Allergy Services in Atlanta, GA

Northeast Atlanta ENT offers an effective, safe solution for allergy sufferers. Explore our allergy services by clicking below.

Allergy Testing & Treatment

Allergies are reactions of the immune system to substances that, in most people, cause no symptoms.

Contact with allergens can cause symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, headache, and more. Allergies affect more than 60 million people in the United States. It is the 5th most prevalent chronic disease in the U.S. among all ages, the 3rd most prevalent among children.

Here at Northeast Atlanta ENT (with locations in Lawrenceville, Johns Creek, Dacula, and Braselton) we perform allergy testing on patients for allergies to dust, roach, cat, dog, molds, and a variety of grass, tree and weed pollens. In addition to environmental allergy testing, we can also test for a large number of food allergies via our food allergy testing services.

Springtime Allergens

Spring season is typically that time of year when everyone buys over-the-counter seasonal allergy medicine from their local pharmacy. Millions of people suffer from springtime allergies when all of the trees, flowers, and grasses begin to bloom.

Here are the most common allergens in the spring season:

  • trees (maple, poplar, pin, willow, elm, hickory, just to name a few)
  • grasses and weeds (Bermuda, orchard, saltgrass, redtop, just to name a few)

Summertime Allergens

Much like springtime, sufferers also experience bad allergies in the summer. During the summer, most people suffer from grass and weed allergies, though.

Some of the most common summer allergens include:

  • weeds (ragweed, tumbleweed, sagebrush, pigweed, just to name a few)
  • grasses (sweet vernal, blue grasses, Bermuda, just to name a few)

Fall Seasonal Allergies

The cool, fall weather doesn’t give much relief to allergy sufferers. In fact, during the fall months, 30 million Americans suffer from symptoms related to pollen allergies—allergic rhinitis (or hay fever). These symptoms are especially common in children, and early evaluation by a pediatric ENT specialist can help prevent recurring infections and breathing issues related to untreated allergies.

The major causes of fall allergies are:

  • ragweed pollen
  • weed pollen grains
  • mold spores (often found on damp, wet leaves outdoors)
  • dust mites

Wintertime Allergens

Just because it’s wintertime doesn’t mean your allergies will go away. In some instances, if you’re allergic to pet dander, dust, or other common indoor irritants, you might experience allergy symptoms in the winter months. When you’re cooped up in your home for long periods of time, there is more exposure to certain allergens.

Some common winter allergies include:

  • pet dander
  • mold
  • mildew
  • dust
  • other indoor allergy irritants

Mid- to Long-term Effects of Not Getting Treatment for Allergies

When people experience allergy symptoms, they want relief fast. That’s a fact. But what would happen if you don’t receive allergy treatment or take allergy medication?

Without proper allergy treatment, you’ll most likely feel groggy and tired for long periods— days, weeks, months. Over time, uncontrolled allergies can contribute to chronic sinus congestion and recurring sinus infections. When medications and allergy therapy are not enough, advanced treatment options such as balloon sinuplasty may be recommended to restore healthy sinus function and improve breathing.

Imagine all allergy symptoms you commonly experience (dry eyes, itchy eyes, watery eyes, sore throat) following you throughout each day with no relief. That is essentially what you’ll experience without allergy treatment or medication. Instead of feeling that way, call any of our ENT offices to receive a proper evaluation, diagnosis, and effective treatment.

Once we identify your allergies, you have treatment options such as allergy shots, allergy drops, or prescription medications. These highly effective treatments often allow a patient to be free of both symptoms and medications at the end of treatment. The goal of allergy shots and allergy drops is to retrain the immune system not to react to these antigens.

We have three offices in the North Atlanta area. Our team is dedicated to effectively diagnosing and treating your allergy problems. For more information, contact one of our offices today (Lawrenceville, Johns Creek, Dacula, and Braselton). Find out how we can help you get on the road to a happier, healthier life and manage your allergies effectively.

Allergy Services FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about our Allergy Services

During an allergy test at an ENT clinic, a clinician typically performs skin prick testing — placing tiny drops of common allergens on the skin of your forearm or back, then lightly pricking the surface so each extract can react. Results appear within about 15 to 20 minutes as raised bumps where you’re allergic. Blood testing (specific IgE) is used when skin testing isn’t safe or practical for a patient. The full visit usually takes around an hour, most of which is waiting for results, with no downtime afterward, and the results guide whether medications, allergy drops or allergy shots are the right next step.

Yes, most antihistamines need to stop about five to seven days before skin allergy testing, because they suppress the reactions that make the test work. Some heartburn medications like Pepcid and older sleep aids also need to pause. Asthma inhalers, nasal steroid sprays like Flonase, and most blood pressure medications are usually fine to continue, but always confirm the exact list with your ENT clinic when you book. If stopping a medication isn’t safe for you, blood-based allergy testing (specific IgE) can be used instead.

Allergy shots (SCIT) are injections given in a clinic, usually once or twice weekly at first and then roughly monthly for maintenance, over three to five years. Allergy drops (sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT) are placed under the tongue daily at home over a similar timeframe. Both work by gradually retraining the immune system, not by masking symptoms. Shots have decades of large-scale evidence and are FDA-approved for many allergens, while drops trade slightly less-proven strength for major convenience, no repeat office visits, no needles, and safety adequate for young children.

Most patients notice meaningful symptom improvement within 6 to 12 months of starting allergy shots or drops, with the strongest results appearing after the first full year. Full treatment runs three to five years to lock in long-term tolerance. You won’t feel a difference after the first few doses, immunotherapy works by gradually retraining the immune system, not by suppressing symptoms like a daily antihistamine does. Sticking with the schedule matters more than which delivery method you choose; missed doses slow progress. Many patients stay symptom-free for years after finishing treatment.

Either can diagnose and treat allergies, but an ENT is usually the stronger choice when your symptoms involve the sinuses, nose, ears, or throat, chronic congestion, recurring sinus infections, nasal blockage, ear pressure, or postnasal drip. ENTs perform the same skin and blood allergy testing as allergists, offer both shots and drops, and can also treat the structural or infectious problems that keep symptoms coming back, like a deviated septum or chronic rhinitis, in one place. Choose an allergist first if asthma, skin allergies, or drug allergies are your main concern.

Skin allergy testing is generally not recommended during pregnancy, not because it’s known to be harmful, but because a rare severe reaction could put both you and the baby at risk. Most ENTs will use blood-based allergy testing (specific IgE) instead if a diagnosis is needed right away. If you’re already receiving allergy shots when you become pregnant, current guidelines say you can usually continue at your existing maintenance dose but should not build up to a higher dose. Starting new immunotherapy during pregnancy is typically postponed until after delivery. Always coordinate timing with both your ENT and your OB.

Skin prick testing can be performed on children as young as 6 months, though most ENTs wait until closer to age 2 or 3 unless there’s a strong reason to test earlier, like severe eczema or a suspected food reaction. Blood testing has no minimum age. For persistent congestion, mouth breathing, recurring ear infections, or chronic runny nose, early evaluation matters, untreated allergies can contribute to sleep issues and speech delays. A pediatric ENT specialist can decide whether testing is worth it or whether trial treatment is a better first step.

Atlanta consistently ranks among the worst US cities for seasonal allergies because it sits in a warm, humid pollen belt with a long growing season, one of the highest urban tree canopy rates of any major US metro, and heavy tree, grass, and ragweed pollen loads. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has repeatedly listed metro Atlanta near the top of its annual “Allergy Capitals” rankings. Springtime tree pollen counts here often stay in the “extremely high” range for weeks at a stretch, and mild winters mean allergen exposure barely pauses, which is why long-term treatment like immunotherapy tends to matter more in Atlanta than in low-pollen regions.

Food allergy testing at an ENT clinic typically starts with a detailed history of your reactions, followed by either a skin prick test using commercial food extracts or a specific IgE blood test, both check whether your immune system produces allergy antibodies to particular foods. A positive result doesn’t always confirm a true food allergy; it can also indicate a sensitivity or cross-reaction, so results are interpreted alongside your symptoms and, when needed, a supervised oral food challenge. Commonly tested foods include milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. Northeast Atlanta ENT offers food allergy testing at all locations.

Northeast Atlanta Ear, Nose & Throat offers allergy testing and treatment across the north Atlanta metro area with offices in Lawrenceville, Johns Creek (Suwanee), and Dacula, plus a Braselton location. The main appointment line is 770-237-3000, and same or next-day appointments are typically available. The Lawrenceville office is at 766 Walther Road, Suite 300, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. The Johns Creek office is at 3915 Johns Creek Court, Suite 100, Suwanee, GA 30024. The Dacula office is at 2089 Teron Trace, Suite 215, Dacula, GA 30019. Most major insurance plans are accepted, schedule online or call the number above.