An allergist/immunologist is a doctor with advanced training in the immune response. They can treat allergies and autoimmune diseases, and their training includes board certification and a fellowship in allergy/immunology studies. They work in hospitals, allergy clinics, and may participate in laboratory studies. Seeing an allergist can reduce sick days, time off work, and trips to the emergency room for those with significant allergies or autoimmune diseases.
An allergist or allergist/immunologist is a doctor with specific advanced training in the field of medicine, especially in the fields of the body’s immune response. When people suffer from allergies, their body experiences an immune response, meaning their body kicks into high gear, creating reactive systems in response to what they perceive as foreign matter. Such foreign bodies could include things like pollen, peanuts, dust mites, or they could even be regular parts or systems of the body, which the body mistakenly thinks are foreign. Because allergists can also act as immunologists, they can treat people with autoimmune diseases: those diseases that initiate the immune response to systems in the body such as HIV, lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and rheumatoid arthritis, just to name a few .
The training to become an allergist is extensive. After completing medical school, an allergist can pursue two specialty paths. They can receive three-year training in internal medicine or pediatrics. Board certification in one of these fields is required before participating in further training to become an allergist. Once these physicians receive board certification, they complete two more years of training, usually called a fellowship, particularly in allergy/immunology studies. Finally, they must pass exams and become board certified, at least in the United States, by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI).
When the allergist has received board certification, there are many different career paths this physician can take. Some work in hospitals and specialize in immunology. Others work in allergy clinics and may work especially with children who have severe allergy problems. In such a clinic, the goal is to help control allergies by avoiding allergens, allergy injections, or prescribing medications that help reduce the allergic response.
Allergists may also perform tests to identify substances that cause an immune or allergic response so they can help patients figure out which substances are more likely to be problematic. They can help educate patients about how to create friendlier homes for the person with significant household allergies, such as those to dust mites and mold. For those with pollen allergies, an allergist would help educate a patient to avoid outdoor exposure when pollen counts are higher and provide recommendations on when to use allergy or asthma medications if they participate in a lot of activities outdoors.
An allergist may also participate in laboratory studies, help develop new drugs to address the immune response, and some prefer the title of immunologist, as they are more interested in fighting the many serious autoimmune diseases through clinical practice, laboratory or pharmaceutical study . Typically allergists who are board-certified pediatricians tend to work with adults and children in the treatment of allergies and asthma. Board-certified internists/allergists may also do this work, but they may be more interested in treating autoimmune conditions.
If you have significant allergies, especially those that can be life-threatening, being under the care of an allergist has been shown to reduce sick days, time off work, and trips to the emergency room. People with autoimmune diseases can also see an allergist/immunologist on a regular basis for regular treatment of these diseases.
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