Immunologist

Due to the constant variability of the viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms around us, a person becomes more vulnerable to diseases. His immune system cannot independently resist the constant threat, which is why the patient needs to consult an immunologist.

Immunology is a separate science that studies the reactions of the human body to antigens. Immunology is rapidly developing and constantly improving, therefore, highly qualified immunologists, more often than their colleagues specializing in other branches of medicine, must learn and improve their professional level.

Characteristics of the work of an immunologist

An immunologist is a doctor whose focus is the treatment of diseases of the human immune system, as well as the implementation of preventive measures for diseases and pathologies of the immune system, in order to minimize the consequences of immunological problems and their impact on the work of other important organs and systems of the patient.

Preventive immunization is not only a medical, but also a socially useful task for immunologists, which includes the timeliness of vaccination and the prevention of complications in the post-vaccination period.

Since the immune system takes an active part in the work of absolutely all organs and systems of the human body, an immunologist must be very qualified in assessing the impact of immune problems on the course of various processes.

Immunologists also work in research centers, studying the variability of diseases and developing the latest effective vaccines.

The main sections of immunology as a science are classified into separate specialized areas.

General immunology, which considers the molecular structure of human immune cells, pathological immunology or immunopathology, which considers disorders of the immune system of an individual patient, infectious, non-infectious immunology.

The list also includes immunochemistry, allergological immunology, which deals with the study, prevention and elimination of allergic reactions.

Transplantation immunology considers the immunological aspects of organ transplantation, radiation immunology deals with the restoration of immunity after irradiation, embryoimmunology is aimed at determining the compatibility of the fetus and mother.

Pediatric immunology stands out separately, the task of which is to study the development of immunity in children, their timely immunization and the determination of specific methods of treating young patients.

Another global role of immunologists in modern medicine is direct participation in the development of vaccines against serious infectious diseases.

Symptoms and diseases

Consultation with an immunologist is necessary if other doctors, in the presence of severe symptoms, find it difficult to make a diagnosis.

In such cases, it is immunologists who are able to clarify the picture of the course of the disease, help determine the underlying disease and prescribe concomitant treatment to restore immune functions.

Among the main symptoms in which the patient should be examined by an immunologist are:

• prolonged asymptomatic subfebrile temperature;
• high body fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome;
• sleep problems of a different nature – insomnia, drowsiness;
• frequent and prolonged colds – more than 5 within 1 year;
• regular occurrence of herpes;
• frequent and prolonged purulent processes in the nasopharynx;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

An immunologist treats a very wide range of diseases, since immune disorders affect the functioning of the whole organism. Very often, when feeling unwell and feeling unwell, the patient turns to a therapist who refers him to an immunologist.

The main groups of diseases of its competence include the following:

• chronic diseases associated with secondary immunodeficiency;
• infections on the background of AIDS and hepatitis;
• recurrent purulent diseases, for example, pyoderma;
• recurrent fungal diseases;
• benign neoplasms, with a high risk of their transformation into a malignant form;
• various allergic diseases;
• allergies to insect bites;
• diseases with unknown etiology.

An immunologist treats the immune system directly. After contacting an immunologist, the patient often receives a referral for a variety of tests, with the help of which a specialist can determine a particular disease of the immune system.

Diseases that require treatment by an immunologist or an allergist-immunologist may include the following:

• seasonal allergies in the form of rhinitis and conjunctivitis caused by plant pollen, which is an active allergen in sensitive individuals;
• year-round rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis caused by house dust, mites, animals, book dust;
• bronchial asthma;
• a combination of bronchial asthma with polyposis rhinosinusitis and intolerance to analgesics – the so-called asthmatic triad;
• acute urticaria, prone to relapse, Quincke’s edema;
• food allergic reactions and intolerances;
• cold allergy;
• chronic itching of the skin;
• various manifestations of reactions to the medications taken;
• reactions to insect bites;
• neurodermatitis or atopic dermatitis, chronic eczema, seborrhea;
• contact allergic dermatitis;
• toxic reactions on an allergic background;
• reaction to the introduction of vaccines against various diseases;
• chronic cough and prolonged asthma attacks;
• frequent relapses of acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections and other bacterial and viral infections;
• chronic pustular diseases of the skin with frequent relapses – barley, boils, acne and others;
• intestinal dysbacteriosis, oral mucosa, genital organs – aphthous stomatitis with relapses, colpitis, irritable bowel syndrome and others;
• chronic obstructive bronchitis;
• chronic diseases of ENT organs with relapses;
• herpesvirus infections with relapses;
• the occurrence of secondary immunodeficiency with hepatitis B and C, lichen planus, psoriasis, urogenital papillomatosis and other chronic infectious and inflammatory diseases;
• lymphadenitis or lymphadenopathy of unknown etiology;
• fever of an unexplained nature;
• chronic fatigue syndrome.

Methods for diagnosing diseases by immunologists

The arsenal of immunologists includes a number of complex high-performance biochemical and molecular studies.

Similar analyzes are performed in specialized laboratories, all of them are divided into groups – rheumatoid studies, autoimmune studies, indicators of general immunity, diagnosis of celiac disease or antiphospholipid syndrome.

In addition, it is imperative to bring the results of a general analysis of blood, feces and urine to an appointment with an immunologist.

So, all tests are prescribed by an immunologist to make an accurate diagnosis.

For the same purpose, a doctor can use various methods of diagnosing diseases:

• tests for susceptibility to all kinds of allergens – plant pollen, household allergens, food allergens and others;
• conducting studies of the immune status;
• studies of the status of interferon in the body;
• cytological methods – scrapings from the tonsils, tongue, auditory canals to identify bacteria and fungi that cause the disease;
• analysis of feces for intestinal dysbacteriosis;
• blood culture for sterility;
• crops from the conjunctiva, from the pharynx, ears and nose;
• serological and molecular biological studies;
• diagnosis of various types of allergies;
• detection of changes in the number of heartbeats, pulse rates, blood pressure.

Also, immunologists conduct a general physical examination of the patient, including percussion, palpation, auscultation, as well as ultrasound, radiological indications, electrocardiography data, tissue biopsy results, and much more.

Recommendations of immunologists

A passive lifestyle and an unfavorable ecological situation have a significant impact on the state of the human immune system.

Doctors record a decrease in immunity in almost all age groups of the population.

This phenomenon can be both seasonal and permanent, due to poor nutrition, constant stressful situations, limited physical activity, lack of sleep, overwork, unfavorable working and rest conditions. To increase immunity and prevent all kinds of diseases, you need to carefully plan your own rhythm of life, walk more in the fresh air, not succumb to stress, eat right, sleep enough time and play sports. All this is the best prevention of immunological cataclysms of any organism.

Before independent attempts to increase one’s own immunity by taking all kinds of immunostimulants and multivitamins, it is necessary to consult an immunologist. Self-medication prevention does not always reflect the real needs of the body. This is especially evident in cases of already existing suppression of the immune system, when self-medication can not only become ineffective, but can also dramatically complicate the course of the disease.

The most important point in the activities of immunologists is the vaccination of the population against various infections. Doctors must, in addition to their main job, also debunk the numerous myths that vaccinations are deadly, and convince both adults and children to get vaccinated. With a healthy body, the vaccine does not pose a threat, but refusing it in the event of an unfavorable epidemiological situation can cost a person health and even life. It is especially important to protect children from immunological problems with fragile organisms that are unable to counteract pathogenic factors from the outside.

Thus, an immunologist is the most important specialist in modern medical science, having a multidisciplinary type of work and being able to treat almost all organs and systems of the human body. A weakened immune system leads to a general deterioration in health, which is the leading reason to seek the advice of an immunologist.