An allergist is a doctor who deals with diseases caused by allergens, i.e. antigens spread in the environment causing an allergic reaction. The allergist conducts an interview, orders the necessary tests and on this basis determines the type of allergy in the patient and proposes treatment.

Allergistis a doctor who specializes inallergy- a field of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by allergens. Allergens are substances commonly found in the environment, such as pollen, mites, mold, certain nutrients, metals, preservatives, animal hair, etc., that can cause an allergic reaction. It occurs when the immune system reacts incorrectly to contact with a foreign substance. The task of the allergist is, through an interview with the patient and ordering appropriate tests, to determine the cause of the allergy and implement an appropriate treatment regimen.

Allergy can be triggered by:

  • inhaled allergens - substances that we inhale together with the air, e.g. dust and everything it contains (pollen, plant and animal remains, mold, mites), pollen grains, mold spores;
  • food allergens - substances of plant and animal origin found in food products that cause an allergic reaction when consumed, e.g. cow's milk, eggs, nuts, soybeans, wheat etc.
  • contact allergens - cause an allergic reaction after contact with the skin, e.g. metals (chrome, nickel), plastics, dyes, fragrances, preservatives;
  • drugs - most often non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, naproxen, ketonal), antibiotics, drugs used for anesthesia (anesthesia).

When to see an allergist?

You should sign up for an allergist when the following symptoms bother you at certain times of the year:

  • fits of sneezing,
  • watery runny nose,
  • watery eyes,
  • conjunctival redness,
  • itchy nose.

A specialist can also help when we experience disturbing symptoms after consuming a specific product or coming into contact with a given substance. Then the following may appear:

  • itchingskins,
  • rash,
  • bubbles,
  • shortness of breath,
  • nausea,
  • diarrhea.

What diseases does the allergist treat?

These are all allergic diseases, including

  • allergic asthma,
  • allergic cough,
  • hay fever (allergic rhinitis),
  • allergic angina,
  • allergic urticaria,
  • demographism,
  • food allergies
  • allergic sinusitis,
  • allergic otitis,
  • allergic conjunctivitis.

What does a visit to an allergist look like? Allergy interview

An allergist is able to determine the causes of allergies based on tests and an interview with the patient. During the visit, he or she asks about the presence of previous symptoms in contact with the suspected allergen, their frequency, and other possible accompanying diseases. The specialist may also ask about the presence of allergic diseases in the patient's family.

What tests can an allergist order?

An allergist orders allergy tests to detect the causes of allergies, which are divided into:

  • skin tests - the allergen is attached to the skin and after 15-20 minutes it checks if an allergic reaction has occurred;
  • blood tests - consist in the determination of IgE antibodies for individual allergens (pollen, mite, mold and animal allergens);
  • provocation tests (trials) - as the name suggests, they involve provoking an allergic reaction by directly exposing the patient to the allergen, e.g. by intranasal or bronchial administration (the patient inhales the allergen in an aerosol), or the administration of a specific type of food.

What treatment can an allergist order?

When allergy symptoms occur seasonally and are limited to a runny nose or sneezing, the allergist usually orders antihistamines to inhibit the allergic reaction. He can also use eye and nasal preparations with a local effect to inhibit catarrh and tearing.

In justified cases, the allergist recommends desensitization, or allergen immunotherapy. It consists in giving the patient for a certain period, every 7-14 days, gradually increasing doses of the allergen in the form of a vaccine. Over time, the immune system of the allergic person gets used to the foreign substance and ceases to produce counteracts directed against the allergen.

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