Medical group adds new clinic services for allergy sufferers

  • Published
  • By Capt. Brian Gonyou
  • 6th Medical Operations Squadron
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 6th Medical Group continues to enhance current medical specialties and add new ancillary services for military beneficiaries.

In view of today's tightened fiscal environment and budgetary restrictions, an allergy and immunology clinic was recently added to the large list of clinical services we have to offer. The MacDill Air Force Base allergy clinic opened its doors May 1 and is dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and management of a wide array of allergies.

With the mild winter weather conditions and many outdoors activities here in Florida, the local population is inundated with more than favorable conditions that produce high allergic symptoms and reactions. The allergy clinic will provide care for patients with many conditions to include bee, wasp, grass, cat, house dust mite allergies, and many environmental allergens.

Patient education for house dust mite elimination and self-administration of epinephrine will also be offered. Injections for desensitization of patients with these and many more allergies could prove beneficial to the near elimination of symptoms over time.

Allergies may have been a problem for you since you were young or you may have developed them over the years. For many people allergies are a minor nuisance, but for others they can be debilitating or even life threatening. Our goal is to provide the MacDill community with a more comprehensive and timely solution to their allergy problems.

Consultative services are provided for patients with allergic conditions such as anaphylaxis (potentially life threatening allergic reaction), asthma, drug allergies and eczema, just to name a few. If something is making you sneeze, itch, flare up, puff up, grumble, groan or just not feel as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as you should, an allergy or intolerance could be the culprit.

Our mission is to provide you with the best possible health care to improve your quality of life. To be seen in the allergy clinic all it takes is a referral from your primary care manager.

Call the clinic at 813-828-CARE (2273) to make an appointment and discuss your symptoms with your provider. The allergy clinic is co-located with the immunizations clinic on the first floor of the Medical Group and its hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.