Allergy Clinic

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal passages causing significant nasal blockage, nasal discharge, sneezing, and itching usually triggered by environmental irritants. It constitutes a significant health burden and affects approximately 20% to 30% of the Indian population. The allergy clinic in MERF was founded by Prof. Mohan Kameswaran with the aim of effectively diagnosing and managing sinonasal allergies. The clinic offers a comprehensive service to diagnose and treat nasal and sinus allergies. Dr. Kiran Natarajan, Consultant ENT Surgeon heads this Department. Patients are screened for various allergies using skin prick test and blood investigations. Diagnostic nasal endoscopy may be required to detect allergy related changes in the nose. Chronic nasal allergy patients are followed up periodically in this clinic. Allergic rhinitis may coexist with other conditions such as rhinosinusitis, asthma, skin allergies & sleep disorders and it is crucial to manage allergic rhinitis effectively.

For most people, medications are prescribed to control or completely relieve symptoms and to prevent other co-morbidities such as allergic asthma. Occasionally, surgery may be needed in case of obstructive symptoms. For select allergy sufferers, treatment of allergies is done by immunotherapy which can help the patient become far less sensitive to the pollen, dust, mold and / or animal dander which trigger the symptoms. Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) is a method of allergy treatment that uses an allergen solution or tablet under the tongue, which over the course of treatment, reduces sensitivity to allergens. By gradually making the patient less allergic, the threshold is raised and it therefore takes more and more exposure to trigger an allergic reaction. In recent times, biologic therapy has been introduced for patients with severe uncontrolled allergic rhinitis associated with other co-morbidities. The goal of the allergy clinic is to effectively diagnose and manage the patient with allergic rhinitis depending on the severity of symptoms and whether the symptoms are seasonal or perennial.