Allergies

Our allergy tests assess the presence of reactions to over 80 environmental allergens, including animals, mites (dust mites), plants, trees, pollens, grains and molds.

We do not evaluate allergies to insects, food or medication.

Environmental allergies are linked to all inflammatory conditions of the upper respiratory tract, including asthma, laryngopharyngeal reflux and nasal polyposis.

An allergy evaluation includes a complete medical questionnaire, allergy patch test, complete ENT evaluation, possibly endoscopy if necessary, and asthma test.

When it comes to environmental allergies, people tend to think of itchy, red eyes, coughing, congestion and runny noses.

But in fact most affected patients do not have these extreme symptoms!

They tend to present with long-lasting colds that turn into sinusitis, serous or otitis media, throat irritations with voice problems, and a chronic little cough that just won't go away.

That's why an allergy assessment and treatment can greatly improve your overall health and symptoms.

After the allergy test, Dr. Brousseau will work with you to assess your health and determine which treatment would be best for you. The broad outlines are:

1. nasal spray treatments

2. treatment with oral antihistamines

3. desensitization

Each option has advantages and disadvantages, so once you've got your symptoms under control, it's important to know what your options are so you can continue to stay healthy!

SLIT stands for 'sublingual immunotherapy'.

The aim of this type of treatment is to expose you on a regular basis to the allergens to which you are sensitive, so that your body comes to recognize them as 'normal' molecules and not allergens.

There is a tablet version and a liquid version. Dr. Brousseau uses both versions, depending on your medical profile and goals.

Treatment lasts 3 to 5 years, and the beneficial effects usually last at least 10-15 years.

Dr. Brousseau uses a sublingual version of SLIT that combines all the allergens to which you are sensitive in 1 to 2 vials.

As only a small number of allergens are available in tablet form, this allows you to desensitize to a larger number of allergens.

This treatment is prepared specifically for you, by the laboratory that manufactures the allergens. It's a safe treatment with virtually no risk of anaphylaxis (compared to injections), and it's done in the comfort of your own home. It's a treatment that's been used for over 50 years in Europe and the U.S., with a good efficacy profile and low side effects.

This treatment is not approved by Health Canada because the molecule is liquefied and must remain refrigerated. There is therefore a risk that it may degrade. The molecule used by Dr. Brousseau is the same as the one you were tested with and which is used for injection desensitization.

Also, some doctors use allergen amalgams prepared at the pharmacy rather than at the manufacturer's, which cannot ensure that the molecule is exactly the same as the one you were tested with.

In many cases, SLIT treatment is covered by insurance: contact your insurer to check.

Either way, as this is a prescription medical treatment, the costs are tax-deductible.

Since Dr. Brousseau sends the prescription directly to the manufacturer - not to your pharmacy! - you should receive a call from the manufacturing company approximately 10 days after your visit.

They'll contact you to ask for your payment information - insurance and where you'd like them to send your personalized medication.

If you don't hear from us within 10 days, write to us at info@eliemd.com and a member of our medical team will follow up.

As recommended, Dr. Brousseau performs annual follow-ups for all patients on SLIT.

Follow-up includes a medical questionnaire, ENT examination and, if necessary, endoscopy, allergy testing and/or asthma testing.

The fees quoted are those that include all tests, but you're always charged only for the ones you need, nothing more and no nasty surprises.

PS: the majority of our patients do not require additional tests at each visit...