Treatment
By Daniel More, MD, About.com Guide
- Allergy Prevention and Avoidance
- Medications
- Immunotherapy
- Natural and Alternative Therapies for Allergies
Allergy Prevention and Avoidance
It may be possible to prevent the onset of allergies in children who are prediposed to developing symptoms based on a family history of allergies. Once a person has allergies, the best way to treat allergies is to prevent them from occurring in the first place, by avoiding the allergic triggers. Learn about the various methods available to prevent allergies from occurring in the first place, as well as how to avoid various allergic triggers once allergies have occurred.
- Stop Allergies From Happening!
- Allergy Proof Your Home
- Air Filters and Air Cleaners
- Prevent Food Allergies in Children
- Prevent Hay Fever and Asthma in Children
- How to Avoid Specific Food Allergens
- What to Do When You're Allergic to Your Pet
- How to Prevent Asthma Attacks
- Using Bleach to Reduce Household Allergens
- Get Vaccinated Even if You Have Food Allergies
- Get a Pet to Reduce Allergies!
- How Watching TV May Cause Asthma in Children
- Preventing Thrush From Inhaled Steroids
- Does Pesticide Exposure Cause Allergies and Asthma?
- Does Echinacea Prevent the Common Cold?
- Good Skin Care Techniques to Prevent Eczema
- Do Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help Prevent Allergies in Children?
Medications
When avoidance doesn't work to treat allergy symptoms, most people turn to medications. There are a wide variety of medications available to treat allergic diseases, from hay fever pills to asthma inhalers, and from topical creams for eczema to epinephrine injectors for severe allergic reactions. Learn about the different types of medications available to treat different allergies, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
- Overview of Available Treatments for Allergic Diseases
- Comparison of Medications to Treat Hay Fever
- Is There a "Best" Medication for Hay Fever?
- Antihistamines for Hay Fever
- Nasal Sprays for Hay Fever
- Over-the-Counter Hay Fever Medications
- Medications for Children with Hay Fever
- Medications for Allergies During Pregnancy
- Medications for Non-Allergic Rhinitis
- Medications for Hives
- Medications for Eye Allergies
- Eczema Skin Creams
- Creams for Itching
- Asthma Medications
- Bronchial Thermoplasty for Asthma
- How to Use Asthma Inhalers
- Medications for Asthma During Pregnancy
- Side Effects of Inhaled Steroids for Asthma
- Medications for Food Allergies
- Medications for Anaphylaxis
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy offers the only form of allergic treatment that actually changes the way the body deals with allergies. While medications only cover up symptoms, immunotherapy can reduce the immune system's response to allergic triggers. Immunotherapy involves administering what a person is allergic to in an injection (shot) form, or as drops under the tongue (sublingual immunotherapy). As a result, the immune system reacts in a non-allergic way to allergic triggers, resulting in a decrease in allergic symptoms over time. Most people taking immunotherapy need less medications to treat their allergies -- some need none.
- Immunotherapy Basics
- Sublingual Immunotherapy (Allergy Drops)
- Allergy Shots for Children
- Allergy Shots for the Elderly
- Allergy Shots during Pregnancy
- Rush Immunotherapy
- Do Allergy Shots Hurt?
- Immunotherapy for Bee Sting Allergy
Natural and Alternative Therapies for Allergies
Nowadays, many people want a drug-free answer to their medical problems, including allergies. Fortunately, there are many possible ways to treat allergies without using medications. Learn more about the natural therapies available for allergies.
