Who are allergists?
An allergist, also referred to as an immunologist, is a healthcare professional with expertise in diagnosing, treating, and managing allergies, asthma, and immunologic diseases. These conditions can vary widely in prevalence, affecting individuals of all ages and involving various organ systems.
What does an allergist do?
Some primary responsibilities of an allergist include:
- Identifying allergens by conducting tests for food allergies, pollen (from grass, weeds, and trees), pet dander, mold, and other potential triggers.
- Diagnosing asthma through lung function tests such as spirometry or pulmonary function testing.
- Prescribing treatment plans that include medications or medical devices like inhalers, nebulizers, or epinephrine auto-injectors to manage allergy symptoms and asthma attacks.
- Providing lifestyle advice to help patients minimize exposure to triggers that may worsen allergies or asthma.
- Offering immunotherapy in the form of allergy shots or sublingual tablets to reduce long-term sensitivity to allergens.
- Diagnosing immunodeficiencies by evaluating patients with recurrent infections or signs of a weakened immune system.
- Advising infection prevention strategies for individuals with immune disorders to help them stay healthier.
- Administering IVIG therapy (intravenous immunoglobulin) when needed to support the immune response in certain disorders.
- Performing drug desensitization procedures to help patients tolerate necessary medications that previously caused allergic reactions.
What are the educational qualifications of an allergist?
Like most physicians, allergists undergo a comprehensive educational path to specialize in their field. This educational journey typically includes four years of medical school to earn a medical degree. After completing medical school, they enter a three-year residency program focusing on their chosen specialty. During this period, they may specialize in internal medicine (for adult patients) or pediatrics (for pediatric patients).
After residency, allergists must pass a board certification exam administered by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Pediatrics, or the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine. Obtaining board certification is a significant milestone in their career.
It's important to note that while allergy and immunology is a distinct medical specialty requiring two to three years of fellowship following residency, there are no official subspecialties within this field. However, some physicians may pursue dual certification in allergy, immunology, and adult rheumatology, which can benefit patients with immune-related disorders causing joint issues.
Other board-certified healthcare professionals, such as dermatologists or pulmonologists, may also treat individuals with allergies and immune system disorders. Collaborative care among specialists is common to ensure comprehensive management of these conditions.
What conditions can an allergist treat?
An allergist near you can diagnose and treat various conditions and disorders that affect the immune system. These conditions include:
- Allergies: Allergies are one of the most common chronic conditions worldwide. Allergies occur when the immune system misidentifies harmless substances (allergens) as pathogens. Common allergens include animal dander, drugs, dust, food, insect stings, latex, mold, and medications.
- Allergy-related conditions: Allergists also manage conditions associated with or exacerbated by allergies, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and respiratory syncytial virus infection.
- Anaphylaxis: This is a critical and potentially fatal allergic reaction that impacts multiple systems in the body.
- Asthma: It is a chronic inflammatory lung disorder characterized by recurrent breathing difficulties. It results from the oversensitivity of the lungs and bronchial tubes to specific triggers. There are various types of asthma, including allergic asthma, childhood asthma, exercise-induced asthma, nocturnal asthma, and occupational asthma.
- Primary immunodeficiency disorders: These are inherited immune conditions that impair a person's immune system, making them vulnerable to infections and other severe complications.
- Sinusitis: This refers to the inflammation of the cavities around the nasal passages (sinuses).
Common allergy testing methods used by allergists
Depending on the suspected allergen, an allergist may use one or more different testing methods, including:
- Skin prick or scratch test: Tiny amounts of allergens are placed on the skin and lightly scratched to observe any reaction.
- Blood test: A blood sample is evaluated to detect allergen-specific antibodies (IgE) that signal an allergic response.
- Food challenge test: The patient consumes gradually increasing doses of a potential food allergen given under medical observation to monitor for a reaction.
In addition to allergy testing, an allergist appointment might also involve:
- Pulmonary function tests, like spirometry, are used to measure lung capacity and assess asthma severity.
- Instruction on device use, including demonstrations of inhalers, nebulizers, or epinephrine auto-injectors, helps ensure patients use them correctly and effectively.
These evaluations and treatments help allergists provide personalized care to manage immune-related conditions safely and effectively.
Why does asthma worsen at night?
Asthma is an ongoing lung condition that can impact individuals at any stage of life, including children and adults. It occurs due to inflammation in the mucosal linings of the airways or bronchial tubes in the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties and limitations in physical activities.
Common asthma symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. While these symptoms are challenging during the day, many individuals with asthma experience nocturnal asthma, a worsening of symptoms at night.
Several factors can worsen asthma symptoms at night, including:
- Exposure to allergens: Allergens such as bedbugs, pet dander, and dust mites are common in bedrooms and can trigger asthmatic attacks. Because people spend approximately 6 to 9 hours in bed each night, they are exposed to potential allergens for an extended period. In some cases, people may experience delayed allergic reactions at night, typically occurring 3-8 hours after exposure to an allergen. For example, if someone is exposed to pollen in the early evening, they may experience wheezing and shortness of breath when trying to fall asleep.
- Circadian changes in lung function: Our lungs function differently throughout the day, with optimal function typically occurring during daylight hours. This can result in increased airway resistance at night, a phenomenon more pronounced in individuals with asthma.
- Medication timing: If an individual's asthma medications wear off at night, they will likely experience nocturnal asthma symptoms.
- Postnasal drip: Postnasal drip, which refers to the accumulation of mucus in the back of the throat, can lead to congestion and coughing. People tend to be more sensitive to postnasal drip at night. When lying in bed, body positioning changes can cause accumulated mucus to drain into the upper respiratory airways, narrowing the breathing passages.
- Supine position and acid reflux: In a supine (lying down) position, stomach acid can more easily travel up into the esophagus, a phenomenon known as acid reflux. Instead of being swallowed, some of this acidic fluid enters the larger airways, triggering coughing and airway constriction, further complicating breathing.
What are primary immunodeficiency diseases?
Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDDs) or disorders are a group of rare genetic conditions that weaken the immune system's ability to shield the body against infections. As a result, individuals with PIDDs are more susceptible to recurrent and severe infections.
There are over 400 known PIDDs, each with its specific characteristics and patterns of susceptibility. Some common examples include:
- Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: This condition is a rare and severe immune disorder in which the immune system becomes overactive, attacking the body's cells and tissues.
- Common variable immunodeficiency: This disorder reduces the levels of antibodies in the blood, making individuals vulnerable to various infections.
- X-linked agammaglobulinemia: This condition is characterized by an absence of B cells and an inability to produce antibodies, leading to recurrent bacterial infections.
- Selective IgA deficiency: People with this disorder have low levels of immunoglobulin A and are prone to respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.
- Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD): In CGD, white blood cells cannot destroy certain types of bacteria and fungi, leading to recurrent infections and the formation of granulomas.
Early diagnosis and appropriate management, often under the care of immunologists or allergists, are crucial for individuals with PIDD to lead healthy lives. Treatments may include immunoglobulin therapy, antibiotics, antivirals, and, in a few cases, stem cell or bone marrow transplantation.
How can you find an experienced allergist near you in San Antonio, TX?
If you're experiencing breathing issues during seasonal changes, dust exposure, or frequent illnesses, seeking the expertise of an allergist can provide valuable insights and treatment options. With Zocdoc, finding the best allergy doctor near you in San Antonio who accepts your insurance plan is straightforward.
Begin your search by specifying your location as San Antonio, Texas, and the doctor's specialty as "allergist." Additionally, input your insurance plan information and desired appointment date. Based on your search criteria, Zocdoc will generate a comprehensive list of medical and healthcare professionals. You can review their profiles to find the right allergist for your needs. If you have questions about whether a specific allergist accepts your insurance plan, you can use the Zocdoc insurance detector tool for clarity.
At Zocdoc, transparency is of utmost value. Each allergist's profile includes essential information such as a brief introduction, educational qualifications, practice location, and reasons for visiting. Most importantly, you'll find patient reviews and ratings to help you make an informed decision.
If you prefer a specific gender of an allergist, you can use the gender filter to narrow down your search results. Zocdoc also offers the option of scheduling video appointments with an allergist near you. Look for the purple video icon on allergists' profiles, or use the video appointment filter when searching.
Zocdoc also helps users find in-network providers. To do so, you can choose your insurance carrier and plan from the drop-down menu given on the Zocdoc website. If you are not able to see your particular insurance plan on Zocdoc, try uploading an image of your insurance card. Zocdoc will then scan your insurance card and display an insurance plan that matches your card. Note that this option is only available for medical insurance cards. Dental and vision are excluded. If you need help uploading your insurance card or have other queries, contact Zocdoc's service team, which is available 365 days a year via email or chat. For more insurance-related information, make sure you check out Zocdoc's patient help center today.
Zocdoc makes booking an appointment 100% easy, safe, and secure!
Statistics on asthma in San Antonio, Texas
In accordance with the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey, approximately 7.9% of adults and 6.6% of children in Texas were reported to have asthma in 2022.
A report from the Metropolitan Health District of the City of San Antonio revealed that approximately 12% of adults in Bexar County, where San Antonio is located, reported suffering from asthma in 2020. This rate is higher than the statewide average of 11% for the same year.
According to the Impact of Asthma in Texas 2025 Report, more than 2.2 million adults and children in Texas suffer from asthma. In 2023, uncontrolled asthma cases resulted in more than 109,000 emergency room visits and around 8,500 hospitalizations. The number of asthma-related emergency visits tends to peak in the months of April, October, and December.
Since 2018, there has been a 0.5 percent rise in the number of adults experiencing asthma. The prevalence of asthma in children has also shown variability from 2019 to 2022. Since 2019, there has been a 0.6 percent increase in the number of children currently affected by asthma. Additionally, the rate of emergency department visits for asthma among children decreased by 4.7 visits per 10,000 children from 2019 to 2023.
Sources
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology[1]
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology[2]
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology[3]
University of Medicine and Health Sciences
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
City of San Antonio
Healthgrades[1]
Healthgrades[2]
Healthline
Statista[1]
Statista[2]
WebMD
Mayo Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
Texas Department of State Health Services
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