Allergist: what it is, what diseases it treats and when to consult

The allergist is the doctor responsible for diagnosing and treating changes in the immune system related to hypersensitivity reactions, such as allergies, as well as other situations related to immunity, such as food intolerance, asthma, urticaria, primary immunodeficiency and dermatitis.

Consultation with an allergist should occur when symptoms appear after contact with a substance or suddenly, without an apparent cause, such as a constant runny nose, frequent coughing, swelling in the lip or eyes, itchy skin or a feeling of shortness of breath, for example. example.

During a consultation with an allergist, in addition to evaluating symptoms, health history and lifestyle habits, the doctor may recommend tests that help identify changes in the immune system and, thus, indicate the most appropriate treatment.

Diseases treated by the allergist

The allergist is the doctor responsible for identifying and treating diseases related to the immune system, the main ones being:

• Allergic asthma, which occurs due to exposure to allergic substances that cause narrowing of the airways, resulting in difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing;
• Allergic rhinitis, which is an irritation of the nasal mucosa caused by allergic substances and which leads to increased mucus production, constant runny nose, itchy nose and frequent sneezing;
• food allergyin which there is an inflammatory reaction in the body after consuming some food, which can cause itchy skin, swelling of the lips and/or tongue, a feeling of discomfort in the throat and diarrhea or constipation;
• Dermatitiswhich is an inflammation of the skin caused by allergenic substances, which can be triggered by contact with these substances (contact dermatitis), or be a consequence of changes in the immune system that make the inflammatory response more intense and lead to the appearance of symptoms (atopic dermatitis );
• Drug allergywhich is characterized by the appearance of symptoms after the use of medications, whether topical, oral or intravenous;
• Urticariawhich corresponds to an allergic skin reaction caused by insect bites, allergies, medication, cleaning products, temperature variation or infections.

Furthermore, the allergist can perform the initial diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, which are diseases that occur due to the production of antibodies against the body itself, causing an exaggerated inflammatory reaction and leading to the appearance of specific signs and symptoms. Some of the most common autoimmune diseases that can be identified and treated by a dermatologist are primary immunodeficiency, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease and Crohn’s disease, for example. Learn more about autoimmune diseases.

When to make an appointment

It is recommended to consult an allergist when signs and symptoms are noticed that may indicate changes in the functioning of the immune system, such as:

• Runny nose;
• Constant sneezing;
• Swelling, redness and itching in the eye;
• Swelling of the lips and/or tongue;
• Spots, blisters or red plaques on the skin;
• Feeling of discomfort in the throat;
• Itchy skin;
• Shortness of breathe;
• Frequent cough;
• Diarrhea, after consuming some type of food;
• Abdominal discomfort;
• Increase in the amount of gases;
• Frequent infections.

After evaluating the symptoms, the allergist may recommend tests to help diagnose changes in the immune system and, thus, indicate the most appropriate treatment.

Furthermore, depending on the type of change in immunity and symptoms presented, monitoring can be carried out by an allergist in conjunction with another medical specialty, such as a dermatologist, otorhinolaryngologist or gastroenterologist, for example.

What is the consultation with the allergist like?

When consulting with an allergist, the doctor can initially evaluate the symptoms presented by the person taking into account personal and family health history and lifestyle habits. Then, allergy tests may be indicated to identify the cause of the symptoms.

The allergy test recommended by the allergist can be carried out on the forearm, known as the Prick test, which aims to identify allergies to some specific substances, or on the back, which aims to identify contact allergies. Additionally, if gastrointestinal symptoms are reported, the doctor may recommend an oral challenge test to investigate food allergies. See more about allergy testing.

In addition to allergy tests, the allergist may also request blood tests and genetic tests, especially when primary immunodeficiency or other autoimmune changes are suspected.