Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site topaz.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!topaz!mcburnet From: mcburnet@topaz.ARPA (Roe McBurnett mcburnet@topaz.uucp) Newsgroups: net.med,net.kids Subject: Re: Allergies Message-ID: <1966@topaz.ARPA> Date: Mon, 13-May-85 09:39:22 EDT Article-I.D.: topaz.1966 Posted: Mon May 13 09:39:22 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 14-May-85 20:49:02 EDT References: <1668@bmcg.UUCP> Reply-To: mcburnet@topaz.UUCP (Mcburnet) Followup-To: net.kids Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 53 Keywords: allergy Xref: watmath net.med:1523 net.kids:1315 In article <1668@bmcg.UUCP> yrdbrd@bmcg.UUCP (Larry J. Huntley) writes: >My two sons, aged 7 and 4, have recently been diagnosed as being >very allergic individuals and I will be taking them to a pediatric >allergist. >Fundamental Questions: >1. Is anyone familiar with an example of an allergic person who has > used hyposensitization therapy and has actually improved? Do you > know anyone who has been told (by their allergist) "Well, I guess > we can stop with the injections now"? Yes. My wife has been through hyposensitization, improved, and was advised to stop injections for a period of time. When her situation again became more serious she started up again, and later stopped. The second period was for about 5 years. >2. Is the long-term usage of antihistamine preparations known to be > free of unwanted side-effects or is there some nastiness here I > should be aware of? you become immune to the affects of sleeping pills and the like... both medications are based on the same type of formulation. >3. Have the methods of allergy testing advanced any? What is the > current state of the science? My testing took about three > weeks, involved some 180...[injections]... Are things any better > these days? for children only the high risk/suspect tests are run.. my son (age 4) was sent to an allergy specialest who only administered 4 intradermal tests. (intradermal is an injection under the skin) He determined that my boy was not allergic and had another problem. I was also tested at one point and over a period of 2 weeks was subjected to "scratch tests" where a series of thin scratchs were made on my arms. As in Larry's experience, a range of allergins were applied to the scratches and observed for welts. (they *DO* itch rather badly) But this was a full screening test to find what I was allergic to. >I hate to sound negative about the whole affair, but my personal experience >with the system was less than marvelous. I do want the boys to have a >chance to feel good, though; they seem to have so much trouble with congestion >coughing, sneezing, , etc. >Your experiences and opinions are welcome. >Larry J. Huntley Burroughs -(B)- Corporation for those with severe allergy problems I would say that going through the skin tests and the hyposensitization therapy is worth while. It does work and over a period of months/years the allergy symptoms do get better. -- Roe McBurnett {ut-sally,astrovax}!topaz!mcburnet or Hill 521 x4273 \-> !ru-green!mcburnett