In many cases, your primary care physician or pediatrician can diagnose an allergy and recommend treatment. It's their goal to help keep your condition under control and to maintain your overall health. If there is a complex diagnostic problem, or if your allergy symptoms cannot be kept under control, your physician will refer you to an allergy specialist, or allergist, for further evaluation. The physician may also refer you to a specialist who can diagnose a problem of the ear, nose or throat. An allergist-immunologist is a specialist certified in the area of internal medicine or pediatrics who is also an expert in evaluating, diagnosing, and managing disorders involving the immune system.
Some allergists are also subspecialists in diagnostic laboratory immunology.
An allergist most often performs allergy testing to find out the substances to which you are allergic. Properly identifying allergens is essential in treating and managing allergies. Your allergist will instruct you how to minimize your exposure to allergens and develop a plan to manage your symptoms effectively either with medication or allergy shots. An otolaryngologist, also known as an ear, nose and throat specialist, provides comprehensive medical and surgical care of patients with disorders or diseases of the ears, upper respiratory tract, esophagus, head and neck. Otolaryngologists are experts in upper respiratory tract disease, hearing and speech, and taste and smell as they relate to the head and neck.