Hickory Allergy & Asthma Clinic’s Hickory Office recently moved to Unifour Medical Commons off of Tate Boulevard. Our Viewmont office closed in September, 2000 and we appreciate Viewmont patients temporarily using the Fairgrove location. Our larger facility at Unifour Medical Commons gives us an opportunity to expand medical and educational services. The Statesville office remains open.

Hickory Allergy & Asthma Clinic treats pediatric and adult allergy and asthma. We understand that each patient’s problem is unique and provide an individualized treatment and management plan.

We diagnose and treat hay fever, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, food allergy, drug allergy, latex allergy, insect sting allergy, skin allergy, headaches, recurrent cough, nasal and chest congestion, and ear problems.

We offer allergy and asthma patients diagnosis, treatment, and education.

Hickory Allergy & Asthma Clinic provides medical services to children and adults for allergy, asthma, and related medical problems. Our clinic is staffed by a board-certified allergist and certified physician’s assistant.

An extensive questionnaire is filled out on each new patient asking about current health and past medical history. Environmental exposures are documented as they play a key role in allergy evaluation and treatment plan development.

A comprehensive allergy specialty physical exam is performed based on patient's symptoms and medical history. It focuses on eyes, nose, ears, throat, lungs, and skin and does not take the place of an annual physical from a primary care physician.

We order or perform diagnostic and monitoring tests. Those offered in our office are discussed below.

The benefit of allergy testing is to confirm a diagnosis of allergy and pinpoint specific allergens causing symptoms. Allergy testing is best done through skin testing. A skin test involves applying tiny drops of allergens to the back or forearm and pressing the skin with an instrument to ensure that a tiny amount of each substance can react with the skin. Skin testing is not the same as getting a shot, but they are uncomfortable. If allergic antibodies are present an itchy "mosquito bite" or small hive develops where the allergen was applied. This is a positive skin test which is read after a 15-minute wait; each reaction is measured and recorded.

Patch tests involve putting a substance on the skin for 48 hours and a "patch" or small bandage is placed on top to hold the substance in place. Redness and/or swelling indicate that the substance can cause a skin problem for the patient.

A screening blood test, referred to as RAST (radio-allergosorbent test done outside our office), can be used when preferred, if the patient has a skin disorder, or patient is on medication preventing skin testing. Blood is taken from a vein in the arm and analyzed to see if the blood contains abnormally high levels of antibody to certain allergens. Unfortunately, the RAST is less sensitive and more expensive than the skin test.

Spirometry is an objective test used in the diagnosis and monitoring of asthma and other lung disease. By blowing hard and fast into the Spirometer, the patient’s values are interpreted in comparison to what is predicted for that patient’s age, gender, ethnicity, and height. This test may be preformed before and after an inhaled bronchodilator. Some patients have to be treated for a period of weeks with anti-inflammatory medicine to see significant improvement.

Rhinoscope Exam involves a flexible scope with a light being used to examine the inside of the nose and sinuses.

A comprehensive allergy evaluation summary conference is done for new patients. Each patient is given written copies of diagnosis, skin testing results, and management plan.

A certified allergy and asthma educator coordinates our education focus done in the clinic, through a newsletter, and through this web site.

Handouts on topics relating to the patient’s allergy or asthma problem are provided. 

Our clinic features a demonstration area for creating a healthy environment for allergy and asthma sufferers.

Our practice offers conventional and RUSH immunotherapy. 

We specialize in allergy "shots" using rapid desensitization or RUSH immunotherapy techniques. 

Conventional immunotherapy builds up to a maintenance dose over a period of months. 

Rapid desensitization accomplishes the initial build-up with premedication over a period of hours in our office. This method allows the patient to get relief in a shorter period of time than with conventional immunotherapy. 

Both techniques help the patient better tolerate the substances to which he or she is allergic.