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Allergies are very common. It is not known why some of us get allergies and not others, but about one in eight people seem to have an inherited predisposition to them.

Allergies are caused by exposure to a substance, known as an allergen, which provokes an exaggerated reaction of the immune system. 

Our service
The allergy clinic is held on Thursday evenings by a Consultant Physician.  We see people (over 16 years only) with a variety of allergies including: 

• Hayfever - individuals allergic to grass or tree pollens have symptoms including running nose, nasal blockage and sneezing, usually during the spring and summer months. In some people these symptoms may occur throughout the year, the condition is then called perennial rhinitis, and other allergens particularly dust mites may also be responsible.
  
• Asthma - in some cases of asthma, there may be allergy to specific agents. These may include grass or tree pollens which can cause wheezing during the spring and summer months. Allergens in the home which can provoke asthma throughout the year include furry animals and dust mites.
  In some cases, patients with hayfever-type symptoms or asthma may be allergic to substances encountered at work, for instance flour or wood dust.
  
• Skin - the skin rash known as ‘weals’ or urticaria can sometimes be caused by allergy, particularly to foods. This may be accompanied by swellings of parts of the body, for instance the lips or face, known as angioedema. In many people, it is not possible to identify an underlying cause, even with appropriate testing.
  
• Allergy to specific foods - the effects of food allergy can include tingling or swelling of the mouth, tongue or throat. There may be nausea or vomiting, skin weals and sometimes in severe cases wheezing and collapse. In adults, the foods commonly responsible include peanuts, peanuts, soya and wheat.
  
• Other allergies – rubber/latex can cause symptoms of allergy. Insect venoms, particularly from wasps and bees, can also cause reactions and deserve investigation.
  
• Allergy tests - appropriate testing may help determine which allergen is responsible for the symptoms. Skin allergy tests are widely used and provide a result within 15 minutes. Alternatively, a blood test, known as RAST, provides results usually in a matter of days.

Treatment of allergies
Allergies can usually be successfully treated with one or a combination of the following:

• Avoidance - the ideal, where possible, is for affected individuals to avoid the underlying cause. Individuals undergoing assessment will be asked to complete a comprehensive questionnaire to help in the assessment of whatever allergens in the environment might be a cause. In the case of food allergies, we will often work in conjunction with one of the qualified dieticians who also attend Highgate.
• Medical therapy - medication is helpful when symptoms cannot be resolved by avoidance. Long established therapies include antihistamine tablets. There are newer agents including leukotriene receptor antagonists which may have a role in selected cases.
• Surgical - people with allergies affecting the nose may be considered for a surgical procedure, for instance removal of nasal polyps. At Highgate we can refer you to one of our ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) consultants, if necessary.

Our consultants
Consultant Physician – Dr S Lozewicz

Next steps
To make an outpatient appointment, please call us on 020 8347 3857.