Online Allergy Treatment in Australia

Working out exactly what’s causing your symptoms — and confirming it before committing to long-term treatment or immunotherapy — is the single most important step in allergy care. Here’s how that process works through DocTel’s online GP for allergies service, and when it needs to move beyond telehealth.

What a Telehealth Allergy Consultation Can Assess

A telehealth allergy consultation Australia-wide can cover a detailed history of your symptoms, their timing and seasonal pattern, suspected triggers, family history of atopy (asthma, eczema, hay fever), current medications, and how much your symptoms are affecting sleep, work, and daily life. For many patients with classic seasonal hay fever, mild eczema flares, or a straightforward history of reacting to a specific food, your GP can begin appropriate first-line treatment the same day, without needing formal testing first.

Skin Prick Testing

Skin prick testing is the standard first-line test for confirming specific IgE-mediated allergies to pollens, dust mites, moulds, animal dander, and some foods. A tiny amount of allergen extract is placed on the skin (usually the forearm), which is then lightly pricked — a raised, itchy wheal within 15–20 minutes indicates a positive reaction. It’s quick, generally well tolerated, and gives same-day results, but it needs to be performed in person by a clinical immunology/allergy specialist or accredited practice, and usually requires stopping antihistamines for several days beforehand. Your telehealth GP can organise this referral directly.

Blood Tests (Specific IgE / RAST Testing)

Specific IgE blood testing — often still referred to by its older name, RAST testing — measures allergen-specific antibodies in a blood sample rather than the skin. It’s useful when skin prick testing isn’t practical: significant eczema affecting test sites, inability to safely stop antihistamines, a history of severe reactions, or in young children. It’s a straightforward pathology request your GP can organise locally, with results reviewed at a follow-up telehealth appointment.

Getting an Allergy Specialist Referral

Not every allergy needs a specialist. Your GP will usually arrange an allergy specialist referral for a clinical immunologist/allergist when there’s a history of anaphylaxis or systemic insect sting reactions, suspected multiple food allergies (particularly in children), poorly controlled allergic asthma alongside rhinitis, occupational allergy, or when immunotherapy is being considered. In Australia this referral pathway is well established and Medicare-rebated specialist appointments are available in every state — your telehealth GP can prepare a detailed, guideline-aligned referral letter summarising your history, current treatment, and the specific question for the specialist, which speeds up your specialist appointment considerably.

Consider booking a consultation if you have any of the following:

• Hay fever symptoms most days for more than four weeks, or year-round nasal symptoms
• A suspected food reaction with hives, lip swelling, or vomiting within two hours of eating
• A skin rash that keeps recurring in the same pattern or location
• A large or spreading reaction after an insect sting
• Allergy symptoms that aren’t improving on over-the-counter antihistamines
• A need for a specialist referral letter, workplace medical certificate, or repeat prescription

Once your triggers and diagnosis are clear, treatment is built in layers — starting with everyday symptom control and, for suitable patients, progressing to immunotherapy that addresses the underlying allergic sensitivity rather than just the symptoms.

Non-Sedating Antihistamines

Second-generation antihistamines (such as cetirizine, loratadine, or fexofenadine) are first-line for most mild-to-moderate allergic symptoms, blocking the histamine response with minimal sedation. Many are available over the counter, though your GP can advise on dosing for breakthrough symptoms and whether a PBS-listed prescription option is appropriate for your situation.

Intranasal Corticosteroid Sprays

For chronic allergic rhinitis, RACGP guidance recommends a regular intranasal corticosteroid spray as first-line therapy — it treats the underlying nasal inflammation rather than just blocking histamine, and is considerably more effective than antihistamines alone for nasal congestion. Correct technique (angling the spray away from the central septum) makes a significant difference to effectiveness, and your GP can talk you through this during a video consultation.

Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) in Australia

Sublingual immunotherapy Australia-wide is available as tablets or drops placed under the tongue, typically taken daily over a three-year course, gradually desensitising the immune system to specific allergens — most commonly grass pollen and house dust mite. Unlike antihistamines or nasal sprays, immunotherapy can produce lasting improvement even after treatment stops, and is generally recommended for patients whose symptoms aren’t adequately controlled by standard medication, or who want to reduce long-term reliance on daily treatment. SLIT is specialist-initiated after allergy testing confirms the specific trigger, and PBS subsidy varies by product — your GP or allergist can advise on current PBS listing and likely out-of-pocket cost before you start.

Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT)

Subcutaneous immunotherapy — often called “allergy shots” — involves a series of injections given by a specialist or trained clinic over several years, gradually increasing the dose of allergen extract. It’s typically used for multiple environmental allergens or significant insect venom allergy, where it is highly effective at preventing future systemic sting reactions. Because of a small risk of a systemic reaction to the injection itself, SCIT is only given in a specialist setting with monitoring afterwards — it isn’t something a telehealth consultation can deliver directly, but your GP plays an important ongoing role coordinating the referral and your care in between specialist visits.

Building Your Personalised Allergy Management Plan

An effective, urgent allergy management plan pulls all of this together: confirmed or suspected triggers, current medications and technique, an avoidance strategy where relevant, a clear plan for what to do if symptoms suddenly worsen, and a follow-up schedule to reassess control. For patients with a history of anaphylaxis or significant insect sting reactions, this includes a written ASCIA action plan and adrenaline autoinjector training (see the emergency section below). Your DocTel telehealth GP can put this plan in writing, issue electronic prescriptions to your preferred pharmacy, and review it at regular intervals as your treatment progresses.

Clear, practical care for allergy symptoms and long-term control.

Our care model combines clinical precision with everyday practicality — giving you access to allergy expertise whenever you need it.

Receive your prescription and clear next steps — all managed securely through your DocTel portal.

Most allergy symptoms are safe to manage through routine care and telehealth follow-up. But anaphylaxis is a genuine medical emergency, and knowing what to watch for — and exactly what to do — can save a life. This applies whether you or your child has a known allergy with an autoinjector at home, or you’re experiencing a severe reaction for the first time.

Recognising Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis usually develops within minutes of exposure to a trigger (a food, insect sting, or medication) and involves more than one body system. Warning signs include:

• Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or a persistent cough
• Swelling of the tongue, throat, lips, or face
• Tightness or hoarseness in the throat
• Widespread hives or flushing, especially with dizziness
• Sudden paleness, floppiness (in young children), or collapse
• Abdominal pain, vomiting, or a feeling of impending doom alongside any of the above

Using an Adrenaline Autoinjector

If you or your child has a diagnosed severe allergy, you may have been prescribed an adrenaline autoinjector (EpiPen® or Anapen®) as part of an urgent allergy management plan. If anaphylaxis symptoms appear:

• Give the adrenaline autoinjector into the outer mid-thigh immediately — don’t wait to see if symptoms improve on their own
• Call 000 (ambulance) straight away, even if symptoms start to settle
• Lay the person flat and keep them still; sit them up only if breathing is difficult
• A second dose can be given after five minutes if there’s no improvement and a second autoinjector is available
• Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives — anaphylaxis can recur after initial improvement

ASCIA Action Plans

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) publishes standardised, colour-coded action plans used across Australian schools, childcare centres, and workplaces to guide bystanders through an allergic emergency. If you or your child has a significant food, insect sting, or drug allergy, your GP can complete or review an ASCIA action plan as part of your management plan, and make sure autoinjector training and expiry dates are kept up to date.