Who is an allergist?
An allergist or allergy specialist is a medical professional skilled in diagnosing and treating allergies, asthma, and immune system disorders.
- Allergies: When the body's immune system sees substances you eat, inhale, or touch as potentially dangerous, it releases histamine and other chemicals, resulting in an allergic reaction.
- Asthma: A common respiratory condition, asthma causes inflammation in the airways in the lungs. Environmental allergens usually trigger it.
- Immune system disorders include over 200 genetic disorders that hamper the regular functioning of the immune system.
An allergist's daily duties include allergy testing, lung function tests, diagnosing immunodeficiency disorders, and preparing individualized treatment plans combining medications, lifestyle changes, infection prevention tips, allergy shots, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.
What education and training do allergists undergo?
Allergists are physicians who begin their education by obtaining a bachelor's degree with many science courses before enrolling in a medical school and earning a 4-year medical degree. They then complete a 3-year residency training program in internal medicine or pediatrics. They also take the required examinations to receive certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine or the American Board of Pediatrics.
Finally, they advance their training with a 2-3 year fellowship in allergy and immunology. Before they can start practicing as allergists, they also get certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.
Understanding common allergies
Allergies can trigger various symptoms, from mild discomfort to life-threatening emergencies. Understanding your triggers is the first step toward effective management. Consulting an allergist near you can help you diagnose, treat, and prevent allergic reactions more effectively.
Drug allergies
Certain medications can cause allergic responses, such as rashes, breathing difficulties, or anaphylaxis. Although not all drug-related reactions are allergies, allergic symptoms require immediate attention.
Medications commonly linked to allergic reactions include:
- Aspirin
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Anticonvulsants
- Antibiotics
- NSAIDs
- Monoclonal antibody therapies
Healthcare providers diagnose drug allergies by reviewing the patient's symptoms and medical history and sometimes ordering skin testing. They can also recommend safe alternatives.
Pet allergies
Pet allergies often result from animal dander, saliva, or urine exposure. Common symptoms include:
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Skin irritation
- Sneezing
- Difficulty breathing
People with pet allergies may benefit from limiting exposure, using antihistamines, and maintaining a clean living space.
Insect allergies
Insect stings or insect particle exposure can cause allergy responses in certain persons. Stinging insects like bees, hornets, wasps, and fire ants inject venom that can cause severe reactions, including anaphylaxis.
Non-stinging insects—such as cockroaches and dust mites—can trigger allergies, which are especially severe indoors and may worsen asthma.
Carrying an EpiPen and avoiding insect exposure are crucial preventive measures.
Mold allergies
Mold grows best in moist, dark environments and can cause symptoms like itchy eyes, nasal congestion, and coughing. Allergy medications—both over-the-counter and prescription—can ease these symptoms.
Since mold can grow indoors, managing exposure is essential.
Pollen allergies
Pollen from flowering plants often triggers seasonal allergies, commonly known as hay fever. Symptoms include sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, and coughing.
While OTC medications can offer relief, prescription drugs may be necessary for severe symptoms.
Latex allergies
Latex, found in products like gloves, balloons, and toys, can cause allergic reactions such as hives, itchy eyes, coughing, and—in rare cases—anaphylaxis.
Avoiding latex is the best prevention. People with latex allergies may also react to foods like:
- Avocados
- Peaches
- Bananas
- Kiwis
- Bell peppers
- Figs
- Tomatoes
- Chestnuts
What are the most common conditions an allergist treats?
The most common conditions your allergist diagnoses you with are the following:
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
- Causes: inhaling allergens like pollen, pet dander, mold spores, or dust mites
- Symptoms: sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, red or watery eyes, headaches, sinus pressure, and coughing.
Allergic conjunctivitis
- Causes: exposure to substances like pollen, perfume, household detergents, mold spores, dust, animal dander
- Symptoms: red, watery, itchy, burning eyes, sensitivity to light, swollen eyelids, puffy eyes
Eczema
- Causes: touching dust mites, pet dander, cosmetics, soaps, detergents, perfume, dry weather, smoke, air pollution
- Symptoms: skin rash, itching, redness, skin dryness, oozing, and crusting
Hives
- Causes: hot or cold temperatures, sun exposure, certain foods, medications, insect stings, latex, pet dander, pollen, and other allergens
- Symptoms: red or skin-colored itchy welts on the skin's surface on different parts of the body
Food allergies
- Causes: consuming foods including soybeans, wheat, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, and sesame
- Symptoms: hives, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, face or tongue swelling, itchiness in the mouth, throat swelling, breathing difficulty, and fainting
Allergic sinusitis
- Causes: exposure to inhalants like dust, pollen, smoke, and animal dander
- Symptoms: sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, watery and itchy eyes, sore throat, headache, facial swelling and pain, reduced sense of smell and taste
Allergic asthma
- Causes: inhaling allergens like pollen, pet dander, dust mites, smoke, or cockroach waste
- Symptoms: shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, red and itchy eyes, sneezing, stuffy or runny nose
What is allergy testing?
Allergy testing is essential for diagnosing allergies in adults and children of any age. During your first consultation with an allergist near you, you may undergo testing to identify specific allergens affecting you. Once the results are in, your allergist will explain what you're allergic to and, more importantly, how to manage those allergies effectively.
Your allergist may recommend both skin and blood testing or a combination. Conducting these tests under the guidance of a trained allergist ensures accuracy and safety. Both skin and blood tests can detect sensitivities to common allergens, which we will list below. Allergists typically prefer skin testing as it is often the most precise. At the same time, blood tests are used in specific situations where they may provide better insights.
Proper tests are essential for an accurate diagnosis, but they can be complex. Allergy patients often show sensitivity to multiple allergens, but only a few may cause actual symptoms. Allergists are skilled at choosing tests to identify the true culprits behind allergic reactions.
The expertise of board-certified allergists is invaluable because many factors can influence allergy test results. Identifying the exact allergens aids in developing the best management and treatment programs for each patient. These specialists continually review scientific literature to stay updated on the best testing systems and laboratory practices. They understand that not all allergy tests are created equal and strive to use the most effective ones.
Allergy tests are not chosen at random. They are selected based on symptoms, environmental and occupational exposures, age, and hobbies. The results are then interpreted in the context of your medical history.
Common allergens tested include plant pollens, molds, dust mites, animal dander, insect stings, and various foods such as peanuts, eggs, wheat, shellfish, and milk. Testing is also available for specific medicines like penicillin.
How do you find an allergy specialist near you in Seattle, WA?
Mild, occasional allergy or asthma symptoms are manageable with medications and lifestyle changes. However, if your condition turns chronic, does not respond to treatment, and starts affecting your everyday life, it may be time to make an appointment with an allergy specialist. They will run you through a few tests to identify your allergens and decide on an appropriate plan to prevent your symptoms from occurring in the future.
Finding an allergist near you may seem challenging, but with Zocdoc, you can locate one that suits you the best from the comfort of your home! All you need to do is enter your location (Seattle, WA), the specialist you wish to consult (allergist), and your insurance details in the search bar. Zocdoc will immediately match you with the top-rated, in-network allergy specialists near you.
When using the Zocdoc app to search for providers, upload a photo of your insurance card (note that this feature is unavailable for vision or dental plans). We'll scan and display your insurance plan to help you find accurate results for qualified providers. For additional information and assistance with insurance, visit Zocdoc's patient help center.
You do not have to worry about going through all the profiles if there are many providers. Instead, you can make your search easier by using Zocdoc filters. You can specify your preferred time, date, and type of appointment. You may also choose the provider based on their gender, hospital affiliations, languages they speak, and whether or not they treat children.
Using filters will significantly reduce your search results. You can then review every provider's profile page to learn more about their office location, education and training, certifications, memberships, and awards. Reading patient reviews will give you more information about their bedside manners, wait times, and other aspects of professional ethics.
Once you decide on an allergist near you, you can book your first appointment with them via Zocdoc—it is easy, secure, and 100% free!
Asthma and allergy statistics in Washington and USA
According to America's Health Rankings, around 10.7% of adults in Washington reported having asthma in 2023. It affected approximately twice as many females (about 13.4%) as males (about 7.8%). This respiratory condition was almost equally prevalent among people of all ages—about 10.7% of adults were between 18 and 44 years old, around 11.1% were aged 45 to 64, and approximately 10.1% were 65 years old and above.
According to 2021 data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-third, or about 31.8%, of US adults aged 18 and above had some form of allergic condition. Seasonal allergy was the most common type, with around 25.7% of the population affected. About 7.3% of adults had eczema, while approximately 6.2% had food allergies.
The report also stated that around 29.9% of women had a seasonal allergy, 8.9% had eczema, and 7.8% had a food allergy. In men, these figures were lower—about 21.2% were living with seasonal allergies, 5.7% with eczema, and 4.6% with food allergies. In conclusion, allergies were more prevalent in women compared to men.
The report also provided numbers on the age-wise comparison and revealed that seasonal allergies affected adults aged 45-64 the most, with around 27.9% of cases. Eczema was most commonly observed in the youngest age group, 18-44 (about 8.4% of adults), while food allergies nearly equally affected age groups 18-44 (6.6%) and 45-64 (6.7%).
Sources
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
WebMD[1]
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Mayo Clinic[1]
Mayo Clinic[2]
Healthline[1]
Healthline[2]
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology[1]
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology[2]
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology[3]
Cedars Sinai
America's Health Rankings
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
