An allergist is a specialist with a fairly narrow profile. He deals with the problem of sensitization of the body to certain substances, as well as the treatment of pathological reactions that occur in response to a person’s contact with allergens.
What is an allergist for?
This specialist is truly irreplaceable. We are talking about those cases when a person constantly develops allergic reactions. This doctor, using special methods, is able to establish not only the very fact of the presence of allergies, but also to establish the substance to which the person has developed sensitization.
Such a doctor becomes irreplaceable in those situations when the patient develops such a grave condition as Quincke's edema. It requires emergency qualified assistance. With its refusal to the patient, the most sad consequences await.
Where can I find a specialist?
Allergist is a fairly rare profession. This is largely due to the too narrow line of activity of such a specialist. There are very few medical centers of a purely allergological profile. Typically, such a doctor is available in large clinics or hospitals. At the same time, allergological departments are opening on the basis of significant hospitals where patients are able to receive high-class care.
Major diseases
Reception of an allergist is necessary for quite a lot of people. The main disease that requires consultation of this specialist is the so-called hay fever. This pathology is a sensitization to a particular substance called an allergen. Such a disease is most often accompanied by lacrimation, runny nose and sneezing. However, often these symptoms reach significant severity and require serious treatment with medications.
Another fairly common and at the same time serious disease that requires at least a consultation with an allergist is bronchial asthma. In the same case, if we are talking about its allergic form, then this doctor will prescribe treatment.
The most dangerous state of an allergic profile is Quincke's edema. Any doctor can provide emergency help with this pathology, however, it is preferable to carry out its treatment in a specialized hospital under the supervision of an experienced allergist.
Urticaria also often requires inpatient treatment. Especially small patients require special attention here. A children's allergist is always ready to provide them with all the necessary help. Urticaria will quickly recede under the influence of the drugs prescribed by him. In this case, the children's allergist after treating the child always gives parents recommendations on how to prevent the recurrence of this pathological phenomenon in the future.
About childhood allergies
Currently, there is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of allergic reactions in children. The need for such a specialist is that the child’s body is in many ways different from the adult. Consequently, allergic reactions will proceed differently. There are certain differences in the selection of treatment regimens for pediatric patients.
It should be noted that usually in a child allergic reactions proceed somewhat more rapidly than in adults. As a result, they are more often in need of emergency assistance from medical personnel. In addition, it is in childhood that a person has the greatest number of allergic manifestations. The fact is that in this period of its life, the body is much more likely than in the future to meet new substances and compounds. Naturally, he develops a response to contact with many of them.
When should I contact?
An allergist is not always needed when a person has a sensitization to a particular substance. It is worth contacting primarily when a person has serious manifestations of an allergic process. In addition, consultation with an allergist will not hurt if a runny nose, sneezing and lacrimation in response to contact with a particular allergen are disturbed quite often.
Also, do not self-medicate in the case of children. Of course, many useful tips for young parents today are given by television, as well as Komarovsky. Allergies in children, if not limited to a small number of rashes, require observation by an experienced allergist. The fact is that parents are far from always able to correctly assess the condition of the child. As a result, information obtained even from very reliable sources will not be able to help them get rid of the problem by 100%. So, despite the advice that various doctors give in their telecasts, including Komarovsky, allergies in children, especially frequent or severe, should be treated by a specialist.
About Samples
Currently, it is possible to determine which substance a person has pathological sensitization to. At the same time, allergy tests are conducted for children and adults. The direction for their conduct is given precisely by the allergist. This specialist doctor always notes that before an allergy test, children and adults should only be performed when a person has not taken any special medications for about 1-1.5 months. The fact is that antiallergic drugs will distort the results of the tests.
Allergological tests are carried out by applying small incisions to the skin of the forearm. Their number is equal to the number of different substances, for the presence of sensitization to which the study is being conducted. In the future, a specific compound is applied to each of these notches. Today, this method can determine the presence of sensitization, for example, to house dust, the coat of various animals, as well as pollen of many plants.
About cold allergies
In addition to various substances, some physical factors are also capable of causing allergic reactions. One of them is the so-called cold allergy. This pathology is quite severe. A person with this disease is not able to be in conditions of significantly reduced air temperature. A test for this form of allergy is carried out using a piece of ice. They put it on the wrist and wait a few minutes. In the future, the allergist evaluates the results of the study. If in the place where the piece of ice was put, any allergic reaction occurred, then an appropriate diagnosis is made.
About thermal allergies
In this case, we are talking mainly about sensitization to direct sunlight. Such people have even more problems than those who suffer from cold allergies. Under the influence of open sunlight, a person experiences a response, which can manifest itself as a usual reddening of the skin, and the development of swelling in the place where the light got.
What can you do yourself?
Not everyone knows where an allergist takes. Ambulance may also not come immediately. As a result, not only medical workers, but also every person should have certain allergy control skills.
As first aid, you should limit the access of the alleged allergen to humans. For example, if an allergy arose when some kind of animal or a new carpet appeared in the house, it is very advisable to transfer them to another place as soon as possible. In the future, it is very advisable for the injured person to take drugs that suppress the effects of allergic reactions. This is a group of so-called antihistamines. They are very widely used in the process of combating allergies. One of the most well-known products from this group is the drug "Loratadine". After the first doses, it will significantly reduce the severity of the manifestations of allergic reactions.
What can the doctor do?
An urgent consultation with an allergist is necessary, first of all, if a person has developed Quincke's edema. In this case, he will inject highly effective drugs that will quickly reduce the severity of the allergic reaction. Most often, such drugs are Clemastine and Prednisolone. In addition, the protocols for the treatment of Quincke's edema include the drug Adrenaline. As a result of the introduction of these three drugs, the patient's condition improves in a matter of minutes.
As for less serious situations, here the doctor may confine herself to tablet preparations. In most cases, a doctor’s prescription will only contain antihistamines. In those situations when they alone are not enough, the doctor may prescribe additional drugs, for example, hormonal ones. Naturally, after the allergy problem is resolved, the doctor will provide recommendations that will help to avoid the occurrence of pathological sensitizations in the future.
How to reduce the likelihood of allergies?
An allergist in Moscow today is not uncommon. Getting to his appointment is not so difficult. At the same time, even a paid allergist will not make a person spend too much. However, of course, it is much better to prevent the occurrence of a problem than to solve it later.
In order to reduce the likelihood of allergies, you must try to limit the child from serious irritating substances (for example, car exhaust). A person should not eat those products that are made from raw materials obtained not in his native climate zone. The fact is that to those plants and animals that inhabit the region native to man, his body is familiar from the very beginning. In many respects, those substances that enter the baby with mother's milk contribute to this. Different kinds of avocados, lime and even ordinary oranges should not be eaten by the baby.
Sensitization to the same substance is often present in relatives. As a result, using the example of parents, one can approximately predict what kind of allergy a child will have, and, accordingly, limit his contacts with allergens.
Development prospects
The 21st century is considered a period of sensitization. As a result, almost everyone needs an allergist at least once in a lifetime. Reviews of the work of such a doctor from allergy sufferers are most positive. Every year there are more and more such specialists. Currently, a paid allergist is available in almost every fairly large medical center. As a result, almost any person is able to consult such a specialist.
Allergists around the world now face the problem of increasing the frequency of sensitization. This is largely due to an increase in the number of contacts of people with allergens. One of the problems that allergists will have to solve in the near future is bronchial asthma. Naturally, we are talking about its allergic form. This disease due to increased aggressiveness of the air environment of large cities every year is more and more common.
Improving the infrastructure makes it possible for people to access products from all over the world. For many of them, he may experience allergic reactions. As a result, allergologists will definitely not be left without work in the near future.
In the work of these specialists, pharmacists are very helpful. They are constantly developing more and more antihistamines, thereby facilitating the work of allergists. With each new generation of these drugs, their effectiveness is increasing.
Another promising area in allergology is the development of new cutaneous samples. Every year the number of their varieties increases significantly.
About allergists-immunologists
Immunology and allergology are fairly closely related sciences. For this reason, an experienced doctor can combine these specialties and deal with both of them. Today, an allergist-immunologist can be consulted in any relatively large city in Russia. Naturally, it is easiest to meet such a specialist in the capital. At present, allergologists-immunologists in Moscow work both in state and private medical centers. You can get advice from a highly qualified specialist of this profile, for example, in the network of clinics "Family Doctor" or "MedCenterService".