Editing Allergy (section)

==Medical specialty==
{{Infobox Occupation
| name= Allergist/Immunologist
| image=
| caption=
| official_names=
* Physician
| type= [[Specialty (medicine)|Specialty]]
| activity_sector= Medicine
| competencies=
| formation=
* [[Doctor of Medicine]] (M.D.)
* [[Doctor of Osteopathic medicine]] (D.O.)
* [[Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery]] (M.B.B.S.)
* [[Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery]] (MBChB)
| employment_field= Hospitals, Clinics
| related_occupation=
}}
The medical speciality that studies, diagnoses and treats diseases caused by allergies is called allergology.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bellvitgehospital.cat/en/services/allergology |title=Allergology  |website=bellvitgehospital.cat |access-date=22 November 2024 }}</ref>
An allergist is a physician specially trained to manage and treat allergies, asthma, and the other allergic diseases. In the United States physicians holding certification by the [[American Board of Allergy and Immunology]] (ABAI) have successfully completed an accredited educational program and evaluation process, including a proctored examination to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and experience in patient care in allergy and immunology.<ref name="ABAI: American Board of Allergy and Immunology"/> Becoming an allergist/immunologist requires completion of at least nine years of training.

After completing medical school and graduating with a medical degree, a physician will undergo three years of training in [[internal medicine]] (to become an internist) or [[pediatrics]] (to become a pediatrician). Once physicians have finished training in one of these specialties, they must pass the exam of either the [[American Board of Pediatrics]] (ABP), the [[American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics]] (AOBP), the [[American Board of Internal Medicine]] (ABIM), or the [[American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine]] (AOBIM). Internists or pediatricians wishing to focus on the sub-specialty of allergy-immunology then complete at least an additional two years of study, called a fellowship, in an allergy/immunology training program. Allergist/immunologists listed as ABAI-certified have successfully passed the certifying examination of the ABAI following their fellowship.<ref name="AAAAI - What is an Allergist?" />

In the United Kingdom, allergy is a subspecialty of [[general medicine]] or [[pediatrics]]. After obtaining postgraduate exams ([[Membership of the Royal College of Physicians|MRCP]] or [[Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health|MRCPCH]]), a doctor works for several years as a [[specialist registrar]] before qualifying for the [[General Medical Council]] specialist register. Allergy services may also be delivered by [[immunologist]]s. A 2003 [[Royal College of Physicians]] report presented a case for improvement of what were felt to be inadequate allergy services in the UK.<ref>{{cite book | publisher = Royal College of Physicians | date = 2003 | title =Allergy: the unmet need | location = London | isbn = 978-1-86016-183-4 | url = http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/81e384d6-0328-4653-9cc2-2aa7baa3c56a.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071128175524/http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/contents/81e384d6-0328-4653-9cc2-2aa7baa3c56a.pdf | archive-date=28 November 2007 | quote = (1.03&nbsp;MB) }}</ref>

In 2006, the [[House of Lords]] convened a subcommittee. It concluded likewise in 2007 that allergy services were insufficient to deal with what the Lords referred to as an "allergy epidemic" and its social cost; it made several recommendations.<ref name="Allergy - HL 166-I, 6th Report of Session 2006-07 - Volume 1: Report" />