Allergy & Immunology

An allergy occurs when your body’s natural defenses overreact to exposure to a particular substance, sending out chemicals to defend against it. An allergist-immunologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, asthma, and immunological diseases, and is uniquely trained to identify the factors that trigger allergies or asthma and recommend treatment.

If your allergies or asthma interfere with your daily life, you should consult an Allergist-Immunologist. An Allergist-Immunologist often acts as an expert consultant with primary care providers to co-manage a number of diseases and conditions. An Allergist-Immunologist also tests for and treats adverse reactions to drugs, foods and insect stings.

Allergy Testing

Through skin and blood testing, provocative challenges or therapeutic interventions, an Allergist-Immunologist can provide definitive diagnoses.

Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots)

Allergies may affect many parts of the body and organ systems, including the skin, lungs, gastrointestinal system, eyes, ears and sinuses.

Allergy shots help your body get used to allergens, which are the substances that trigger an allergic reaction. The shots contain tiny amounts of the substance you’re allergic to and gradually increase over a period of time until your body is used to it. The shots don’t cure allergies, but eventually, your symptoms will get better and you may not have allergic reactions as often.