Selecting a Doctor

It can be difficult to choose a doctor who will treat your allergies. Should it be your general practitioner (GP)/internist? Or should it be an allergist, a doctor who specializes in allergy treatment? This section will help you select the right doctor..

Finding the Right Doctor

You can certainly start the road to treating your allergies by visiting your GP or internist. After all, the two of you have an established relationship and the doctor is familiar with (or at least has records of) your medical history. That's true for the pediatrician, too, if your child is the one with the allergies. Your primary-care doctor can help determine if your symptoms are the result of an immune-system reaction (that is, allergies) or a non-immunological problem, such as an infection, an intolerance, or a specific disease.

Many general practitioners are knowledgeable about allergies and asthma and are quite capable of treating them. Sometimes, however, your primary-care doctor will recommend that you see an allergist -- a physician that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and allergies. After completing medical school and a three-year residency in internal medicine or pediatrics, allergists then complete a two-year fellowship in allergy and immunology. A board-certified allergist is a physician who has done all that, plus passed a comprehensive exam in their specialty. You may also decide to seek the expertise of an allergist if your primary care doctor has not been able to adequately control or treat your symptoms.

When to See A Doctor

If you're experiencing any of the following, be sure to promptly make an appointment with a physician:
  • You should make an appointment if you recently required emergency treatment for anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction characterized by swelling of the throat and constricted airways.

  • You are experiencing warning signs of asthma such as struggling to catch your breath, wheezing, and coughing, especially at night or after exercise; shortness of breath; or tightness in your chest (severe shortness of breath, chest tightness, or breathing difficulty requires immediate medical attention).

  • Your nasal problems are causing secondary symptoms, such as chronic or recurrent sinus infections, nasal congestion, or difficulty breathing.

  • You experience hay fever or other allergy symptoms several months out of the year.

  • Antihistamines and other over-the-counter medications do nothing to control your allergy symptoms or create unacceptable side effects, such as drowsiness.

  • Your symptoms are interfering with your ability to carry out daily activities.

  • Your symptoms decrease the quality of your life.
You may also want to consider seeing a specialist:
  • To get specific advice on environmental control.

  • If you think you may be a candidate for immunotherapy (allergy shots).
Now that you know what kind of doctor to select and when to make an appointment, it is important to know how to talk with your doctor. The next section will concentrate on the questions to ask yourself before making your first doctor's appointment.

How to Choose an Allergist
 Beginning treatment with a new doctor can be intimidating. These tips will help you pick an allergist who is right for you:
  • Ask your family doctor for his/her recommendation.

  • Ask respected friends and family for physician recommendations. Inquire about what they were seen for, the method of treatment, and how the doctor responded to concerns and questions.

  • Consult the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) Physician Referral and Information line at 1-800-822-2762 or their online referral directory at www.aaaai.org for information.

  • Make sure the doctor is board certified.

  • Find out whether the doctor participates in your medical insurance plan.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.