Sunshine Sentinel

• Fall allergies typically begin in August and can last through October.

• To diagnose allergies, doctors may recommend either a blood test or a skin test.

• Some treatment options include over-the-counter medications, nasal sprays and immunotherapy.

West Palm Beach Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers' Dr. Cody Aull wants allergy sufferers to know there may now be several treatments available to them.

“There's so many different courses we can use to get to where we need to be with the patient,” Aull told the Sunshine Sentinel. “We can even do rapid desensitization, if that is what is best for the patient. As far as allergy drops or shots go, it takes an extended period of time for you to get a complete resolution of your allergies. The knee-jerk reaction should be three years. If your immune system isn't great, it could go up to five years. So there is a time investment for a complete cure for allergies.”

Aull stresses that doesn’t necessarily require the patient to spend a lot of time in his office, however.

“It shouldn't be arduous as far as the amount of work you have to go through,” he said. “A lot of that comes with nothing more than drops once a day, but it’s next to your toothbrush, so it’s no big deal. So there isn't necessarily a huge time commitment with allergy shots. There's different ways we can work that as well, depending on the patient's comfort level and experience. They can always come in as needed to get the drops or shots.”

Fall allergies typically begin in August, as ragweed begins to release pollen, and last through October. According to WebMD, even people residing in areas where ragweed doesn’t grow can still be affected at peak allergy season, as the wind can carry ragweed pollen for hundreds of miles. Another common trigger is mold, which can grow in piles of damp leaves.

Seasonal allergy sufferers can also fall victim dust mites, which can spread from something as simple as people turning on the heat in their homes for the fall season. Dust mites are also often present in schools, potentially leaving many students vulnerable as they return to the classroom. Common allergy symptoms include a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes and noses.

In arriving at their diagnosis, doctors often take into account the patient’s symptoms and medical history before recommending either a blood test or a skin test as the next step in the process. For a skin test, the doctor places a small amount of the allergen on the patient's skin, typically on the forearm or back. If the patient is allergic to that particular allergen, a small, itchy bump will appear.

Based on the type and severity of one’s allergies, doctors may recommend treatment options that could range from over-the-counter medications nasal sprays, allergy shots, immunotherapy or, in very severe cases, carrying an emergency epinephrine shot, such as an EpiPen.

If you have allergies and are considering seeking treatment, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.