Allergy Services Allergies can cause a runny nose, sneezing, itching, coughing, and even asthma. If you have an allergy, you may be sensitive to more than one thing. Airborne substances that often cause reactions include: pollen dust mites mold spores pet dander Most of the time, allergies just make you feel bad, but a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis is life-threatening. We use either skin or blood tests to determine what is causing your airborne allergy. Several medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, help decrease or eliminate the symptoms of allergies. Do cats or pollen make you sneeze and cough? WVU’s allergy services can help. Steven Coutras, MD, with the WVU Otolaryngology Department gives an overview of our allergy services and new treatments that are available. Doctors On Call: Allergies