Allergy and asthma represent some of the most common chronic conditions presenting in primary care. Furthermore, up to 20% of patients with allergies struggle on a daily basis with the fear of anaphylactic shock or an asthma attack.
This book guides readers through the basic immunology and pathophysiology and then provides details on all aspects of the clinical assessment of allergic patients:
History-taking
Clinical examination
Investigations and imaging
A broad range of allergies is then presented with succinct clinical advice detailing the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of each allergy in turn.
Asthma is covered separately using the latest asthma guidelines to describe the risk factors, stratification, and accurate diagnosis. This is followed by a concise presentation of asthma management and monitoring in primary care.
The book concludes with the pressing issue of childhood allergy, and highlights the investigations, assessment, and treatments specific to allergy and asthma in children.
This is the ideal clinical text for family physicians, medical students, and nurse practitioners looking to manage common allergies and asthma, and for those looking for decision-making support when considering onward referral.