Allergy & Asthma Center, PA - AAC

The Allergy & Asthma Center, PA is committed to being a patient centered practice that offers the highest quality service with clinics in Clifton, Gatesville, Hillsboro, Mexia and Waco. Our goal is to have patients scheduled with a physician within 48 hour's after receiving the call from the primary care physician. An appointment is scheduled the same week or no later than two weeks. Sick patients are usually seen the same day depending on the location.

The clinic provides patients with the latest in medical treatments in the specialty. Communication between the physician and the patient is a priority. The clinic offers flexible office hours during the week and some Saturday mornings for patient convenience to those patients unable to get to the clinic during normal working hours.

First Visit

The first visit will include a complete medical history, a thorough physician exam, allergy and/or lung functions test, and guide therapy in order to establish a proper diagnosis. The visit can last up 2 hours. If the physician decides to do allergy testing, we routinely have the patient come back to the clinic within a week or two for a medical conference. The medical conference will involve a review of the test results along with a copy of the test, allergy tips and treatment options. The medical conference allows the patient to discuss any issues or questions with the physician.

Testing

The Scratch Test (also known as percutaneous or the prick test): for infants and young children is performed on the back. For older children and adults is done on the forearms. First the skin is examined and cleaned with alcohol, and then numbers are written with a pen to identify each allergen (any substance that causes an allergy) that is to be tested. A small and disposable plastic pricking device is used to apply a small drop of each allergen just under the outer layer of the skin, or the epidermis. This is not a shot, and does not cause bleeding. In addition, this procedure is not painful,but has been described as feeling like getting a mosquito bite. The entire test is complete in less than 30 minutes, and you have the results during that visit. Many medicines, especially antihistamines, can block the results from skin testing, and must be stopped for a certain period of time before attempting this test. See our new patient section for a list of these medicines.

Intradermal test: After examining and cleaning the skin with alcohol, a small amount of each allergen is injected under the second layer of skin, or dermis, similar to a tuberculosis test. This test is not routinely done, and is mainly used to test for specific allergies when scratch testing fails to reveal a highly suspected allergy. The same medications that can affect scratch testing may also affect this test.

The Patch Test: is performed by examining and cleaning the skin on the patient's back, and applying patches that contain small amounts of various substances that are known to cause contact dermatitis (a rash or inflammation of the skin caused by contact with various substances). The patches are typically worn for two days, and cannot get wet. After two days the patches are removed and the underlying skin is examined. A follow up skin exam is usually performed two more days after that, and again, the skin cannot get wet until the testing is complete. For convenience we usually apply the patches on a Monday, remove them on a Wednesday, and do the follow up skin exam on a Friday. If you are allergic to any of these substances, your skin will become irritated and may itch. This test is not routinely done. Steroids, both systemic (oral and intramuscular) and topical (on the skin) can affect the results of this test, and must be stopped for at least 2 weeks.

Spirometry: Spirometry is a breathing test that gives the ordering physician a good idea of the patient's lung function. It is not a complete lung function test, but is good for screening for suspected asthma and/or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease like emphysema or chronic bronchitis). If you are scheduled to have this testing done for diagnosing lung disease, please refrain from using your rescue inhaler/neb medication and Symbicort or Advair the morning of the test if you use these medications. For a routine follow up visit where this test will be performed, it is ok to use your medications as previously directed.

Methacholine challenge: Methacholine is an inhaled substance through a nebulizer that causes a patient's airways to constrict and mimic an asthma attack. This test is not routinely done, but is excellent at ruling out asthma if there is still a question about that diagnosis after more routine testing has been completed.