Respiratory Allergy Treatment in Panchkula

Sneezing fits, a blocked nose, and a cough that follows

Respiratory allergy rarely stays in one place. It often starts in the nose: a string of sneezes the moment you wake up, a runny nose when you dust the cupboard, itchy eyes in March. Over time, for many people, it moves down to the chest as an allergic cough or wheeze.

The nose and the lungs are one connected airway. Treat only the nose and the chest often keeps acting up. Treat only the chest and the nose keeps dripping and setting off the cough. That is why we look at both.

Common allergy triggers in the Tricity

Every region has its own pattern. What we see most often in patients from Panchkula, Chandigarh and Mohali:

• House dust mites. Microscopic creatures living in mattresses, pillows, carpets and sofas. The most common year-round trigger.
• Pollen. Grass and tree pollen, especially in spring (February to April) and again after the monsoon. Chandigarh's greenery is lovely, but some trees are well-known pollen sources.
• Mould. Damp walls in the monsoon, bathrooms without ventilation, and air-conditioners that haven't been cleaned.
• Pets. Dander from cats and dogs.
• Cockroaches. An under-recognised trigger in many homes.
• Irritants that are not true allergens but make things worse: smoke, incense, perfume, room fresheners, cold air, and winter smog.

Signs your allergy needs medical attention

Seasonal sneezing for a few days a year can be managed with simple measures. See a doctor if:

• Symptoms last for weeks or happen most of the year
• Your nose is blocked enough to disturb sleep or make you breathe through your mouth
• The allergy brings on cough, wheeze or chest tightness
• You have had to use antihistamines almost daily for months
• You snore or wake up tired
• Your child has a constantly blocked nose and a night-time cough

Allergic rhinitis, allergic cough and asthma: how they connect

Allergic rhinitis is allergy in the nose: sneezing, itching, watery discharge, blockage. It is very common and often dismissed as "frequent colds".

Allergic cough is a dry, tickly cough that comes with allergy exposure. It can come from mucus dripping down the throat or from sensitive airways.

Allergic asthma is when the airways in the lungs narrow and swell in response to allergens, causing wheeze and breathlessness. A good share of people with allergic rhinitis also have asthma, or develop it later. Controlling the nose well tends to make asthma easier to control too. See our asthma treatment page.

How we evaluate allergy

The most useful tool is still a good history: what triggers your symptoms, when in the year, where (home, office, outdoors), and what has helped before. Dr. Bedi will examine your nose, throat and chest.

Tests are chosen depending on the picture:

• Spirometry to check whether the lungs are involved. See PFT test.
• Blood tests such as eosinophil count and IgE levels in some cases.
• Allergy testing (skin prick or specific IgE blood tests) to identify triggers when it would change the treatment plan. These tests, when needed, are done at Paras Health, Panchkula.

Treatment that works for most people

Reducing exposure

You can't avoid everything, but small changes help, especially for dust mites:

• Wash bedsheets and pillow covers weekly in hot water and dry them in strong sun
• Use mite-proof covers on mattress and pillows
• Keep soft toys and heavy carpets out of the bedroom
• Wet-mop instead of sweeping, and dust with a damp cloth
• Clean AC filters regularly, especially before summer
• Fix damp patches and ventilate bathrooms

Medicines

• Steroid nasal sprays are the most effective treatment for allergic rhinitis when used daily. The dose reaching the body is very small. Technique matters: aim slightly outward, away from the middle of the nose.
• Non-drowsy antihistamines for sneezing, itching and runny nose.
• Saline nasal washes to clear allergens and mucus.
• Inhalers when the chest is involved.
• Other medicines in specific cases, as advised.

Allergen immunotherapy

For some people with clearly identified triggers who don't respond well to medicines, immunotherapy (gradually training the immune system to tolerate the allergen) may be an option. It is a long-term treatment and needs careful selection. We will discuss it if it's suitable for you.

Allergy and the winter smog

Smog isn't an allergen, but it inflames already sensitive airways. Many allergy patients find their worst months are November and December. A review in October, with a plan ready before the season, helps. Read more in our pollution and breathing guide.

Clinic timings and contact

Dr. Manan Bedi sees allergy and asthma patients at Booth 194, Sector 20, Panchkula, from Monday to Saturday (5–7 PM) and on Sunday (11 AM–2 PM). Patients come from Chandigarh, Mohali and Zirakpur. Call +91-99280 14284 or book online.