Lake Charles is our home, and most of us will live our whole lives here. But when it comes to allergies, living in the south may make treatment more complicated because the true allergy to dust mites, mold and pollen is superimposed on the non-allergic irritant effects of air pollution, ozone, tobacco smoke, and acid reflux. Many patients say they feel great when they travel elsewhere, only to have symptoms return as soon as they come home. So, if you're going to live in the south, successfully treating allergies may require you to be  more aggressive and better informed. That means paying attention to avoiding dust mites or mold, avoiding non-allergic triggers and seeking medical help.

At The Lake Charles Allergy Clinic, we separate allergy treatment into: avoidance, medication, and immunotherapy (allergy shots). It often takes a combination of some or all to control symptoms.

Initial treatment focuses on medications – those that treat symptoms, like Allegra and Zyrtec or those that prevent symptoms, like Flonase and Nasonex. Newer medications are not much more effective. Even with ideal combinations of these medications, inadequate relief is still inadequate relief. Medications only treat symptoms, and those symptoms come back as soon as you stop taking the medicine. Medication is appropriate for patients with intermittent or seasonal symptoms.

Of all treatment options, "shots" are the only one that actually treats the underlying allergy, working toward a cure. In study after study, allergy shots, when taken for three to five years, can provide relief for years after treatment. That's not true for pills or sprays, including the newest allergy medications.