All About Allergies
What is an allergist/immunologist?
An allergist/immunologist is trained in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of immune system problems, such as allergies, asthma and other associated medical concerns.
Becoming an allergist/immunologist requires completion of at least nine years of training. After completing medical school and graduating with a medical degree, a physician completes three years of training in internal medicine (to become an internist, or a physician who cares for adults) or pediatrics (to become a pediatrician, or a physician who cares for children through age 21).
According to the American of Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), once physicians have finished training, they must pass the exam of either the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) or the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). Internists or pediatricians who wish to focus on allergy/immunology then complete at least an additional two years of study, called a fellowship, in an allergy/immunology training program. Allergist/immunologists who are listed as ABAI-certified have successfully passed the certifying examination of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI), following their fellowship.
What are allergies?
Unlike a cold, allergies are not a condition that you just get over. Allergic disease can develop at any age, and heredity plays a key role in who will develop it. Symptoms of allergic disease result when the immune system-the body's defense mechanism reacts against harmful substances.
How it worksÂ
If you have allergies, your body identifies some substances, called allergens, as harmful. This might be dust, grass, cats, and/or a million other things. These substances, which are harmless to most people, trigger allergic reactions within your immune system.
If you live with allergies, an allergist/immunologist can improve your quality of life and reduce time away from work or school due to symptoms. Studies show that people under the care of an allergist/immunologist also make fewer visits to emergency rooms, and are better able to daily manage their allergies and asthma.
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