In one of the outstanding clinics in Israel, Top Ihilov, the most common condition – allergy – is successfully diagnosed and treated.
The multidisciplinary clinic Top Ihilov offers its patients a comprehensive examination to clarify and identify the allergen, medication treatment, and consultations. The presence of modern equipment and high-class specialists ensures positive treatment outcomes.
Common Symptoms of the Condition
An allergy is an over-sensitivity of the human body to contact with certain substances – allergens. Various chemical substances can act as allergens: perfumes, detergents, paints, medications, food products, animal fur, vaccines, dust, viruses, bacteria, etc. The main symptoms of allergies include:
- nasal congestion
- runny nose
- tearing
- itching of the eyes, palate, nose
- tinnitus
- itching of the groin folds and perineum, etc.
Conditions Caused by Allergies
- allergic rhinitis
- bronchial asthma
- dermatitis
- conjunctivitis
- urticaria.
Severe manifestations of allergies: bronchospasm, laryngospasm, Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock, coma.
Methods of Allergy Treatment in Israel, at Top Ihilov Clinic
The main principle of allergy treatment is the complete elimination of contact with the allergen. If this can be achieved, the allergy does not manifest itself. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to accurately identify the allergen, and it is not always possible to eliminate contact with it. In such cases, medication or immunological treatment is employed.
Immunotherapy:
- Immune tolerance. Increasing the body's immune resistance. The entire body is strengthened: hardening, proper nutrition, healthy sleep, vitamin intake, daily regimen, etc.
- Desensitization. Weakening or deactivation of allergens by stimulating IgG (blocking antibodies). Treatment involves introducing a specific antigen into the body in gradually increasing doses. With positive dynamics, hypersensitivity to the allergen significantly decreases. IgG binds the antigen that has entered the body before it reacts with IgE. This treatment can completely relieve the patient of allergy symptoms.
- Intravenous administration of monoclonal antibodies. Free, single IgE and IgE bind to anti-IgE on the surface of lymphocytes, signaling the destruction of IgE. The main agent in this group is omalizumab.
Treatment is conducted regularly, with the dose gradually increasing. If immunotherapy is conducted over several months, mandatory visits to the doctor occur twice a week. Under supervision, the optimal dose of the medication is determined. Subsequent doctor visits are reduced to once or twice a month. This type of treatment gradually makes allergy manifestations rare and mild, and over time, the allergy may disappear.
Medications. There are medications capable of blocking allergy mediators for a certain period, preventing cell activation and causing degranulation. Such medications include antihistamines, corticosteroids, adrenaline (epinephrine), theophylline, etc. These drugs reduce and suppress allergy manifestations and are used for emergency relief during acute episodes. Patients prone to anaphylaxis should always carry one of these medications in case of an insect sting or other unforeseen circumstances. These medications are not used for long-term treatment.
Histamine treatment. Sometimes, a course of treatment with increasing doses of histamine is conducted. There are cases where histamine treatment induces tolerance to it, thereby reducing the predisposition to allergic reactions. Doses are individually tailored and monitored through testing.
Currently, a drug called "human immunoglobulin anti-allergic" has been launched into production, and treatment with this drug shows stable treatment dynamics. However, since a truly effective means of combating allergies has not yet been found, the efforts of the allergists at the clinic are focused on identifying the allergen and eliminating it from the patient's life.
Allergy Treatment in Israel: Advanced Diagnostic Methods
The main difficulty in treating allergies is correctly identifying the substance that causes the allergic reaction. This is a labor-intensive process, as the allergen can be anything from certain food products to sunlight. This is why diagnosis is one of the most important stages of allergy treatment in Israel.
The entire diagnostic program takes three to four days at most and begins on the very first day after the patient arrives in the country.
Day One: Consultation with the Attending Physician
The meeting with the attending allergist takes place in the clinic's office, where the patient arrives on the first day of their stay in the country accompanied by a personal curator from the international department. The allergist conducts an examination, interviews the patient, and collects a medical history, which, due to the specifics of the condition, plays a significant role in determining further treatment. After this, the doctor determines what additional examinations are necessary to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe a treatment plan.
Day Two: Basic Examination
Treating allergies in Israel involves a thorough examination of the patient to identify substances that cause allergic reactions. A series of tests and analyses are performed using the most modern high-precision equipment under the supervision of qualified specialists.
The basic list of investigations includes:
- complete blood count;
- biochemical blood analysis;
- blood test for immunoglobulins;
- skin tests;
- bronchoprovocation tests;
- spirometry;
- endoscopy of the respiratory tract;
- biopsy of the respiratory tract mucosa;
- chest X-ray;
- chest CT.
Depending on the results of the examination, the further treatment strategy for the specific patient is determined.
Day Three: Treatment Assignment
A feature of the individual approach in Israel is that the diagnosis and treatment, taking into account all the peculiarities of the patient's body, are assigned not by one attending physician but by a group of specialists from various fields. The composition of the consulting group may change depending on the patient's condition, accompanying diseases, the discovered type of surgery, and many other factors; however, the collective study of all research results by specialists eliminates the possibility of misdiagnosis and increases the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment.