Who is an immunologist? Do you need a specialist like this?

Do you also sneeze often? Doesn't it get better easily when you catch a cold ? When you eat certain foods or touch something, does your skin turn red, itchy, and itchy? You may have experienced one or more of these. Although we often think that these are normal things, behind this may be a slight malfunction in our body's defense system, that is, the immune system . An immunologist is a specialist who can help us in such times. Let's talk about this today.

Who exactly is an immunologist?

Simply put, an Immunologist is a doctor who specializes in diseases related to our body's immune system . Sometimes we also call them Allergists .

Our immune system is like an army that defends a country. It protects our body from enemies like germs, viruses, and bacteria that cause disease. But sometimes this army makes small mistakes.

1. Overactive Immune System: What happens here is that our own immune system attacks things that are actually harmless to our body (for example, pollen , dust, certain foods) thinking that they are a big enemy. That's what we call allergies .

2. The army attacks its own people (Autoimmune Disease): Here, something even more serious happens. Our immune system cannot distinguish between healthy cells and tissues in our own body and foreign invaders. Then they start attacking our own organs. We call this condition Autoimmune Diseases .

An immunologist diagnoses, treats, and helps protect against diseases caused by disorders of the immune system.

It's not easy to become a specialist like this!

An immunologist is someone who, after completing their MBBS degree, has undergone years of specialized training and advanced education in the field of the immune system and allergies. Therefore, they have a very deep knowledge of this field.

What are the main conditions that an immunologist treats?

The range of diseases that an immunologist treats is very wide. To make it easier for you to understand, let's look at it in a table like this.

When should you go see an immunologist?

If you continue to have these symptoms, perhaps seeing an immunologist can provide you with great relief.

• If your asthma or hay fever is severe enough to interfere with your daily activities.
• If your allergies are difficult to control with regular medications.
• If you frequently get sinus infections, ear infections, or lung infections .
• If you have had a severe reaction (such as difficulty breathing, swelling, chest pain) after a food, medicine, or insect bite .
• If you have persistent skin conditions like hives or eczema .
• If someone in your family has an autoimmune disease and you have similar symptoms (joint pain, extreme fatigue, unexplained fever).

In such a situation, it is best to talk to your family doctor and, based on his or her advice, refer you to an Immunologist.

What happens when you meet an immunologist?

Some people get a little scared when they hear the word "seeing a specialist." But what it really comes down to is finding the right solution to your problem.

1. Asking you for details

First, the doctor will talk to you carefully. He will ask you a lot of questions about your symptoms, when they started, when they get worse, the medications you take, your diet, your home environment, and whether anyone in your family has this condition. It is very important to tell him everything you know without hiding anything.

2. Conducting necessary tests

To find out the exact cause of your illness, you will need to undergo some tests. Don't worry, these won't cause you much pain.

• Skin Prick Test: This involves placing a very small amount of the substance you suspect you are allergic to on the surface of your skin and making a small prick with a small needle. If the area turns red and swells slightly within 15-20 minutes, it means you are allergic to that substance.
• Blood Test: The level of certain antibodies in your blood can be measured to determine the cause of your allergy.
• Patch Test: To see if you are allergic to something that comes into contact with your skin (e.g. certain metals, rubber, perfumes), a small patch containing that substance is placed on your back for about two days.
• Lung Function Test: If you have a condition like asthma, this test is done to see how well your lungs are working.

3. Provide a treatment plan

Once the test results are in, your doctor will create a treatment plan that best suits you. It may look like this:

• Avoiding allergens: Once you know what you are allergic to, you are advised to stay away from those things as much as possible.
• Medications: Medications such as antihistamines, nasal sprays, or inhalers can be given to control allergy symptoms.
• Immunotherapy: For some severe allergies, a treatment method that involves gradually introducing small amounts of the allergen into the body, allowing the immune system to adapt to it.