Allergology treatment in Turkey | Prices & Best allergologist doctor

Different types of allergies

An allergy is a response. The human body reacts in ways that healthy individuals typically don't experience. Reactions manifest across multiple systems: the skin develops dermatitis, the lungs can trigger asthma, eyes show conjunctivitis, or the nasal passages become inflamed with rhinitis. Over recent decades, the prevalence of allergic conditions has steadily grown, affecting an increasingly larger proportion of populations worldwide.

Several distinct types of allergies exist, each with different triggers and manifestations:

• Food allergy: Clinical symptoms emerge following consumption of particular foods. This type can develop early, during childhood, or surface later in adulthood, significantly disrupting daily routines and food choices for affected individuals.
• Dust mite allergy: Produces nasal discharge, conjunctival redness, persistent coughing, and respiratory difficulty as characteristic signs.
• Cat Allergy: Cats trigger roughly two-thirds of all reported animal allergies. The reaction stems from allergens that cats naturally produce. Respiratory manifestations dominate.
• Pollen allergy: Known colloquially as "hay fever," this condition involves sensitization to pollen released by wind-pollinated or insect-pollinated plants. Sufferers experience sudden sneezing fits, nasal discharge, and ocular tearing, sometimes all simultaneously.
• Allergic rhinitis and asthma: This condition targets the respiratory tract. Individuals with this form exhibit heightened sensitivity compared to the general population. Potential triggers range widely: influenza, tobacco smoke, animal allergens, or dust mites.

Symptoms requiring allergist consultation

Consulting an allergist becomes necessary when:

• Certain symptoms appear, rashes or respiratory difficulties, that persist or worsen.
• Allergies develop alongside sinusitis, nasal obstruction, or long-standing breathing trouble in adults (a combination that generally requires specialist evaluation).
• Children show sustained symptoms: continuous nasal discharge, blocked passages, nasal itching, red and watery eyes, or repeated sneezing episodes throughout the day.
• Fever or related symptoms recur for several consecutive months each year, disrupting normal function and quality of life.
• Antihistamine therapy, even when taken consistently over extended periods, fails to provide relief or symptom control.

Allergy test: which one to choose?

Identifying the specific trigger, whether pollen, pet dander, dust mites, or another allergen, marks the first step in effective allergy management. Once identified, avoidance or targeted treatment becomes possible.

The allergological test selected depends entirely on the individual patient's clinical picture. Each test choice reflects the body's specific reaction pattern, the exposure route (skin contact, inhalation, ingestion),and the allergen's chemical nature, what works for pollen-triggered rhinitis differs markedly from testing for contact dermatitis.

Test selection aims at pinpointing causative factors and establishing the most suitable therapeutic approach. Two primary methods dominate practice across specialist clinics:

• Prick test: A lancet lightly punctures the forearm skin; a drop of allergen solution is applied at each site. Positivity emerges rapidly, within minutes, a small, raised, itchy bump forms at the location. Results are immediate.
• Patch test: Multiple patches containing suspected allergens adhere to the skin, usually on the back. After 48 hours, the doctor evaluates the area. Itching, redness, or blister formation indicates a positive reaction to that substance.

Allergy treatment options

An allergist in Turkey may prescribe various treatment approaches tailored to individual patient needs:

• Dietary avoidance of identified triggers
• Pharmacological interventions
• Allergen immunotherapy (AIT)

Immunotherapy treatment (AIT)

Immunotherapy, commonly called desensitization, represents the gold standard for pollen allergy management. The approach involves administering gradually increasing allergen doses, delivered either through subcutaneous injection or sublingual tablets, over months or years. The immune system gradually becomes conditioned. Rather than mounting a strong allergic reaction, the body develops protective tolerance, which reduces or eliminates symptom recurrence. Success is measured by symptom reduction or complete cessation.

Medication treatments

Additional pharmacological agents address specific allergy symptoms. Antihistamines work by blocking histamine receptors, preventing blood vessel dilation and thereby suppressing sneezing and itching. Corticosteroids, hormones naturally produced by the body, reduce asthma flares and breathing obstruction. Leukotriene receptor antagonists suppress inflammatory mediators by blocking leukotrienes, effectively stopping nasal discharge and sneezing. Mast cell stabilizers prevent cellular degranulation, reducing symptom severity. The choice between these options depends on symptom type and severity.