Provided by: Michael Goodman, MD Allergist/Immunologist The fall can be a challenging time of year for asthma sufferers. Whether you are trying to enjoy some cooler temperatures before the onset of winter or your favorite fall festivities, asthma can get in the way One extremely susceptible group is those with allergic asthma triggered by ragweed. While the severity and exact timing of ragweed season varies from year to year, it generally runs from the beginning of August until early October. Ragweed can be quite a potent allergy for those allergic to it. As we breathe in the pollen, it makes ..read more

(FOUNDING FATHER OF OUR PRACTICE) Dr. Howard Lowery, the son of Mary and JG Lowery, was born and raised in New Concord, Ohio. He graduated from The Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1955. Dr. Lowery and his wife Ellen moved to Columbus in 1961, at which time he joined his brother, John McConagha Lowery, in the practice of Otorhinolaryngology. What was then a two-physician ENT practice has today grown into a 30-physician corporation including Allergy, ENT, Neuro-Ophthalmology, and Oral Pathology. Dr. Howard, as he was affectionately known, was a local pioneer in ear surgery and has ..read more

Provided by: David Straka, MD ENT With a few more weeks of summer ahead, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the pool, and with that, it’s a great time to talk about swimmer’s ear. Also known as otitis externa, swimmer’s ear is an infection or inflammation of the external ear canal. The ear canal connects the auricle (external ear) to the ear drum, where ear wax is created. Swimmer’s ear can be caused by a buildup of ear wax that gets wet and never dries out, leading to an overgrowth of bacteria or fungus. Otitis externa is common and can happen at any age, even without swimming. Just enough ..read more

Provided by: Scott Kramer, MD ENT Your nose starts to feel congested. Your throat gets that scratchy feeling. Perhaps you develop a sinus headache, or your mucus turns green. Does this sound familiar? Often people wonder if these symptoms mean they have a common cold or if a sinus infection is developing. Many folks probably don’t know there is a difference. This article is meant to help clarify some questions you may have about the common cold versus bacterial sinusitis. Viral upper respiratory infections (URI’s), better known as “colds,” are the most common infectious diseases on earth. The ..read more

Provided by: Megan Goebel, MD (Allergist/Immunologist) o   Grass pollen counts are high through the Summer, Trees in the Spring, and Weeds/Ragweed in the Fall o   Keep windows closed in the home and car o   Air filters/ air conditioners help o   Shower, wash face and hair, and change into clean clothes after being outside o   Wear protective clothing and sunglasses outside, especially if mowing or gardening o   Nasal steroid sprays and oral antihistamines are typical first line treatment o  &nbs ..read more

Provided by: Philip Rancitelli, MD The allergists/immunologists at Ohio ENT & Allergy Physicians are encountering many patients who describe itching and hives after booster COVID-19 vaccinations (some after being infected with COVID-19).  In fact, this is a phenomenon we’re hearing about from our colleagues all over the country.  It was a hot topic at the recent American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. Hives (urticaria) can occur for a variety of reasons, not just allergies.  When hives and/or itching occur on most days for lon ..read more

Provided by: Scott Kramer, MD Do you have a child that has had ear infections?  Middle ear infections (otitis media) are among the most common infections of childhood.  The majority of kids will experience an ear infection at some point during their childhood.  Symptoms vary from child to child but can include fever, fussiness, ear tugging, poor sleep, and pain (depending on the age of the child).  Initial treatment may include observation (some ear infections will resolve on their own) or oral antibiotics.   Many kids will have an occasional ear infection that re ..read more

Provided by: Michael Goodman, MD Winter Allergies As we move from fall to winter, many allergy sufferers will experience relief as plant pollens have gone away and mold spore counts drop. However, many allergy sufferers can actually experience an increase in symptoms. During the late fall and winter our exposure to other allergens, often less obvious allergens, can increase.  Causes of Winter Allergy Symptoms Much of the increase comes from spending more time indoors. For people with pets, both you and your pet spend more time indoors. This leads to more exposure to their dander and an in ..read more

Provided by: Megan Goebel, MD (Allergist)  Allergic to penicillin? Maybe not! The good news is that over 90% of people reporting a history of penicillin allergy are actually able to tolerate this antibiotic.  Many people outgrow this allergy as they get older, while some were never actually allergic to begin with.  Penicillin and amoxicillin, as well as other beta-lactam antibiotics, are important treatment options for sinus, ear, skin, and pulmonary infections.  Allergists are able to perform skin testing in the office for the major and minor determinants of penicillin in ..read more

Provided by: Andrew J. Tompkins, MD MBA (ENT) Many of us have recently completed the familiar period of open enrollment, where we select health insurance plans for the upcoming calendar year.  These exercises typically involve an attempt to project costs in order to reduce our out-of-pocket spend and decrease the downside risk of large, out-of-pocket payments.  These projections would be easier if our healthcare landscape didn’t have such cost opacity, making such attempts frustrating and near futile.  Healthcare costs and cost shifting have forced us to take these exercises muc ..read more