What specialist to go to in case of allergy?

Choosing a specific doctor in the Health Branch is not a simple task. This is what happens for example when going to the allergy specialist who, despite not being widely known, is called an allergist. As such, he is an expert in the identification and treatment of conditions that cause hypersensitivity to certain external agents.

In many cases, allergies can cause asthma, but outside of these cases, the pulmonologist is in charge of treating ailments related to the lungs and breathing.

Allergies trigger out-of-the-ordinary reactions when the body comes into contact with some substances from the outside called allergens. The most common are pollen, dust, and hair of some animals, but also the bites of certain insects, certain foods, or medicines.

In recent years, much higher numbers of allergies are being recorded due, in part, to the increased presence of substances that cause this condition in the environment, as well as the high rates of pollution in large cities.

What is the function of the allergy specialist?

The allergist doctor has the task of diagnosing and treating related diseases. To a greater extent, these conditions affect the skin and respiratory system, but problems can also be found at the gastrointestinal or cardiovascular level.

Thus, the most common diseases caused by allergies are:

• Dermatitis
• Urticaria
• Conjunctivitis
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Other symptoms: headache, cough, hoarseness, watery eyes, runny nose…

Therefore, at the first indications of a possible allergy, it is advisable to go to the family doctor who has been assigned to inform you of the disorders that are suffered.

In case of having private medical insurance, you just have to consult the medical chart of the insurance company and choose the most suitable one to request an appointment. Both in one case and another, it must be borne in mind that allergic symptoms can worsen over time if the appropriate measures are not taken, even putting lives at risk.

To diagnose an allergy, the allergist proceeds to review the patient’s medical history, as well as perform an examination of it. Although there is a tendency to think otherwise, the genetic and hereditary component has a remarkable importance in the development of hypersensitivity to certain substances.

Along with this, allergy tests directly on the skin are also necessary to determine the cause that causes the health problem. These consist of putting the body in contact with different allergens to find out which are the causes of the allergy.

In addition, people who come to this specialist are likely to also undergo other types of tests, such as blood, X-rays, respiratory, etc.

The treatments prescribed by the allergy specialist are primarily aimed at preventing symptoms from interfering with daily activities. Therefore, taking into account the importance it has in personal well-being, it is necessary to find a good specialized doctor.

To do this, one of the most reliable options is to ask your GP or insurance company for a trusted allergist who has good references or consult with a medical society or organization related to these problems.