Allergy & Sinus Facility

Overview

In broad terms the main conditions dealt with at the facility are:

Rhinitis, sinusitis and asthma; conjunctivitis (eye allergy); food allergy and skin allergy, especially dermatitis/eczema.

Rhinitis
Blocked, stuffy nose. Runny nose, sneezing. Snoring. Post nasal drip. Reduced or loss of taste and smell. Tired all the time. Usually (but not always) caused by an allergy.

Sinusitis
usually associated with blocked nose, snoring, reduced or loss of senses of taste and smell. Drip down the back of the throat. Ear pain or ‘fullness’ in ears reducing hearing. Headaches, especially over forehead but sometimes at side of head. Usually (but not always) caused by an allergy.

Asthma
cough, wheeze, shortness of breath. Occasionally very aggressive breathless attacks. Can start as lingering cough or unduly ‘puffed-out’ with exercise. Is always associated with nose and sinus problems and these must be tackled at the same time for optimum management.

Food allergy
can cause immediate symptoms such as swelling of lips and skin around face. Can cause widespread swelling of all skin on face (‘Michelin Man’). Can produce itchy hives all over the body. Can also trigger vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps. Delayed reactions can make eczema and asthma worse. There is a very dangerous food allergy reaction that leads to whole body collapse (anaphylaxis).

Skin Allergy
Eczema/Dermatitis (both terms mean the same thing). Redness, scaling and itch of the skin. Urticaria is the term used for widespread hives affecting all areas of the body. Angioedema is another medical term where the skin fills with fluid and distorts surrounding tissue. This usually affects lips and skin around the eyes.

Eye Allergy
redness and itch of the whites of the eye. In aggressive reactions the white part of the eye may swell and bulge (looks both unsightly and scary). Almost always caused by breathing in allergy substances such as dust mites, pollens or animal hair.

Slievemore Allergy Facility is all embracing, dealing with food allergy, respiratory allergy and skin allergy. The test is extensive and comprehensive, with extracts sourced from US and France. Our investigative equipment is also on site. For example, we use fiberoptic digital imaging to allow us educate our patients about their nose, sinus or throat symptoms (or help parents better grasp their child’s ENT complaint).

Slievemore Allergy Facility

The unit is uniquely child friendly with separate play area on ground floor, specially commissioned artwork to distract children while being examined and books to read or colour while waiting.
We do link up with other specialised allergy centres and specialists if we feel your (or your child’s) condition needs extra attention. For example, ear, nose and throat appointments can be arranged quickly with our visiting ENT specialist.

Dr Paul Carson (TCD 1975):

Paul has been in hospital and General Practice for over 30 years. He has run a specialised Asthma and Allergy clinic since 1984.

Member of British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology, European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology and on the board of the Irish Lung Foundation.
He is the author of a number of self help books for parents of children with allergy problems.