Seasonal Allergy and Year-Round Allergy

Trees release pollen in the Spring and weeds, such as ragweed, release pollen in the Autumn. Grasses pollinate twice, once in late Spring and again in late Summer. These pollens can cause significant allergy symptoms such as runny nose, congestion, sneezing, itchy/watery eyes and wheezing. A host of indoor, year-round allergens can give similar symptoms. These include dust mites (who love Florida humidity), pet dander, and molds.

Dr. Chaudhry has great therapies available to CURE your allergies, regardless of the cause. Did you know you can be desensitized to your allergen? Immunotherapy has the potential to cure your seasonal and year-round allergies. Even better you may never have to see a needle!

Sinus Disease

Our sinuses are hollow cavities in our skulls that reduce the weight of our heads. In an evolutionary sense this reduced weight allowed us to walk upright, rather than on all fours. These hollow cavities drain into the nose. Anything that clogs the nose—allergies, colds, a deviated septum—will block the proper drainage of the sinuses. This creates an environment for a sinus infection to develop. If this lasts more than 6 weeks, we call it a chronic sinus infection.

The old saying that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” holds true for sinus treatment. While we can treat acute and chronic sinus infections, our goal is always to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Many of our allergy therapies are effective in preventing sinus infections. If you are looking for comprehensive sinus treatment, give us a call and set up an appointment today.

Asthma

Find Qualified Asthma Specialist (Asthma Doctor) To Get Most Up-To-Date Medications

Asthma affects 1 in 10 children in the United States. This number is even higher in urban areas. Specialists in Allergy and Immunology are also Asthma Doctors. We are uniquely qualified to treat asthma because of our ability to diagnose and treat allergies, the main trigger of asthma exacerbations. Symptoms of asthma are often overlooked and under-treated. Asthma is a serious condition, and if not treated properly can lead to life-threatening attacks and long-term damage to the lungs.

Research has shown that after a single visit with an allergist, asthma patients can expect, on average, a 10% improvement in lung function. At South Florida Food/Allergy Center, we are asthma specialists (Asthma Doctor) dedicated to asthma prevention. We have sophisticated testing available to make the diagnosis of asthma and track improvement. We use the most up-to-date medications with the fewest side effects. Did you know that there are several non-steroid medications now available for asthma preventionand could have you better controlled with just one injection every few weeks? Allergy shots/ Allergy drops (Immunotherapy) have also been shown to reduce asthma flares. To learn more about these therapies or to get your asthma under better control, give us a call and set up an appointment with an asthma specialist today.

Ocular Allergy

There are several types of allergic reactions. When we think of allergic reactions, most of us think about the immediate reactions we have to food allergens or the sneezing and wheezing from an airborne allergen like pollen. That type of reaction will give you itchy, puffy, watery eyes; multiple therapies exist to counteract those reactions. There are other types of allergic reactions that occur very slowly, though. These tend to affect the eyelids and are often caused by cosmetic products or shampoos. Did you know that you could develop an allergy to your contact lenses? Delayed reactions to contact lenses will affect the inside of the eyelids. We have very reliable tests to determine the cause of these types of allergic reactions, too. To learn more about these tests or to get your eye allergies under better control, give us a call and set up an appointment today.

Food Allergy

Food Allergy Treatment

Food allergies are rapidly increasing in prevalence. Approximately 10% of children in the United States report a food allergy. Peanut allergy for children less than 18 years old has doubled every decade over the 30 years, increasing from 0.6% in 1997 to 1.2% in 2002 and 2.1% in 2007. Over the last few years, we have seen increases in food intolerances, as well. Your doctor at South Florida Food Allergy Center has the ability to determine the type of reaction to food you are having (be it anaphylaxis or intolerance) and prescribe appropriate food allergy treatment.

Dr. Chaudhry has a particular interest in food allergies and food intolerances. Her dream is to prevent food allergies and all the anxiety, stress and fear that come with them. For years, our only therapy for food allergy was avoidance and emergency treatment with epinephrine injection. Dr. Chaudhry doesn’t believe this is good enough! Food allergy treatment has revolutionized over the last few years and new technologies are being reported all the time. It is becoming increasingly possible to desensitize patients to their food allergens so that they might tolerate accidental exposures without fear of a life-threatening reaction. Dr. Chaudhry was the first Board Certified Allergist and Immunologist to be recognized by OIT 101 in Southern Florida (https://www.oit101.org/?s=chaudhry). If you are looking for a food allergy specialist in Florida who can perform food desensitization as treatment for your food allergy, give us a call and set up an appointment today.

Nasal Polyps

Nasal polyps form as a result of chronic inflammation in the nose and sinuses. These are not cancerous tumors like one might think of in colon cancer; rather, they are outgrowths of mucous. If they grow large enough, they will cause nasal congestion and impair your sense of smell and even worse your sense of taste! Like your lawn, polyps can be cut back, but like your lawn, they will also grow back. Medication can slow their growth. Immunotherapy “Allergy shots/drops” can stop them from coming back. Identifying an allergen that is causing their growth and avoiding it can help slow the growth, too.

Many patients with nasal polyps will be sensitive to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin. Desensitizing to aspirin can significantly slow the growth of nasal polyps and reduce the need for surgery.

Skin Allergies

Do you need a skin allergy specialist in Florida? Typical allergic skin conditions we encounter include eczema, atopic dermatitis, hives, and contact dermatitis. We also see a number of non-allergic skin conditions such as viral rashes, staph infections, and fungal infections. Patients will often come to us worried about allergic reactions to soaps, cosmetics, detergents, and fragrances. We offer the most extensive panel of testing available for these contact allergens. We can also test for allergies to metals and cements that you might find in orthopedic and dental implants. To learn more about these tests or to consult with a skin allergy doctor prior to surgery, give us a call and set up an appointment today.

Hives &
Angioedema

Unexplained hives and/or swelling can be very disconcerting. Patients can become consumed with fear of an impending life-threatening reaction without an obvious trigger. Frequently with recurrent episodes of hives or swelling, there is no allergic trigger, but an underlying autoimmune condition or viral infection that causes the reaction. In rare instances, a genetic condition called Hereditary Angioedema can be present. Regardless of the cause, Dr. Chaudhry is uniquely qualified to handle even the most difficult to control episodes. Our goal is 100% suppression of hives and we will not rest until you are comfortable. To learn more about these conditions, give us a call and set up an appointment today.

Medication
Allergies

Many people have been told by a doctor or a parent that they are allergic to a medication. In fact, 10% of the population reports an allergy to Penicillin. Testing for a medication allergy can be difficult, as the only commercially available test is for Penicillin. If you have been told that you are allergic Penicillin and would like to know if you TRULY are, please make an appointment for testing. This is very important given the resistance that can be formed to stronger antibiotics you may need in the future.

For other medication allergies, we scour the medical literature to find an appropriate dose of the medication to make a custom skin test just for you. This method of testing is fairly reliable, but we confirm every negative skin test with a challenge to a small dose of the medication in the office. By testing this way, you will have the confidence to take the medication at home, knowing that you have already taken it safely in the comfort and security of our office.

Latex Allergies

Has your mouth ever become itchy after blowing up a balloon or eating an avocado? If the answer is yes, you may be allergic to latex. Latex allergy is important to diagnose because of the potential for serious reactions to latex containing products during medical procedures. Many foods are cross-reactive with latex, as well. Dr. Chaudhry can test you for latex allergy and educate you to the foods you should avoid.

Insect Allergies

Stinging insects such as bees, hornets, wasps, and fire ants produce venoms that many people are allergic to. Research shows that people who are allergic to these insects get stung more often than the general population. We don’t know why this happens, but it definitely reminds us of the importance of getting tested, knowing your allergen, and having life-saving treatment available if necessary. Desensitization with allergy shots is available for stinging insects. This therapy is potentially life saving and is highly recommended for anyone with an insect venom allergy. If you are allergic to stinging insects, give us a call and set up an appointment today.

Disorders of
Immune System

Do you need an immunology doctor in Florida? The immune system is a complex system elegantly designed to fight off infections. When the immune system fails to function properly, we are vulnerable to infection. Diseases of the immune system can range from mild disorders that leave patients vulnerable to excessive numbers of ear infections or sinus infections, to severe conditions that leave patients with almost no immune system at all. If you are concerned with the number or frequency of infections that you experience, call us to set up an appointment today for an immune workup.

If your child has a positive newborn screen for low or absent TRECs suggestive of a severe immune deficiency, this is a medical emergency requiring immediate consultation with an immunologist. Please call for an appointment today if you receive notification of a positive newborn screen for immune deficiency.

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Seasonal Allergy and Year-Round Allergy

Sinus Disease

Asthma

Ocular Allergy

Food Allergy

Nasal Polyps

Skin Allergies

Hives &
Angioedema

Medication
Allergies

Latex Allergies

Insect Allergies

Disorders of
Immune System

Seasonal Allergy and Year-Round Allergy

Sinus Disease

Asthma

Ocular Allergy

Food Allergy

Nasal Polyps

Skin Allergies

Hives & Angioedema

Medication Allergies

Latex Allergies

Insect Allergies

Disorders of Immune System

Hives &
Angioedema

Medication
Allergies

Disorders of
Immune System