Have allergies?
You are not alone.

Allergy Team

When over the counter medication is not providing lasting relief for your or your child’s allergies, it is time for the trained allergy team of the Allergy Center of Decatur ENT to help identify the source of your allergy symptoms. Comprehensive allergy treatment may include environmental changes, medication, sublingual immunotherapy, and allergy shots to achieve a permanent solution for your allergies.

Our Allergy Team

With 20 years of experience and a Medical Laboratory Science degree from Wallace State Community College, Penny is Certified by American Society for Clinical Pathology as a Medical Laboratory Technician to oversee the lab services performed at the Allergy Center of Decatur ENT including allergy testing and supervision of ongoing treatment plans with the other memebers of the allergy team.

George H. Godwin III, M.D.

S. Kinney Copeland, M.D.

Benjamin W. Light, M.D.

Allergy Treatments

Allergy Relief

When your nasal allergies have been accurately identified through allergy testing, control of symptoms can be achieved in a variety of allergy treatments. The physicians of the Allergy Center of Decatur ENT will partner with you to discuss allergy treatment options and create a plan to achieve relief from your allergy symptoms.

Frequent follow up to monitor progress Broad range of treatment options No long waiting list for ongoing care such as allergy shots Most insurance plans accepted

Avoiding exposure to your identified triggers such as dog and cat dander, dust mite, mold, and pollen allergies help to control your allergy symptoms. Other irritants and pollutants including cigarette or wood smoke, car exhaust, aerosol sprays, and perfume can worsen symptoms. Our team will work with you to adjust your environment to avoid allergens and cross-reactions from other irritants, pollutants, and foods.

The experts at the Allergy Center of Decatur ENT can work with you to find the best allergy treatment including over-the-counter (OTC) medications or prescribe other medications specific to your allergy symptoms. Allergy medications may include pills, gels, or nasal sprays of antihistamines, steroids, saline, and other medications that can relive nasal congestion and sinus symptoms caused by nasal allergies.

In some cases, surgery may need to accompany allergy treatment to remove underlying problems such as polyps or other blockages in the nasal passages that worsen allergy symptoms. Correcting these issues with surgery does not cure allergies but can help relieve sinus pressure, pain, and headaches.

In some cases, surgery may need to accompany allergy treatment to remove underlying problems such as polyps or other blockages in the nasal passages that worsen allergy symptoms. Correcting these issues with surgery does not cure allergies but can help relieve sinus and nasal pressure, pain, and headaches. Allergy ShotsAllergy shots are injections of solutions containing tiny amounts of identified allergens based on the results of your allergy test. The amount of allergen in the solution is increased slightly with each shots to boost tolerance and reduce symptoms. With regular therapy, allergy shots can make your body less sensitive to allergens. Home ImmunotherapyThe majority of Allergy Center patients opt for home-based immunotherapy (allergy shots) administered according to American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) guidelines. With careful patient selection and training of AAOA procedures and safety precautions, home-based immunotherapy is a safe and effective allergy treatment. If home allergy shots are a viable treatment option, at least one other designated person will complete home immunotherapy training. Sublinguil ImmunotherapySublingual immunotherapy is an alternate treatment for chronic allergy treatment that does not require injections. A small amount of identified allergens are included in a dissolving tablet and place under the tongue. This treatment is designed to increase tolerance and reduce sensitivity of identified allergens.

If you are ready to experience relief for your chronic allergy symptoms, our team is committed to compassionate, comprehensive ongoing care.

Allergy testing is the first step to diagnosing the source of your nasal allergy symptoms and start you on the path of relief. The Allergy Center of Decatur ENT tests for allergic reactions to seasonal or perennial airborne allergens including dog and cat dander, mold, dust mite, pollen, and more.

What is an allergy test?

An allergy test is a procedure administered by one of our many talented and qualified doctors. Allergy testing can include a combination of skin-pricks on the arms, intradermal skin testing, or blood (RAST) testing.

Purpose of an allergy test:

• Determine if allergy-like symptoms are caused by an allergy or other conditions such as nonallergic rhinitis, colds, and other viruses that can cause symptoms similar to those of nasal allergies
• Determine if allergy-like symptoms are caused by an allergy or other Irritants and pollutants, such as strong odors of smoke, certain medications, and weather changes, which can also trigger symptoms
• Determine if allergy-like symptoms are caused by a chronic allergy or chronic infection
• Determine if allergies are seasonal (symptoms that appear at certain times of the year) or perennial (symptoms that are active year-round)
• Determine allergy triggers as accurately as possible
• Determine if other health problems, such as asthma, are occurring with allergies

We then review your health history and start an initial examination at our allergy center. This initial step may be accompanied with X-rays and in-office computed tomography (CT) scan to investigate for sinus infection and assess nasal and sinus bone structure and drainage passages.

When you visit our allergy center and request allergy testing, our doctors will evaluate the results of these tests to determine the cause of your symptoms and provide an accurate diagnosis. The resulting diagnosis will target the appropriate treatment to help eliminate or minimize symptoms.