Allergic Reactions Treatment Clinic Questions and Answers
If you have allergic reactions and you are looking for a clinic in Spokane WA, trust the doctors and health care professionals at Franklin Park Urgent Care Center who are ready to serve you. For more information, call us or book a reservation.
Table of Contents:
What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?
What do you do when you have an allergic reaction?
How do you test for allergic reactions?
What doctor do I see for allergic reactions?
Allergic reactions occur when your immune system interprets an otherwise harmless substance as a threat to your overall health. Consequently, an immune response happens, which is referred to as an allergic reaction, causing several unpleasant symptoms to occur. As such, allergic reactions can be a frustrating thing to experience. We would be happy to help you with allergic reactions or answer any of your questions about them at Franklin Park Urgent Care!
There are many different symptoms of an allergic reaction, ranging from mild to moderate to life-threatening and varying according to the specific type of allergic reaction you experience. The different allergic reaction types include food allergies, respiratory allergies, insect bites or sting allergies, medication allergies, and others. With that in mind, here are some common allergic reaction symptoms that may or may not require medical care:
– Abdominal discomfort
– Chest tightness
– Cough
– Diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
– Itchy nose
– Nasal congestion
– Raised, itchy, and red rash, also known as hives
– Red, itchy, and watering eyes
– Runny nose
– Sneezing
While the symptoms listed above do not automatically require medical attention, it is a good idea to seek medical care if they are causing significant discomfort or refuse to improve despite trigger avoidance or other interventions.
Some signs of a severe, life-threatening allergic reactions, referred to as anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock, are as follows:
– Bluish tinge to the lips or skin
– Confusion
– Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, known medically as dyspnea
– Extreme abdominal pain
– Hives spreading all over the body
– Loss of consciousness or fainting
– Persistent diarrhea or vomiting
– Swelling of the mouth, neck, throat, or tongue
If you or someone you care for are experiencing any of the above symptoms of anaphylactic shock, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately, as such symptoms indicate a potentially life-threatening medical emergency.
If you have an allergic reaction, the first thing to do is remove yourself from the trigger causing the allergic reaction. With that being said, the steps you need to take are dependent on your particular allergy and the allergen you are reacting to.
As such, if you are having an allergic reaction to pollen, mold, animal dander, or another airborne irritant, you should remove yourself from the area where the trigger is to an allergen-free area. If your symptoms persist, it may be helpful to use an anti-allergy medication or remedy as directed by your doctor or visit an urgent care clinic for further medical guidance and care.
In contrast, if you are having an allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting or from something you ate, you may need epinephrine to mitigate the allergic reaction. For a food allergy, you should also stop eating the food allergen and avoid it in the future. If symptoms persist or you do not have epinephrine, you should visit an urgent care clinic or emergency room to prevent anaphylactic shock and receive help with improving your symptoms.
As mentioned, it is essential that you go to an emergency room for an allergic reaction if your symptoms are potentially life-threatening or you are experiencing anaphylactic shock.
Testing for allergic reactions varies according to the specific allergy being tested. Some possible tests for allergic reactions include the following:
– Blood tests, if a severe allergy is suspected
– Elimination diet, which involves removing particular foods from your diet to see if symptoms improve
– Skin tests, including scratch, intradermal, and patch tests, which evaluate how your skin responds to a potential allergen in a controlled, safe, and monitored manner
For allergic reactions, a primary care doctor can typically provide you with excellent care for an allergic reaction. However, if you have trouble managing your allergic reactions or your allergies are particularly severe, your primary care doctor may refer you to an allergist or immunologist.
If you require allergy care, our allergic reactions clinic at Franklin Park Urgent Care can provide you with excellent allergy testing and treatment! For more information or a reservation with us, please feel free to call us, schedule a reservation through our website, or see us for a walk-in appointment. We serve patients from Spokane WA, Airway Heights WA, Cheney WA, Colbert WA, Deer Park WA, Liberty Lake WA, Mead WA, Medical Lake WA, Millwood WA, Otis Orchards WA, Spokane Valley WA and surrounding areas.
