ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY

Introduction by Dr. Shahid Abbas

Consultant Allergy and Immunology 

WHAT IS ALLERGY:

Allergy is genetically transmitted immune disease which progresses both in severity and in frequency with time. Allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to substances in air (Pollens, Dust, Molds) foods (meats, nuts, grains) and water which do not bother most people (not having genes of allergy)

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ALLERGIES?

  1. Apparent Allergy

This is where the cause is known and you can avoid it and be free from allergic symptoms.

  1.   Hidden Allergy

Is the type of allergy that, even after years of suffering from allergy one cannot know the cause of allergy. We diagnose both apparent and hidden allergies.

ALLERGY ICEBERG

Allergy affects each organ of the body, but symptoms are like iceberg. A Person may be suffering from either Allergic Rhinitis (hay fever) or Asthma or Urticaria or IBS (one of these) which is tip of the iceberg, but he/she will also be suffering from less severe symptoms like headache, itching, rashes, feverish feelings, pain abdomen, depression, irritability, fatigue, tiredness, memory and concentration problems, pains and aches

WHAT ARE THE ORGANS AFFECTED IN ALLERGY?

HEAD: Headache, dizziness, decrease in memory and concentration, irritability, and aggressiveness may cause schizophrenia. Losing interest in daily activities.

NOSE: Itching nose, sneezing, watering nose, nasal blockage.

THROAT: Sore throat, pharyngitis, swelling of voice box causing immediate suffocation and even death due to allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, back dripping.

EARS: Impaired hearing, ringing in the ears.

LUNGS: Asthma

SKIN: Itching, hives, rashes and eczema.

URINARY TRACT: Frequent desire to pass urine

GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT: IBS, reflux, heartburn due to acidity in the stomach, pain in the stomach due to ulcer which worsens in the pollen season. Or other allergies. Food allergies can be the cause of hyperacidity, reflux, or even ulcer. People develop frequent loose stools, gas, distention, and pain in the abdomen during the pollen season or due to other allergies

BODY: Feverish feeling but doesn’t have a fever, pains, and aches in the body. Low energy level and patients feel drained off, fatigued, and tired.

Do you know Allergy is a genetically transmitted immune Disease affecting 50-60% population of the world?

If two parents have allergic genes, then 3 out of 4 children will develop allergic diseases at any time in life from infancy to old age. Allergy progresses both in severity and in frequency with time despite the medicines like antiallergics and steroids.

WHAT CAN BE TREATED?

Did you know it is a misconception that allergies cannot be treated? I believe in finding the cause of allergy and treating it. I strongly affirm the international consensus that allergy is a genetically transmitted immune disease and cannot be treated with symptomatic treatments and it has to be treated immunologically and with Immunotherapy (SLIT drops/tablets, SCIT, or allergy shots).

SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT VS FINDING THE CAUSE OF DISEASE AND TREATING IT

Treatment of any disease is of two types, and one has to decide what suits him.

    • SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT: –Either one can treat the symptoms of the disease such as headache, itching nose, sneezing, watering nose, blockage of nose, sinus pain, feverish feelings, brain fog, fatigue and tiredness, irritability, mood swings, sleep disorders. One can have all these symptoms due to dust allergy. So symptomatic treatment can be anti-allergic for sneezing, pseudoephedrine for blocked nose as decongestant, paracetamol or ibuprofen for headaches/pains aches, tranquilizers for sleeplessness, nasal sprays for watering and itching nose, eye drops for itching eyes and so on.
    • FINDING THE CAUSE OF ALLERGY AND TREATING IT: –If you find the cause of allergy and treat it immunologically (since it is immune disease.
  • OUTCOME OF SYMPTOMATIC OR FINDING THE CAUSE OF ALLERGY AND TREATING IT IMMUNOLOGICALLY

If one treats the symptoms the disease progresses both in severity and in frequency with time since allergy is not like infection that one takes antibiotics, and he is ok. It is immune disease which becomes severer and severer with time in spite of treatments like antiallergics and steroids etc. 

RESULT OF SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT IS: –

  1. DISEASE BECOMES SEVERE AND MORE FREQUENT WITH TIME AND ONE BECOMES SICKER AND SICKER
  2. Around 80% patients of nasal allergy develop allergic asthma.
  3. IMMUNE SYSTEM IS AFFECTED AND ONE CAN EASILTY DEVELOP OTHER DISEAES LIKE FREQUENT INFECTIONS LATTER
  4. ONE SPENDS HUGE MONEY FOR YEARS ON INHALERS, ANTIALLERGICS, STEROIDS with all the side effects.

RESULT OF FINDING THE CAUSE OF ALLERGY AND TREATING IT: –

  1. One gets better and better in few weeks, 
  2. One does not develop complications like asthma
  3. Immune System improves and one does not develop other diseases like frequent infections.
  4. Does not develop side effects due to long-term use of medicines like anti allergics and steroids
  5. Calculating the long-term medicine cost and cost of the treatment with treating the cause of allergy and treating it, immunotherapy is much cheaper. 

WHAT ALLERGIES DO WE TREAT?

  • Environmental Allergy
  • Food Allergy
  • Drug Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Children Allergies
  • Immuno-Nutrition
  • Immuno-Boost
  • IV Immuno-Hydration
  • The conditions I treat go beyond the usual ones such as acne, asthma, and sinusitis. I also specialize in treating severe diseases having allergy/immunology pathological association in diseases such as autism, Crohn’s Disease, depression, and Tourette syndrome.

HOW DO WE TEST?

ALLERGY is not a disease which one can diagnose in 5 minutes.  One has to find the cause of the allergy through thorough testing and treat the cause. It takes on average 3 to 4 hours to find the cause of allergy.

After an initial consultation, I conduct extensive testing relating to our patient’s complaints.  The established treatment of allergy is immunotherapy which should be given for a minimum of 3 years. To find the cause we do the world’s latest Painless Allergy Tests with the special disposable sterilized device and do 8 tests at a time and these are painless. For foods we do skin prick tests and also confirmed with painless intradermal tests causing minimal pain. Since effective treatment will depend on the results of the allergy tests so we do comprehensive tests and it takes around 3-4 hours to complete the procedure. We do this with utmost safety and precaution.  Patients are never left alone and always have a nurse of the Dr with them to monitor them as well as having an anaphylaxis kit and anaphylaxis cart for management of emergency allergic reactions. 

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS TO REDUCE MY ALLERGIC SYMPTOMS?

There are two type of treatments available.  Once allergy tests are complete the results of these tests are tabulated and given to the patient. The patient is advised to get the immunotherapy from different vendors of their choice. They must send the prescription and the registered pharmacy or facility prepares it according to the formulation provided (as per the allergy tests). 

  • These are called SLIT (Sublingual Immunotherapy) sprays or tablets or injectables. Most of the patients see a 70% – 80% improvement in their symptoms within a few months.
  • Along with the immunotherapy, Rotatory Diversified Program is recommended based on food allergy tests
  • Pharmacotherapy is also recommended if needed.

Most of our patients have remarkable improvement in 2-3 months.  If some patients are not improving, we do a free reassessment.  If a patient is not improving after 6 months even after reassessment then immunotherapy is discontinued, sadly 10% of patients are non responders.

MY DUTY OF CARE

All my patients are on my WhatsApp and they are advised to keep me updated with their progress and ask me any questions they have in mind to ensure high quality care.

IS THERE A CURE FOR ALLERGIES?

YES … After 30 years of experience in allergy and immunology seeing thousands of international patients suffering from different allergies and skin allergies, most of my patients have been cured with immunotherapy and they now lead an allergy-free life. I always say to my patients: With our novel allergy and immunology treatment you will not only feel better but you will look better too.

DO COSMETICS CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTIONS?

I always had concerns about allergic reactions to cosmetics and hair dyes. To help the patients and understand the mechanisms of cosmetic science, I completed a one-year Diploma in Cosmetic Science Formulations from Australia.  After realizing there are allergens in these products I developed novel cosmetic, dermatological products and anti-hair fall products that are hypoallergenic and have a strong scientific basis.  It is important to read the ingredients in all your cosmetics carefully to avoid suffering in the future.  As per the FDA allergens to avoid in cosmetics are grouped into 5 categories: natural rubber, fragrances, preservatives, dyes, and metals.