Allergy and Immunology

Our allergy and immunology teams look after people whose immune system reacts to something harmless or doesn't protect them as it should. We test to find what's triggering your symptoms, treat conditions such as hay fever and food allergy, and manage immune problems that lead to repeated infections.

What is allergy and immunology?

Allergy and immunology looks after conditions connected to the immune system, the body's defence against infection. It covers allergies, where the immune system overreacts to something harmless such as pollen, food or a medicine, and immune deficiencies, where the body struggles to fight infection. Because the same symptoms can point to the skin, the nose or the chest, an allergist cares for people of all ages, works out the cause with testing and helps you manage it long term.

When should you see an allergist or immunologist?

Book an appointment if you notice:

• Sneezing, a blocked nose or itchy eyes that keep returning
• A rash, hives or itchy skin that won't settle
• A reaction to a food, medicine or insect sting
• Wheezing, coughing or breathlessness, especially at night or with exercise
• Infections that keep coming back or are slow to clear

Swelling of the lips, mouth or throat, trouble breathing or feeling faint after contact with a trigger can be anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction. Seek emergency care straight away.

You don't need to wait for a severe reaction. It's worth seeing a specialist when allergies or asthma disrupt your sleep, work or daily life, when the trigger isn't clear, or if immune problems run in your family. In the UAE, you can often book an allergist directly, though some insurance plans ask for a referral from your family doctor first, so your insurer can confirm what applies to you.

What to expect

At your first appointment, the specialist asks about your symptoms, when they happen and what seems to trigger them, then examines you. Testing often happens on the same day. This usually means a skin prick test, where small amounts of suspected triggers are placed on the skin, and sometimes a blood test that checks your immune response (specific IgE). If asthma is a concern, you may also have a breathing test.

Treatment depends on what the tests show. Often it begins with avoiding triggers and using medicines to ease symptoms. For some allergies, immunotherapy, also called desensitisation, can gradually lower how strongly you react, and people at risk of a severe reaction are shown how to use an adrenaline auto-injector. Immune deficiencies may need longer-term care, such as immunoglobulin therapy. Your specialist talks through the options and agrees the next step.

Allergy and immunology at Mediclinic

At our hospitals and clinics, our allergy and immunology teams diagnose and treat allergic and immune conditions, from hay fever and food allergy to problems with the immune system. On the same visit, we can carry out allergy testing such as skin prick and patch tests. Where asthma is suspected we assess your breathing, and when a trigger is unclear we run supervised food and medicine challenges. For confirmed allergies, we offer immunotherapy to reduce how strongly you react over time, and we provide immunoglobulin treatment for people living with an immune deficiency.