What to Expect at Your First Visit with an Allergist

The length and structure of your initial medical appointment are designed to provide you with a thorough and personalized assessment. For most new patients, your first visit typically lasts between 30 minutes to an hour. However, if you have a complex medical history or multiple health concerns, the appointment may take longer to ensure we gather all the necessary information for an accurate evaluation.

During your initial visit, our healthcare providers will:

• Review your detailed medical history, including any previous diagnoses, treatments, and current concerns.
• Discuss your specific symptoms and goals for seeking care at Amerimmune Clinic.
• Recommend and explain any necessary laboratory tests or specialized treatments, particularly if you are being evaluated for immune-related or complex conditions.

To help us serve you best, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to complete any required paperwork. Our team is dedicated to providing a comprehensive and compassionate approach to your care, ensuring your unique health needs are fully addressed from your very first visit.

Allergic reactions can range from mildly uncomfortable to life-threatening. Our experienced medical team is here to help you recognize, diagnose, and manage the full spectrum of allergic responses—ensuring your safety and peace of mind.

Minor allergic reactions typically involve mild symptoms limited to one area of the body. You might experience localized itching, mild skin rash or hives, sneezing, watery eyes, or slight swelling at the site of contact with an allergen. While these symptoms can be uncomfortable, they are generally not dangerous and often resolve on their own or with over-the-counter remedies. If you have frequent or persistent mild reactions, the specialists at Amerimmune Clinic can help identify your triggers and develop a personalized treatment plan.

On the other hand, a severe allergic reaction—known as anaphylaxis—is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, a sudden drop in blood pressure, rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, confusion, or loss of consciousness. Widespread hives, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea may also occur. If you or someone around you experiences these symptoms, call 911 or seek emergency care immediately.

Our team specializes in the diagnosis and management of both minor and severe allergic reactions. We offer comprehensive allergy testing. If you have concerns about allergies or have experienced any kind of allergic reaction, schedule an appointment with our clinic today. We’re here to help you manage your allergies and protect your well-being.

At Amerimmune Clinic, we are committed to providing comprehensive care for autoimmune, immunologic, and complex medical conditions, there are certain symptoms and situations that require immediate emergency attention rather than a clinic visit.

Please seek emergency medical care or call 911 if you, or someone around you, experience any of the following:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• Severe allergic reactions (such as swelling of the face or throat, difficulty swallowing, or hives), especially if you have a known immune disorder or are receiving immunotherapy
 
For our patients, especially those being treated for immune-mediated conditions, it’s important to remember that changes in your symptoms or sudden onset of severe reactions can be more serious due to your underlying health. If you are ever unsure about the severity of your symptoms, it’s always safest to seek emergency care immediately.

Allergies can be a source of ongoing discomfort and uncertainty for many patients. Whether allergies are a lifelong condition or something you might outgrow depends on several factors, including the type of allergy, your age, and your overall health. For example, children with allergies to milk, eggs, soy, or wheat sometimes outgrow these sensitivities as their immune systems mature—many see improvement or even complete resolution by adolescence.

Allergic conditions like eczema and asthma follow similarly variable courses, with some patients experiencing relief and others continuing to have symptoms into adulthood.

At Amerimmune Clinic, our team specializes in understanding the unique nature of each patient’s immune system. Because predicting whether you will outgrow a specific allergy is not always straightforward, we offer personalized allergy evaluations and ongoing management plans. Our experienced clinicians use state-of-the-art allergy testing and monitoring to help you understand your allergies, track changes over time, and identify the best strategies for minimizing symptoms.

If you have questions about your allergies or have noticed changes in your symptoms, the specialists at Amerimmune Clinic are here to help. We provide regular follow-up care and, when appropriate, supervised allergy testing to ensure your treatment plan evolves with your needs. Schedule a consultation with us to learn more about how we can support you in managing your allergies and improving your overall quality of life. For more information, contact us. We have convenient locations to serve you. We serve patients from McLean VA, Alexandria VA, Arlington VA, Bethesda MD, Gaithersburg MD, Rockville MD, Vienna VA, IdylWood VA, Lincolnia VA, Groveton VA, Falls Church VA, North Bethesda MD, Takoma Park MD, Montgomery Village MD, Redland MD, Aspen Hill MD, and surrounding areas.