WHAT ARE ALLERGIES?

Allergies are overreactions of the body’s immune system

Allergies are overreactions of the body’s immune system against mostly environmental substances which are essentially harmless for the majority of us, but may become “allergens” (= allergy-producing substances) for some people. Any person can get in contact with such allergens through food (e.g. cow milk), by inhalation (e.g. pollen, house dust mites) or by direct skin contact (e.g. nickel).

In the UAE, allergies are spreading at a considerable speed- especially among infants and children in school age

In some countries, up to 30% of the population suffers from allergies; in the UAE, allergies are spreading at a considerable speed- especially among infants and children at school age. Since the likelihood to be allergic is in parts genetically determined (the environment factors such as air pollution and psychological situations as stress,   play an important role as co-factors  in allergies), many  common allergic diseases such as eczema and asthma  may affect several or even all members of a family.

Allergic diseases can have a very negative effect on the general quality of life

Apart from the medical consequences of allergies like eczema, asthma, urticaria and severe itching with sleep deprivation, allergic diseases can have a very negative effect on the general quality of life and an often unrecognized negative impact on school or work performance.

Early recognition and treatment of allergies in infants and children can prevent the later development of more serious complications   

Therefore, early diagnosis including analysis of potential allergens ( such as pollen, grass, animal hair, foodstuff, certain chemicals and metals) with appropriate tests ( e.g. prick tests, patch tests) are an essential requirement for early treatment. Early recognition and treatment of allergies in babies and children can prevent the later development of more serious complications such as asthma and chronic skin infections.

WHICH ALLERGIES CAN BE TREATED AT THE ALLERGY UNIT OF DR. AL RUSTOM’S MEDICAL & DAY CARE SURGERY CENTRE?

Allergies to pollen, house dust mites, animal hair and other environmental substances

Allergies and\or intolerance to food and chemical food additives

Allergies to drugs including aspirin

Histamine intolerance

Atopic eczema ( neurodermatitis)

Allergic contact eczema

Acute and chronic urticaria

Angioedema

Mast cell diseases

Sun allergies (polymorphic light eruption)

Photoallergic dermatitis

WHICH DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE ALLERGY UNIT OF DR. AL RUSTOM’S MEDICAL & DAY CARE SURGERY CENTRE?  (SELECTION)

Clinical workup

Detailed analysis of patient’s allergic history and symptoms (most important!)

Careful investigation of allergic clinical manifestations including dermographism

Laboratory workup
 

Total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration

Allergen-specific IgE levels ( by RAST)

Anti-IgE receptor antibodies

Antinuclear antibodies and serum complement levels

Histamine and histamine decarboxylase serum levels

Soluble  mediators of mast cells and eosinophils

Allergy skin tests

Immediate-type allergen-specific  tests (prick, scratch, i.c)

Delayed-type contact-allergen specific patch tests

Urticaria provocation tests ( physical, allergen-free test diet )

Drug-allergy tests ( patch test, oral challenge)

TREATMENT SPECTRUM OFFERED BY THE ALLERGY UNIT AT DR. AL RUSTOM’S MEDICAL & DAY CARE SURGERY CENTRE

General treatment

Counselling on skin-type specific skin care

Allergen- avoidance strategies

Dietary measurements

Allergy-specific treatment (selection)

Allergen-specific hyposensitization (specific immunotherapy SIT, SLIT)

Allergy prevention with probiotics in infants

Cortison-free eczema topical treatment of childhood eczema

NB-UVB light treatment in chronic eczema

Systemic immunosuppressive treatment in severe eczema

Symptom-adapted therapy with antihistamines

Allergen- and additive-free diet in food allergies or intolerance

Histamine-poor diet in histamine intolerance

Urticaria treatment

Treatment of chronic pruritus (itch) in the elderly

Dubai, May 2011

Prof. Dr. Michael Meurer

Dr. Al Rustom’s Medical &Day Care Surgery Centre Dubai (Consultant)

University Allergy Center, University Hospital Dresden/Germany (Director)