POLLEN COUNT
An allergy specialist, otherwise known as an allergist or immunologist, is a medical doctor who is specially trained in the field of immunology and offers diagnosis and treatment to patients with allergies, asthma, sinus and ear infections, and other immunological problems.
If you have allergies – food allergies, hay fever, pollen allergies, or others – and have set up an appointment with an allergy doctor, you may wonder what your allergy doctor will do.
Let’s talk about what you can expect from an allergy specialist and where you can find the best allergy specialist in Northeast Illinois.
Review of Your Medical History
When you see an allergy specialist with a complaint of allergies, an allergist asks about your medical and family history and your symptoms. You may also expect questions about the duration of your allergy symptoms, medications you take to relieve allergy symptoms, and things that worsen your symptoms.
Be honest with your allergy doctor and answer truthfully, as the information you will provide your allergy doctor will help them determine the cause of your symptoms.
Physical Examination
If your allergy specialist suspects you have allergies, they may do a physical exam. During a physical exam, they will examine your skin, throat, nose, and lungs, depending on your symptoms. For instance, they may look for skin reactions like hives and nasal congestion.
Allergy Testing
Your allergy specialist may do an allergy test to determine the culprit of your allergy symptoms. The most common methods for allergy testing are blood tests, skin prick tests, patch tests, pulmonary function tests, and oral food challenge tests. The methods that will be used for your allergy testing will depend on the type of allergies you have.
Treatment
Once the cause of your allergies is known, your allergy specialist will develop a tailor-made treatment plan for you. The treatment plan will most likely include medications, biologics, and immunotherapy.
Medication provides temporary relief from allergy symptoms and may include antihistamines, nasal decongestants, mast cell stabilizers, corticosteroids, etc.,while immunotherapy will be focused on gradually creating tolerance against the allergen by introducing a small but gradually increasing dose of the allergen in your body. Immunotherapy can be provided through injections or sublingual tablets, or drops.
Biologics are monoclonal antibodies that target molecules that mediate an allergic or immunological reaction.
Your allergy doctor may also provide some strategies to avoid or reduce your exposure to allergens.
Follow-up Appointments
Your allergy specialists may also schedule several follow-up appointments to check your body’s response to specific treatments. They will also track your progress and adjust your treatment as needed.
Allergy Specialist in Northeast Illinois
Whether you or your loved one have allergies, asthma, eczema, or other immunological problem, our board-certified doctors at Oak Brook Allergists have you covered. Our allergy specialists have a wealth of experience in diagnosing and treating a vast range of immunological problems, including allergies, effectively.
If you would like to know more about our allergy testing or would like to make an appointment, call our staff today at our allergy clinic nearest you or use our convenient appointment request form.
