observed for signs of an allergic reaction.
Along with your medical history, allergy tests may be able to confirm whether or not a particular substance you touch, breathe or eat is causing symptoms. This procedure takes about 20 – 60 minutes to be completed.
• Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and asthma symptoms that are not well controlled with medicine
• Hives and angioedema
• Food allergies
• Skin rashes (dermatitis), in which the skin becomes red, sore, or swollen after contact with the substance
• Penicillin allergy
• Venom allergy