When I look back at my journey of more than two decades in medicine, I realise that becoming an allergy specialist was not defined by a single decision or a particular moment. It was shaped gradually - through years of learning, thousands of consultations, difficult cases, research, and most importantly, conversations with patients.
Allergy is often misunderstood. A patient may come to me saying, “Doctor, I have been taking medicines for years, but my symptoms keep coming back.” Another may say, “I thought this was just a cold.” Parents often ask me why their child keeps sneezing, coughing or developing recurrent skin problems.
These conversations have taught me that treating allergies is not simply about prescribing a medicine. It is about understanding the person behind the symptoms, identifying the triggers and developing a plan that can work in everyday life.
How My Interest in Allergy Care Developed
During my years of clinical practice, I encountered a growing number of patients with recurring respiratory, skin and food-related symptoms. Many had already consulted multiple doctors and tried different medications, but the underlying trigger had not always been identified.
I became increasingly interested in understanding why certain symptoms kept returning and why two patients with seemingly similar complaints could respond very differently to treatment.
That curiosity led me deeper into the field of allergy and immunology.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to evaluate and manage patients with allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergies, skin allergies, drug allergies and severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis. I have also developed a special interest in allergy testing and allergen immunotherapy.
My approach has always been to avoid treating a diagnosis in isolation. I want to understand the patient's symptoms, history, environment, lifestyle and possible triggers before deciding what investigations or treatment may actually be useful.
One Patient Can Change the Way You Think
One of the most memorable aspects of being a doctor is that sometimes a patient's experience teaches you something that no textbook can.
I remember a young patient who had been struggling with recurrent sneezing, nasal congestion and breathing difficulties for a long time. The symptoms were particularly troublesome during certain periods, and the family had initially assumed that the child was simply prone to frequent colds.
During the consultation, we explored the symptoms in detail, including when they occurred, possible environmental triggers and how they affected the child's daily activities.
The important lesson was that the symptoms were not merely something to suppress whenever they appeared. Understanding the pattern was the first step towards understanding the problem.
Once the underlying allergic component was recognised, the approach to management changed. The family became more aware of the triggers, and the treatment strategy became more structured.
What stayed with me was not just the clinical diagnosis. It was the change in the family's understanding.
They had moved from asking, “Why does this keep happening?” to understanding, “This is what may be triggering it, and this is how we can manage it.”
That transition is one of the most satisfying parts of my work.
Listening Is an Important Part of Allergy Diagnosis
In allergy practice, history-taking is extremely important.
A patient may tell me, “I have a cough.” But that is only the beginning.
I want to know: When does the cough occur? Is it worse at night? Does it happen around dust, pets or particular environments? Is there wheezing? Is there nasal congestion? Does exercise make it worse? Is there a seasonal pattern?
Similarly, when someone presents with a skin problem, I want to understand when it started, whether it is recurrent, what medicines or foods were consumed around that time, and whether there are any identifiable environmental factors.
These details can sometimes provide important clues.
I often tell my patients that their story is an important part of their diagnosis. Tests can support a clinical assessment, but a good consultation begins with listening.
Understanding the Patient, Not Just the Allergy
Over more than 20 years, I have learned that allergies can affect much more than physical health.
A child with persistent nasal allergy may struggle to sleep properly or concentrate at school. An adult with poorly controlled asthma may begin avoiding exercise or activities they previously enjoyed. Someone with a food allergy may constantly worry about what they can safely eat. A person with recurrent skin symptoms may become frustrated because the problem keeps returning.
Therefore, my goal is not simply to reduce a symptom for a few days.
I try to understand how the condition is affecting the patient's quality of life and then develop a treatment strategy that is realistic and sustainable.
Why I Believe in Evidence-Based Allergy Care
Medicine continues to evolve, and allergy care is no exception.
Alongside my clinical practice, I have been actively involved in medical education, systematic reviews, meta-analysis and Evidence-Based Healthcare. My academic work has included more than 40 publications in national and international journals.
For me, research and clinical practice should complement each other.
Every patient is unique, and not every treatment or investigation is appropriate for everyone. Evidence helps us understand what works, for whom it works and when it should be considered.
This is particularly important in areas such as allergy testing and allergen immunotherapy, where the right patient selection and clinical assessment matter.
My Approach to Allergy Testing
One of the most common questions I hear is, “Doctor, should I get an allergy test?”
My answer is that allergy testing should not be approached as a routine checklist.
The appropriate test depends on the patient's symptoms and clinical history. In selected cases, skin prick testing or blood-based investigations can help identify specific sensitivities and support the diagnosis.
The important point is to interpret test results in the context of the patient's actual symptoms.
A test report is not the diagnosis by itself. It is one part of the larger clinical picture.
Looking Beyond Temporary Relief
For many years, I have seen patients who repeatedly depend on medication whenever their symptoms return.
Medication can certainly play an important role in controlling allergic symptoms. But in selected patients, we may also need to consider a longer-term strategy.
This is where identifying triggers, improving environmental control and, when appropriate, considering allergen immunotherapy can become relevant.
The objective is to move beyond simply asking, “How do we control today's symptoms?” and also consider, “How can we manage this condition better in the long term?”
A Journey That Continues
After more than two decades of clinical experience and having cared for more than 25,000 patients, I still approach every consultation with the understanding that there is always something new to learn.
Medicine changes. Research evolves. Our understanding of allergic diseases continues to develop. And every patient brings a different story.
What has remained constant throughout my journey is my belief that good allergy care begins with listening carefully, diagnosing thoughtfully and treating responsibly.
When a patient who has struggled for years finally understands what is triggering their symptoms, when a child can participate in daily activities with fewer limitations, or when an adult feels more confident managing a chronic allergic condition, those moments remind me why I chose this field.
My journey as an allergy specialist has therefore been much more than a professional career. It has been a journey of continuous learning, meaningful patient relationships and the privilege of helping people understand their health better.
And after more than 20 years, I continue to believe that every consultation begins with one simple but important question:
“Tell me what you have been experiencing.”
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