Asthma, Allergy & Immunology
What Conditions Can an Allergist Treat?
An Allergist/Immunologist is an expert in the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of allergic diseases and disorders of the immune system. Such conditions include hay fever, asthma, eczema, sinusitis, hives, rashes and reactions to foods, medicines and insect stings.
Common allergic symptoms include sneezing, watery eyes, runny or blocked nose, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, swelling of the eyelids, lips or body, and rash. Chronic allergic problems may cause other symptoms including headache, fatigue, or nausea. Allergic symptoms can affect some patients year long and other patients during only one season.
Procedures & Services
- Testing, control and management of all symptoms of all allergies
- Determination of causes of all types of asthma and management and treatment of the spectrum of asthma
- Determination of causes and management of all types of Urticaria and Atopic Dermatitis
What Is An Allergist?
Allergists are medical specialists who evaluate and treat allergic diseases and related conditions such as hay fever, asthma, eczema, sinusitis, hives, rashes, and reactions to foods, medicines and insect stings.
Allergists receive training in either pediatrics or internal medicine followed by 2 or 3 years of additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic and related disorders.
Board Certification in allergy requires completion of approved training as well as completion of written examinations in allergy and either pediatrics or internal medicine. Every board certified allergists has credentials in at least two specialties.
Although any physician may treat allergic diseases, the board certified allergist has advanced training and experience in the techniques of determining what is causing the problem and how to best solve the problem.
What Causes Allergies?
Allergies occur when you inhale substances, called allergens, that cause a reaction in some individuals. When inhaled, these allergens produce reactions in the nose and chest. Allergies occur in individuals whose immune system is overactive.
Most Common Allergens
- POLLENÂ is a microscopic reproductive seed found in grass, flowers, and trees.
- MOLDÂ is a microscopic fungi, such as mildew, that reproduces by releasing spores into the air.
- DUST MITESÂ are microscopic bugs that live in warm humid places and feed on dead human skin cells.
- ANIMAL DANDERÂ is a protein found in a tiny particle of dead skin, urine and saliva.
