Allergy Shots

Allergies disrupt your daily activities, affect your performance at work or school, and significantly lower your quality of life. At Southern ENT Associates, we offer allergy shots as one option in our comprehensive approach to allergy management.

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What Are Allergy Shots?

Allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, are a series of injections to reduce your sensitivity to allergens. These allergens could range from dust mites, pollen, mold, pet dander, or certain foods. The shots contain small amounts of the allergen causing your allergic reactions. Over time, these injections can reduce your symptoms and sometimes even significantly alleviate them.

How Do Allergy Shots Work?

Allergy shots reduce allergic reactions by exposing the system to gradually increasing amounts of an allergen. The exposure helps your immune system build up a tolerance to the allergen over time, reducing the severity of the allergic reactions.

The process involves two phases: the build-up phase and the maintenance phase. During the build-up phase, you will receive injections with increasing quantities of the allergen. The maintenance phase begins when the most effective dose is reached. The injections will continue but at longer intervals.

What Allergies Can Be Addressed with Allergy Shots?

Hay fever (also known as allergic rhinitis)
Asthma triggered by allergens
Allergies to insect stings (bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and fire ants)
Dust mite allergies
Mold allergies
Pet dander allergies (typically cats and dogs)
Pollen allergies (trees, grasses, and weeds)

What are the Benefits of Allergy Shots?

Reduced allergy symptoms:

Over time, allergy shots can decrease the severity of your allergy symptoms or significantly alleviate them.

Reduced need for medication:

As your body builds a tolerance to the allergen, you may need less allergy medication to manage symptoms.

Improved quality of life:

By reducing allergy symptoms, allergy shots can help improve your overall well-being and daily functioning.

Long-term cost savings:

Despite the upfront cost, allergy shots can be more cost-effective in the long run compared to the ongoing expense of allergy medications.

Prevention of new allergies:

Allergy shots may prevent the development of new allergies in some people.

Reduction in asthma symptoms:

For those with allergic asthma, allergy shots can help reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.

Are Allergy Shots Right for Me?

If you’ve tried other treatments and still suffer from allergies, or the allergies are severe and impact your daily life, allergy shots might be an option. However, it’s important to remember that allergy shots require a significant time commitment and patience, as it can take several months to reach the maintenance phase. We recommend discussing your symptoms, lifestyle, and medical history with one of our experienced allergists to determine if allergy shots are the right treatment for you.

What to Expect with Allergy Shots?

During the initial phase of your treatment, you will need to visit our clinic once or twice a week for your shots. Each visit typically lasts about 30 minutes. After each shot, you’ll need to stay in our office for about 30 minutes to ensure you don’t have a severe reaction. As you reach the maintenance phase, your visits will be less frequent, typically once every 2-4 weeks.

What to Expect After Your Allergy Shots?

After receiving an allergy shot, mild redness or swelling at the injection site is common. The reaction usually fades within a few hours. Some people might experience increased allergy symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, or hives. However, these reactions are generally mild and short-lived. A more severe allergic reaction is rare.

Why Choose Us?

Southern ENT Associates is a leading, nationally recognized network of ENT providers across 6 locations in Louisiana and is growing. We are the largest group of otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat specialists) working together and the largest ENT group in Louisiana. Our network consists of independent physicians with a shared goal of excellence and an outstanding family-like company culture.

Our exceptional team of ENT specialists provides care to all ages, and we pride ourselves on our easy access, same-day appointments, and friendly staff. At Southern ENT Associates, we want to take care of you and your family’s ENT needs. Our doctors and staff grew up in Louisiana and are an integral part of the fabric of our local communities.

We’ve been serving Louisiana for over 45 years and delivering the full spectrum of ENT care, providing our patients with the benefit of every ENT specialty under one roof. Our fellowship-trained and board-certified physicians provide the pinnacle of ENT expertise, tracing back your symptoms to their source for long-term relief. At Southern ENT Associates, we believe in putting the power of health back in the patient’s hands.