ALLERGOLOGY

The number of people suffering from allergies is on the increase. An allergy is the erroneous response of the body's immune system to substances which are otherwise harmless, causing inflammation at the contact points (e.g. skin or mucus membrane). The substances which trigger these reactions are called allergens. Clinical symptoms include a runny nose, allergy-induced asthma or eczema.

Some allergens are natural, such as pollen, animal hairs, dust mites and foods. Others are encountered at work or contained in products which come into contact with the skin or mucus membranes such as chemicals, medication, cosmetics, fragrances and botanical preparations which are applied to the skin.

Allergies can be diagnosed by way of various skin tests and by way of a blood test. We begin an appropriate course of treatment based on the test results, the problems described by the patient and the clinical symptoms. Whenever possible, the primary treatment is to avoid contact with the allergen. Allergy-induced asthma and rhinitis can be treated with medication. We can also alleviate or rid the patient of these symptoms by hyposensitisation, a treatment which involves minute amounts of the allergen (e.g. pollen or household dust) being injected underneath the patient's skin. This stimulates a protective function of the immune system which intercepts and renders the allergens harmless when the patient is exposed to them naturally. Autologous blood therapy can also have a positive effect on the immune system.