Allergology is the medical specialty concerned with the study, diagnosis and treatment of all clinical and biological manifestations of the immune system and allergies. (from the simple button to anaphylaxis). Note that the discipline is coupled with clinical immunology.

Remember that allergy refers to an abnormal reaction of the immune system against harmless elements that are foreign to the body, called allergens.

We will consult an allergist for different types of allergy. These include:

• food allergies, and in particular those to peanuts, milk, wheat, eggs or even seafood;
• respiratory allergies, such as those to pollen, dust mites, animals or even molds;
• skin allergies, such as hives (note that non-allergic hives are also found);
• or allergies to insects, venoms, drugs, latex, etc.

So, it is recommended to consult an allergist in case of :

• asthma ;
• eczema important ;
• conjunctivitis which multiply;
• repeated hives attacks;
• repeated cough;
• or in case of eyes that itch all the time.

The allergist can be a generalist, lung specialist, dermatologist or even pediatrician and have specialized in allergies. He practices in private practice or in a hospital environment.

In consultation, the allergist :

• questions his patient to find out his symptoms, the circumstances in which they appeared, his family or medical history;
• depending on what he suspects, the allergist can perform a blood test, allergic skin tests (which consist in placing a drop of allergen on the forearm and monitoring the reaction);
• he will then propose a specific care, by prescribing drugs, by proposing desensitization (we speak of allergen immunotherapy) or by recommending certain rules of hygiene.

The consultation with an allergist does not involve any particular risks for the patient.

Allergist training in France

To become an allergist, the student must obtain a Diploma of Complementary Specialized Studies (DESC) in Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DESC type I, lasting 2 years). Before that, the student must hold a diploma of specialized studies (DES), namely the diploma obtained at the end of the internship:

• after having completed 6 years at the Faculty of Medicine;
• and after having passed the national classifying tests, which allow access to the boarding school.

Finally, to be able to practice as a pediatrician and hold the title of doctor, the student must also defend a research thesis.

Note that with a DESC type I, the young doctor retains his title of specialist in the specialty of his DES.

Allergist training in Quebec

After college studies, the student must:

• follow a doctorate in medicine, lasting 1 or 4 years (with or without a preparatory year for medicine for students admitted with a college or university training deemed insufficient in basic biological sciences);
• then specialize by following 3 years of internal medicine and 2 years of immunology and allergology.

Before consulting an allergist, it is important to have your medication prescriptions, to have the list of medications and creams you are using (or to ask the pharmacist for it), to bring the box of food or medicine that you suspect is responsible for your allergy.

To find an allergist:

• in Quebec, you can consult the website of the association of allergists of Quebec (2);
• in France, via the website of the National Council of the Order of Physicians (3).

When the consultation is prescribed by an attending physician, it is covered by the Health Insurance (France) or the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec.