At one of the leading clinics in Israel, Top Ichilov, the most common condition— allergies— is successfully diagnosed and treated.
The multidisciplinary clinic Top Ichilov offers its patients comprehensive examinations to clarify and identify allergens, medication treatment, and consultations. The presence of modern equipment and high-class specialists ensures positive treatment outcomes.
Common Symptoms of the Condition
Allergy is an over-sensitivity of the human body to contact with certain substances— allergens. Various chemical substances can act as allergens: perfumes, cleaning agents, 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
- ringing in the ears
- itching of the groin folds and perineum, etc.
Conditions Caused by Allergies
- allergic rhinitis
- bronchial asthma
- dermatitis
- conjunctivitis
- urticaria.
Severe manifestations of allergies include: bronchospasm, laryngospasm, Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock, coma.
Methods of Allergy Treatment in Israel, at Top Ichilov 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 feasible to eliminate contact with it. In such cases, medication or immunological treatment is employed.
Immunotherapy:
- Immune tolerance. Increasing the immune resistance of the body. The entire body is strengthened: hardening, proper nutrition, healthy sleep, vitamin intake, daily routine, 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 eliminate 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 drug is determined. Subsequent doctor visits are reduced to once or twice a month. This type of treatment gradually makes allergy manifestations rare and mild; 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 attacks. Patients prone to anaphylaxis should always carry one of these medications in case of an insect sting or other unforeseen circumstances. For long-term treatment, these medications are not used.
Histamine Treatment. Sometimes, a course of treatment with increasing doses of histamine is conducted. There are cases where histamine treatment induces tolerance, thereby reducing the predisposition to allergic reactions. Doses are tailored individually and monitored through testing.
Currently, a drug called "human anti-allergic immunoglobulin" 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 clinic's allergists are focused on identifying the allergen and eliminating it from the patient's life.
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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 any substance, from certain food products to sunlight, can be an allergen. This is why diagnostics is one of the most crucial stages in 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 Treating Physician
The meeting with the treating allergist takes place in the clinic's office, where the patient arrives on the very 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 which 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 examinations 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 mucosa;
- chest X-ray;
- chest CT.
Depending on the examination results, the further treatment strategy for the specific patient is determined.
Day Three: Treatment Appointment
A distinctive feature of the individualized approach in Israel is that the diagnosis and treatment, taking into account all the peculiarities of the patient's body, are prescribed not by one treating 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.