Physicians need a wide array of options to decide the right course of treatment for patients. Finally, including a full range of non-sedating therapies helps ensure that we treat the greatest number of allergy sufferers possible. Left untreated, patients become more vulnerable to other respiratory complications. Increasing evidence has shown that allergic rhinitis can lead to ear and sinus infections and even asthma. A recent study published in the Journal of Allergy Clinical Immunology concluded that early allergy treatment holds the most promise for reducing the development of asthma and other respiratory diseases.
Seasonal allergies take a toll on a person's life.
For instance, absenteeism caused by seasonal allergies accounts for more than 6 million lost workdays and 2 million lost school days in this country. From a physician's point of view, limiting access to non-sedating antihistamines means providing substandard care. Adding non-sedating antihistamines to the Medicaid formulary will ensure that doctors can prescribe the most appropriate treatment to all patients in Kentucky. E-mail this story to a friend. All rights reserved.