Why See an Allergist?

Becoming an allergist / immunologist requires at least an additional nine years of training beyond a bachelor’s degree.  After completing medical school, physicians undergo three years of training in internal medicine or pediatrics and pass the exam of either the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) or the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP).  To specialize in Allergy-Immunology, it is next necessary for internists and pediatricians to complete an additional two years of study, called a fellowship, in an accredited allergy / immunology training program. They are then qualified to sit for the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI) certification exam. All of our allergists are certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology: the only recognized specialty that cares for patients with allergic and immunological diseases.

Most people are unaware of the immune or allergy causes behind their symptoms.  It can be critical to identify what is causing your symptoms, and allergists have the appropriate training, knowledge, and tools to diagnose and treat your allergy and asthma related problems.

Allergies may affect many parts of the body, and can be an underlying trigger for issues, including organ symptoms such as the skin, lungs, gastrointestinal system, eyes, ears, and sinuses. Thus, it can be beneficial to make an initial appointment with an allergist to assess your symptoms and causes.  Allergists receive many referrals from other healthcare providers such as internists, pediatricians, ENTs, pulmonologists, and dermatologists, and will partner with your other healthcare providers for individual treatment as necessary.

Allergy specialists diagnose their patients’ conditions by collecting a complete medical history on each patient, performing a physical examination on the patient and assessing the patient’s environmental exposure history.  They may also perform tests such as allergen skin tests and lung function tests. If you have allergy symptoms that occur in association with exposure to certain things, that is highly significant. Allergy diagnostic tests, such as skin tests or blood tests, provide similar information and merely confirm what your health history tells the doctor. If your doctor were to rely exclusively on the results of skin or blood tests (without history and physical examination), you could be diagnosed as having an allergic problem that you don’t necessarily have. Once they have diagnosed the patient’s condition, allergy doctors can advise patients in treating the condition, minimizing the allergic response or avoiding the allergic triggers identified.

In addition to treating potentially serious consequences of allergies and asthma, allergists also focus on preventative care, ensuring that patients achieve and maintain optimal health and quality of life. They develop management plans and follow patients over time, providing them with the most up to date treatment options available.Our doctor’s are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as:

Sinus Infections

Asthma and frequent cough

Hay Fever (Rhinitis)

Eye Allergies

Food, Insect, and Drug Allergies

Immune System Problems that might cause frequent infections