Severe allergy sufferers will breathe a little easier as a new treatment option brings relief closer to home.

Instead of going to the doctor's office to receive trigger-specific injections called immunotherapy, a patient takes home vials containing a glycerin-based serum of allergens and places several drops under his or her tongue daily for three to five years.

(ENLARGE)

It's allergy season, so arm yourself with facts about treatment options and preventative care.

RELATED LINKS: • More Health stories • Check out the Metro Atlanta pollen report • Tips to avoid allergens

Sublingual immunotherapy has been used in Europe for about 15 years, but the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved any SLIT drugs for use for seasonal allergies, according to an FDA representative. The agency also cannot comment on the existence of a pending application.

However, physicians are legally allowed to use their own discretion in therapy. And several in Atlanta, including Alpen Patel, an allergy specialist at Emory Crawford Long Hospital, are already administering the treatment. Patel expects FDA approval soon, and in the next 10 to 15 years allergy shots could become obsolete.

"It will change the landscape of how we practice for the severely allergic," he said, estimating a monthly dosage, which is not yet covered by insurance, costs about $100. "It will be like taking a daily vitamin."

Each spring, about 25 percent of Atlantans suffer from nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy/watery eyes and runny noses resulting from seasonal allergies.

For some, the sneezing began in February as unseasonably warm weather produced high pollen counts that sparked a flurry of symptoms.

"People were coming in complaining of typical seasonal allergy symptoms," said Stanley Fineman of the Atlanta Asthma and Allergy Clinic, which treated an unusually high number of patients last month. The rebounding of temperatures may make sufferers even more sensitive during peak pollen season between now and May, he warned.

Atlanta ranked 10th in 2007 among cities where the challenge is greatest for living with spring allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, a nonprofit that ranks "allergy capitals." The rankings are based on pollen scores, number of allergy specialists per patient and number of medications used per patient. New figures are expected soon.

The abundance of trees and green space plus a warm climate — exacerbated by an increasing amount of smog and soot emitted from cars — creates an incubator for airborne grass/tree/weed pollens, mold spores, dust and other allergens.

The primary culprits for springtime allergies are pine, oak, sweet gum, elm and birch. (Trees such as dogwoods and rosebuds often produce visible pollens that dust cars, driveways and windowsills but seldom cause allergy symptoms.) Pollen counts as low as 50 can trigger symptoms in some people.

Minimize exposure by closing windows in your car and home, covering your face and restricting outside activities.

For those with persistent symptoms, sorting through myriad decongestants, antihistamines, nasal sprays, eyedrops and creams aimed at tackling them can be a challenge.

If those symptoms are severe, allergy shots can help build resistance and possibly lead to long-term cures even after the patient stops taking the shots, said Patel.

GENERAL TIPS

You can't live your life in a bubble until cooler weather returns, so here are some basic precautions you can take to minimize exposure:

• Keep windows closed at night to prevent pollens or mold from drifting into your home. Instead, if needed, use air conditioning, which cleans, cools and dries the air.

• Install high-efficiency filters in your cooling and heating system.

• Minimize outdoor activity between 5 and 10 a.m. when pollen is usually emitted.

• Try to stay indoors when the pollen count or humidity is high and on windy days when dust and pollen are blowing about.

• Keep your car windows closed when traveling.

• Take a shower after spending time outside because pollen can collect on hair and skin.

• Remove rugs, carpet and upholstered furniture. If not, dust and vacuum frequently.

• Don't hang sheets or clothing outside to dry where pollen can collect on them.

• Avoid cigarette smoke.

Source: American Academy of Allergy,

Asthma & Immunology

ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES

Alternative therapy is medical treatment for which there is no conclusive, supporting scientific evidence. You simply must be careful in what you choose and how you use it.

• Acupuncture. A technique that involves inserting needles into key points of the body. May help people with allergies feel more relaxed or calm breathing.

• Biofeedback. A technique that helps people control involuntary physical responses. Results are mixed, with children and teenagers showing the greatest benefit.

• Chiropractic spinal manipulation. A technique that emphasizes manipulation of the spine in order to help the body heal itself.

• Hypnosis. An artificially induced dream state that leaves the person open to suggestion, hypnosis might give people with allergies more self-discipline to follow good health practices.

• Laser treatment. A technique that uses high-intensity light to shrink swollen tissue or unblock sinuses. Laser therapy may provide temporary relief, but it may also cause scarring or other long-term physical problems.

• Massage, relaxation techniques, art/music therapy, yoga. Stress and anxiety may cause your airways to constrict more if you have asthma or allergies. Various techniques can help you relax, reduce anxiety or control your breathing, but there is no conclusive evidence that these techniques improve lung function.

Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

LIKE PARENT, LIKE CHILD

The symptoms that annoy parents can also plague their children as 40 percent of youngsters experience seasonal allergies.

Children are genetically predisposed to allergies, so if one or more parents suffer, the child may suffer, too. Environmental factors and underdeveloped immune systems also contribute to the higher prevalence in children, although an immunological cause has not yet been revealed, said Robert Harrison, a pediatrician with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Allergies in children usually occur by age 3 or 4 but can develop as early as age 2. In addition to common symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose and watery eyes, parents should also be aware of constant eye and nose rubbing and dark circles under the eyes.

Minimize the child's exposure to outside allergens, and control your home environment by replacing rugs and carpet with hardwood flooring and using high-efficiency air filters.

If symptoms persist, consult a doctor because over-the-counter medications are not advised for children.

"We recommend against self-medication," said Harrison, noting that commonly used medicines such as Benadryl make children very sleepy. "If you think your child may be allergic, take them to the doctor and get an appropriate treatment."