Nor'West News: June 28, 2016

2
WESTERN [Edition NEWS datE]
Tuesday June 28 2016 27
heaLth & BeautY
Hayfever sufferers receive
much-needed attention
Christchurch’s new allergy
clinic is making headway
in the fight to cure people
of horrible allergy-related
symptoms.
Hayfever, or allergic rhinitis, affects
1 in 5 people in australia and New
Zealand. These sufferers have numerous
symptoms including nasal congestion, eye
irritation, sinus infections and also suffer
from fatigue and poor quality sleep.
These symptoms in children have
been shown to impair learning and
performance and in more frequent
absenteeism and reduced productivity in
adults, and overall cause a considerable
impairment in a person’s quality of life.
The South Island allergy Service, a new
clinic that runs in private rooms in Upper
riccarton has recently opened its doors
to people who have endured - sometimes
many years - of torturous allergic effects.
Dr alisdair Webb, the lead clinician
at the allergy Service, says, “Somewhat
ironically the Garden City has had very
little in the way of allergy support for
patients and health practitioners for
many years but here at SIaS we have
specially trained clinicians who can fill
that gap and offer a friendly, welcoming
environment to diagnose, investigate and
treat allergic symptoms.”
De-SeNSItISatIoN: tHe CloSeSt
tHING to a CUre
The most exciting aspect on offer is
the availability of desensitisation, or
immunotherapy. Dr Webb continues,
“immunotherapy uses tiny amounts of
the responsible allergen to build up the
tolerance of the body so it switches off
the allergic reaction.” Immunotherapy
has been around for hundreds of years in
different forms and has been perfected
over recent years, moving away from
injections to the more convenient forms
available today. after diagnosis this is
now done at home in the majority of
cases with minimal clinic input.
a key first step is to determine what the
responsible allergen is through skin prick
testing. avoidance of allergic triggers is
always the number one priority but in
many cases, either living/employment
situation or even proximity to pets can
make this impossible.
asthma and eczema are two conditions
that are greatly influenced by allergens
present in the air. although allergy
treatments are limited to children over
5 years old this is exactly when these
conditions are becoming more apparent.
“The numbers of sufferers we see is
enormous”, says Dr Webb, “and being
able to accurately and safely test them,
with even a chance to offer long-term
relief through desensitisation can be lifechanging.”
Hayfever alert
The winter period is the time to
commence desensitisation for pollen
allergies as the body takes time to build
up a tolerance. establishing the trigger
for the hayfever now and commencing
desensitisation is essential for a spring
period free from symptoms.
for those allergy-sufferers requiring
regular visits to the doctor, repeated
medications and frequently missing
out on activities and sleep - it would
appear that there is hope in our midst, an
accessible allergy clinic in the garden city.
all further details are available at
www.allergyservice.co.nz
Contact us for your:
Allergy diagnosis and treatment
Skin Prick testing
Lung Function testing
Allergic Eczema and Asthma
consultation
Desensitisation
start now for spring
hayfever relief
Personal Accessible Precise
4 Yaldhurst Rd (inside Riccarton Clinic) | www.allergyservice.co.nz