Allergist - everything about the medical specialty

Which doctor treats allergic reactions in adults?

An adult who discovers one or more of these signs should first contact a therapist, who will conduct an initial appointment and issue a referral to a specialist. A general practitioner who can independently prescribe treatment for a mild allergic reaction can also examine the patient.

An allergy doctor is called an allergist . He is engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of an allergic nature, which include:

• conjunctivitis;
• rhinitis;
• hives;
• bronchial asthma;
• dermatitis;
• Quincke's edema;
• medicinal, food and insect bite allergies.

An allergist-immunologist can provide additional advice on diseases of the immune system. An allergist-pulmonologist specializes in the treatment of diseases of the bronchi and lungs that occur as a result of an increased immune reaction.

Quincke's edema is life-threatening, which is expressed in rapidly manifested swelling of the mucous membrane, skin and subcutaneous tissue, often accompanied by urticaria.

Quincke's edema can provoke an attack of suffocation, fainting, and vomiting. If these symptoms occur, you should urgently call an ambulance.

What does an allergist-immunologist treat?

An allergist-immunologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all diseases that directly or indirectly affect the immune system. The doctor can be a pediatrician (treats children) or an internal medicine specialist (treats immune pathologies in adults).

• Various forms of allergies (seasonal, year-round, reactions to food, medications).
• Autoimmune pathologies (when the body attacks its own tissues due to immune problems).
• Immunodeficiencies (when the immune system is extremely weakened).

They usually work in private or public health care settings. Academic allergists-immunologists plan and conduct research in the field of allergy and immunology. Some specialists consult patients in clinical settings, inviting them to study new drugs and treatments.

Consultations of related specialists

Since diseases caused by allergies affect various systems of the body, the patient may be given a referral to a doctor of a narrow specialization. If you have a rash or other manifestations on the skin, you should consult a dermatologist. If the disease is caused by disorders of the nervous system, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a neurologist.

If the respiratory function is affected, the patient is examined by an ENT doctor.

A gastroenterologist provides consultations on problems with the functioning of the digestive system. If pathology of the cardiovascular system is present, the patient will be recommended to be examined by a cardiologist. For allergic conjunctivitis, a referral to an ophthalmologist is given. Pregnant women should also visit a gynecologist to adjust treatment and reduce risks to the fetus.

Diseases that require an appointment with an allergist

• Asthma (allergic). The main symptoms of the disease are shortness of breath and cough in combination with breathing disorders.
• Allergic rhinitis. The main symptoms of the disease are initially similar to the general (infectious) form of rhinitis: runny nasal discharge, itching of the mucous membranes, sneezing and nasal congestion.
• Allergic conjunctivitis (main symptoms: swelling of the eyelids, itching of the eyelids, lacrimation and redness of the eyes).
• Quincke's edema (extensive swelling of the mucous membranes and skin, mainly affecting the face, oral cavity, and larynx), this condition can be life-threatening for the patient.
• Allergic urticaria (main symptoms: blisters, itchy skin).
• Contact and atopic dermatitis (skin itching with or without rashes, depending on the type, concentrated on different parts of the body).
• Anaphylactic shock is a condition accompanied by loss of consciousness (possibly only some clouding) and occurs in combination with a drop in pressure, suffocation and sometimes respiratory arrest.

In addition, if seasonal allergies occur, for example, more than once, the question regarding when to contact an allergist-immunologist seems to determine the answer without additional explanation, that is, it provides for the implementation of this action before an exacerbation begins. Let us add that taking preventive measures will make it possible to make the problematic season for allergy sufferers as safe as possible.

If the search for an allergist involves contacting a really good specialist, and you succeed in finding one, then you can count on the fact that this will be accompanied by increased attention to the patient’s condition, as well as on the fact that the contact with this specialist will be long-lasting and effective.

It is noteworthy that allergic reactions, unlike a number of different diseases (for example, irritation of the skin of the hands), are characterized by the presence of internal problems in the body at the basis of their manifestation, and not just factors that have an impact from the outside. A good allergist will be able not only to cure an allergy sufferer, but also to give advice on preventive measures appropriate to his condition, along with an explanation of the general set of measures when attacks occur.

At the moment, there are many different drugs that can be used to effectively combat allergies. An important point is that timely initiation of treatment often allows you to recover from allergies completely.

Meanwhile, only a qualified allergist-immunologist can make the correct selection of treatment tactics, and therefore the search for a good allergist requires exceptional attention and time investment - only this will allow solving this type of problem in the shortest possible time.

How is a doctor's appointment?

After visiting a generalist doctor, who collects anamnesis and gives the necessary referral, the patient goes to a specialist. During the initial appointment, the allergist collects information about the symptoms, identifies the cause of their development, describes the history of the disease, and inquires about the patient’s heredity.

The doctor also examines the body for any allergic skin reactions and inflammation. At this stage, the doctor suggests a probable allergen and clarifies the nature of the disease.

Then a laboratory test is prescribed to accurately determine the allergen. Symptomatic treatment is carried out. The doctor recommends basic therapy at a further stage based on the results of a full examination.

Introductory part

An allergy is an increased sensitivity of the body to any substance.
This substance can be any chemical ingredient, product, wool, dust, pollen or microbe.

Today it is precisely established that allergens can be substances formed inside the body. They are called endoallergens or autoallergens. They are natural - proteins of unchanged tissues, isolated from the system responsible for immunity. And acquired - proteins that acquire foreign characteristics from thermal, radiation, chemical, bacterial, viral and other reasons. For example, an allergic reaction develops with glomerulonephritis, rheumatism, arthritis, hypothyroidism.

Allergies can rightfully be given the second title “Disease of the Century”, since at present, more than 85% of the entire population of our planet suffers from this disease, or more precisely its variety.

An allergy is an inadequate reaction of the human body to contact or exposure to an allergen.

Most often, allergies are not cured; all so-called healing comes down to identifying the specific allergen and its complete isolation; in this case, prevention is more important than the healing itself. First of all, for preventive measures to be successful, you need to draw the right conclusions about the circumstances of the disease itself. In order to promptly recognize an allergic reaction of the body, you need to know its allergic symptoms, so that you can promptly and correctly provide medical assistance to an allergic person.

Allergy is a personal disease.

Some are allergic to pollen, others are allergic to dust, and others are allergic to cats. Allergies lie at the basis of such diseases as, for example, bronchial asthma, urticaria, and dermatitis. The development of certain infectious diseases may be accompanied by allergies. In this case, the allergy is called an infectious allergy. In addition, the same allergens can cause different allergy symptoms in different people and at different times.

In recent decades, there has been a marked increase in the incidence of allergies. There are different theories that explain this phenomenon: The theory of the influence of hygiene - this theory states that adherence to hygiene standards deprives the body of contact with almost all antigens, which causes weak development of the immune system (in particular in children).

Increasing consumption of chemical industry products - almost all chemical products can act both as allergens and create preconditions for the development of allergic reactions by disrupting the function of the nervous and endocrine systems.

Allergy symptoms

There are truly just a huge number of different forms of allergies, therefore, the symptoms of allergies are also different. Allergic symptoms are extremely easy to confuse with other diseases that are similar in symptoms, which happens once a day in medical practice.

Respiratory allergies occur after an allergen enters the body during breathing.

These allergens are most often different types of gases, pollen or extremely small dust; such allergens are called aeroallergens. This may include respiratory allergies. This allergy manifests itself as:

Maya Menshikova

I am a member of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia, RAACI, EAACI. I take part in scientific and practical conferences. VK profile: https://vk.com/menshikovamk

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What tests does a doctor treating allergies order?

To make a diagnosis, the patient undergoes a general blood test. An increased number of eosinophil cells will indicate an allergy or helminth infection. If the presence of parasites is excluded by additional research, a blood test is prescribed for the content of immunoglobulin E (antibodies that destroy foreign cells). If its level is higher than normal, an allergy is diagnosed.

There are thousands of different allergens in the environment, so the doctor's task is to determine the causative factor in each case.

To simplify diagnosis, they are divided into groups - allergy panels:

• food (food allergens);
• inhalation (allergens entering through the respiratory system);
• mixed (combining the first two groups);
• pediatric (allergens typical for children).

Diagnosis can be made using a blood test for immunoglobulins E and G, as well as skin testing for an allergen. In the first method, a certain amount of blood is mixed with various allergens and it is determined how dangerous it is for humans. In this way, up to 150 reactions are detected in 1 procedure.

By performing skin allergy tests, 10-15 allergens are checked. The doctor makes microcuts on the skin, applies the drug from the panel and monitors for a reaction. Children under 3 years of age are diagnosed with allergies only through a blood test.

Diagnosis of the disease

At a doctor's appointment, in addition to a survey and examination, a diagnosis of an allergic condition is carried out, which is aimed at identifying the allergen.

Basic techniques:

Skin tests. Introduction of all kinds of allergens by injection and scarification. At a time, samples are taken with a maximum of 15 allergens, which are selected based on the patient’s questioning. The doctor who conducts the diagnosis carefully monitors changes in the skin and general condition of the patient. Determination of class E antibodies. The technique allows us to identify the presence of an increased reaction in principle, as well as the group of substances that could cause it. Provocative tests. They are carried out to confirm a previously identified allergen. Do not use in the midst of an allergy, as it can significantly aggravate the process. Diagnosis and treatment of allergies in adults is carried out by a doctor who can provide emergency care. In a child, a similar test is performed much less frequently, according to strict indications. Elimination tests. At the same time they are also a therapeutic measure. If it is not possible to determine exactly what exactly caused the reaction, the doctor simply excludes the suspected allergen from the person’s life. For example, in case of food allergies, certain foods are removed from the diet. If we are talking about intolerance to chemicals, then they change hygiene products and household chemicals, and so on.

Why here?

1. Reception of children (from 0 years old) and adult patients.
2. An integrated approach to each specific case, taking into account existing concomitant diseases, patient preferences, and lifestyle.
3. Individual approach to each patient. Selection of individual treatment regimens, individual hypoallergenic diets.
4. Experience in the fundamental department of immunology, experience in scientific work and experience in a flow cytometry laboratory allow one to have excellent command of modern methods for diagnosing the pathology of the immune system, prescribe the necessary set of examinations and carry out their detailed interpretation.
5. Use of questionnaires developed by the Expert Committee on Asthma and Allergy Treatment at the time of admission to assess the degree of control of asthma symptoms and, if necessary, to make changes in treatment to achieve better control.
6. Knowledge of the sublingual method of allergen-specific immunotherapy (an effective and safe method of treating allergies without injections) for allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma.

See also: Tests for allergies and pathologies of immunity, Immunogram, Treatment with allergens.