The Top Doctors Specializing in ALLERGY/IMMUNOLOGY in VA

An allergist-immunologist specializes in caring for people with allergies, asthma, and other diseases of the immune system. Allergists-immunologists with a background in internal medicine take care of adults and those with a background in pediatrics take care of children. Known commonly as allergists, these specialists are highly skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of immune system disorders and in helping people take an active role in preventing and treating allergy symptoms. An allergist typically: evaluates a patient’s medical history and educates patients about allergies and other immune system diseases and symptom prevention, pPerforms a physical exam including evaluation of allergy symptoms, breathing, blood pressure, and other vital signs, orders and interprets laboratory and imaging tests and prescribes medications, diagnoses and treats allergies, asthma, and other diseases of the immune system, provides primary care in some cases, such as routine physicals and screening tests, works closely with other medical specialists and healthcare providers to provide optimal care. An allergist-immunologist may also be known by the following names: allergist, allergist and clinical immunologist, allergy doctor, immunologist, asthma specialist, and allergy specialist. Your primary doctor can often monitor and treat mild allergies, such as seasonal hay fever. Your doctor will likely refer you to an allergy specialist for allergies or immune system diseases that are ongoing or more difficult to control or diagnose, such as allergy-induced asthma. Seeing an allergist for early treatment and preventive care is the best way to ensure optimal treatment, live comfortably with fewer symptoms, and reduce the risk of life-threatening allergy complications, such as anaphylaxis. Allergy specialists take care of people with the following symptoms or conditions: Abdominal pain or cramps, coughing not due to cold or flu, diarrhea, hives, which are raised areas or welts on the skin, hoarse voice, nausea and vomiting, problems breathing, such as shortness of breath, tightness or swelling of the throat or face, or wheezing, rash or itchy skin, runny or stuffy nose, or sinus pain, congestion and pressure. Consider seeing an allergist if you have asthma or an immune system disease such as an immunodeficiency disorder. Some allergists further specialize in asthma treatment or severe immune-related conditions, you have minor or occasional allergy symptoms that seem to be getting worse or you want treatment and strategies that are more effective than your current treatment at preventing symptoms, you have recurrent, unusual or difficult-to-treat infections, such as recurrent abscesses, pneumonia, ear infections, or sinusitis, you have swollen lymph glands or an enlarged spleen that your doctor thinks might be caused by an immune system disease, or you have unexplained symptoms that may be allergy-related such as skin rashes.