Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsConcentrationsProcedural ExpertiseTraining and CertificationAppointment Tips
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Concentrations
Procedural Expertise
Training and Certification
Appointment Tips
An immunologist, also called an allergist-immunologist, is a medical doctor specializing in allergies and other immune system disorders. Immunology is a subspecialty of internal medicine (care for adults) or pediatrics (care for infants through teens).
Immunologists help diagnose, treat, and manage immune system conditions. Your primary healthcare provider might refer you to an immunologist if they suspect you have an allergy or other condition related to the immune system, such asasthma(a condition that inflames, swells, and narrows the airways, making breathing difficult).
This article will take a closer look at what an immunologist does, what specialties they may have, and what to expect from an appointment with an immunologist.
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Immunologists are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage conditions involving the immune system.
This includes:
Not all immunologists work directly with patients. Some work in a lab setting and do research to advance the study of immunology. They may work on vaccine development research or antirejection research for organ transplantation.
Immunologists diagnose, treat, and help manage conditions involving the immune system.
Many clinical immunologists who work directly with people seeking care have their own medical practice and work out of an office. They may work with children or adults, depending on their background. For example, an immunologist with a pediatrics background will work with children, while an immunologist with an internal medicine background will work with adults.
Often, your first interaction with an immunologist will be to help diagnose a condition your primary care provider suspects is an allergy- or immune-related condition.
An immunologist can order tests to help diagnose allergies and other immune system conditions. These tests may include:
After making a diagnosis, your immunologist will be able to recommend treatment options for your condition. The treatment course will depend on your diagnosis but may involve:
Subspecialties
Immunology is a subspecialty of pediatrics or internal medicine, and some immunologists may choose to further specialize in the following:
Immunologists are doctors who have gone through medical school. After medical school, residency training for internal medicine or pediatrics takes three to four years.
Before becoming a board-certified physician, they must be certified in internal medicine (American Board of Internal Medicine) or pediatrics (American Board of Pediatrics) and go through two years of training in allergy and immunology.
After a two-year fellowship in allergy and immunology, prospective immunologists need to pass the certification exam with the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.
You’ll likely need a referral to make an appointment with an immunologist. While your regular healthcare provider can treatmild allergies, you’ll want to see a specialist for moderate to severe allergies.
Before your appointment, you may want to consider logging your symptoms. It can be tough to pinpoint the cause of an allergy. If you or your healthcare provider suspects an allergy is causing your symptoms, keeping track of potential triggers may help with your diagnosis.
While an immunologist can order tests to help diagnose allergies, logging your symptoms and situations that may have led up to them may speed up the diagnostic process.
When making an appointment, you’ll likely be told whether to expect testing that day and whether you need to avoid eating or drinking beforehand.
Summary
An immunologist or allergist-immunologist is a doctor who specializes in treating immune-related conditions, including allergies. Some immunologists work directly with people seeking care, while others work in a research setting.
A Word From Verywell
Diagnosing immune-related conditions (allergies included) can be an arduous process. Working with a qualified allergist-immunologist can help streamline the process.
Don’t hesitate to ask about treatments and their side effects. Your allergist-immunologist should be able to walk you through the pros and cons of treatment options and provide you with information about what to expect throughout the treatment process.
Need help finding a qualified immunologist in your area? Use the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology’s (AAAAI)Find an Allergist/Immunologisttool.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Medical Association.Allergy and immunology.Mount Sinai.T-cell count.American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.About allergists / immunologists.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Medical Association.Allergy and immunology.Mount Sinai.T-cell count.American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.About allergists / immunologists.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Medical Association.Allergy and immunology.Mount Sinai.T-cell count.American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.About allergists / immunologists.
American Medical Association.Allergy and immunology.
Mount Sinai.T-cell count.
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.About allergists / immunologists.
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