What are Allergies?
Allergies are exaggerated immune responses triggered by typically harmless substances, causing symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe, potentially life-threatening reactions.
Sneezing
Runny Nose
Itchy Eyes
Breathlessness
Hives
Itching
Drug Allergy
Food Allergy
Experience significant relief and enhanced quality of life with our specialized allergy treatments at the DEPARTMENT OF ALLERGY-IMMUNOLOGY IRIS Hospital. Our dedicated expert team is committed to delivering personalized care designed specifically for your unique needs. We focus on comprehensive and effective management strategies to address your allergies, helping you achieve lasting results and improved well-being. Trust us to support you on your journey to better health.
Dr. Shehanaaz Begum earned her MBBS and MD from Government Medical College, Trivandrum, where she achieved first rank in the MD Pulmonary Medicine exam conducted by KUHS. With a strong foundation in pulmonary medicine, her clinical interests focus on interstitial lung diseases, respiratory allergies, and sleep medicine.
Dr. Shehanaaz Begum is dedicated to advancing the diagnosis and management of complex respiratory conditions, bringing a depth of expertise to her practice. Her commitment to patient care and her specialized knowledge enable her to provide comprehensive treatment and improve the quality of life for individuals with respiratory issues.
Our specialists can help you with the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of allergic and immunologic disorders.
Allergic Rhinitis involves symptoms like sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, and itchy eyes due to inhaled allergens. It’s often linked with asthma and can occur seasonally or year-round. Effective management involves avoiding triggers and using medications as needed.
Asthma is an obstructive lung disease where the airways narrow due to edema, inflammation, and mucus. Symptoms include breathlessness, chest heaviness, and cough. Triggers can include infections, smoke, air pollution, and exercise. Inhaled medications can effectively control asthma.
Cough is considered chronic when it persists for 8 weeks or longer. It is often a symptom of an underlying condition, rather than a disease itself. Common causes include asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and esophageal reflux.
Atopic Dermatitis, also known as Eczema, is a skin allergy causing inflammation and irritation. Patients typically experience a red, itchy rash that is dry, scaly, and inflamed. Effective management often requires personalized skin care to alleviate symptoms and prevent flare-ups.
Food Allergies occur when the body mistakenly identifies a food item or its component as harmful, triggering an immune response. This can cause symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe reactions. Common allergens include eggs, nuts, milk, and shellfish.
Drug Allergies occur when medications like antibiotics, painkillers, or anesthetics trigger an allergic reaction. Symptoms can include skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing, or even severe reactions like anaphylaxis. It is important to identify and avoid offending medications.
Urticaria is characterized by sudden reddish patches and intense itching. It can sometimes be triggered by identifiable factors. If these symptoms recur over time, it's known as Chronic Urticaria.
Angioedema is a diffuse swelling affecting areas like eyelids, neck, lips, and hands. It can be part of chronic urticaria or hereditary angioedema, both of which are treatable.
Contact Dermatitis occurs when skin reacts to allergens or irritants, like nickel or cosmetics. Symptoms include rash, redness, itching, and blisters on the affected skin.
The IRIS Allergy Lab is well equipped with all the necessary investigation modalities like:
Skin Testing is an easy, safe, and useful method to identify the allergen causing your allergies. The specialist introduces a small amount of allergen into your skin, observing for reactions. Common allergens include pollen, molds, food, drugs, and pet dander.
Patch testing helps identify if something contacting your skin causes an allergic reaction, such as contact dermatitis. It tests metals, cosmetics, soaps, topical medications, and more. The patch is applied for two days, revealing delayed hypersensitivity upon reassessment.
Allergy blood tests detect Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in your blood. IgE is produced as a response to allergens. The presence of these antibodies indicates an allergic response, providing valuable information for diagnosis and management.
Spirometry measures lung volumes and capacity by assessing the amount of air you inhale and exhale forcefully. This test is crucial for evaluating symptoms like cough, breathlessness, wheezing, and chest tightness, aiding in the diagnosis of respiratory conditions.
Urticaria (Hives) can be triggered by various factors like pressure, temperature, vibration, and exercise. Specialized tests can identify these hidden triggers, helping in effective management of this condition and improving patient outcomes.