Multidisciplinary workshop on allergy and immunology held at GIMS

Accurate allergy testing, coupled with a detailed medical history, is essential for the effective diagnosis and treatment of respiratory allergies and asthma, allergy specialist Gautam Modi said on Friday (August 7).

Delivering the keynote address at a one-day multidisciplinary scientific workshop on ‘Allergy and Immunology Across Specialities: A Multidisciplinary Approach’, organised jointly by the Departments of ENT and Pulmonary Medicine of the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Dr. Modi stressed that nearly 80% of the diagnostic process is completed by carefully listening to a patient’s medical history.

The workshop was held at the seminar hall on the 10th floor of the GIMS Hospital.

Dr. Modi said understanding when and how a patient’s symptoms began plays a crucial role in identifying the underlying cause of allergy. He noted that timely immunotherapy and appropriate treatment could effectively control allergic disorders in most patients.

He observed that various forms of allergies, including drug allergies, were becoming increasingly common. Before initiating treatment, physicians should carefully assess a patient’s previous medical conditions, childhood history of asthma and other relevant health details. He said advanced diagnostic methods, including allergen provocation tests, help identify the exact trigger, enabling targeted treatment.

Highlighting modern diagnostic tools, Dr. Modi described the Skin Prick Test as the gold standard for detecting respiratory allergies. He said the Prick-to-Prick technique is highly effective in diagnosing food allergies, while advanced technologies such as Component Resolved Diagnosis (CRD) enable doctors to identify allergy-causing proteins with greater precision, resulting in more personalised treatment.

Earlier, GIMS director Umesh S.R. inaugurated the workshop by watering a sapling.

Medical Superintendent and Head of the Department of General Surgery Shivakumar C.R. said the workshop would deliberate on the diagnosis and modern management of allergic disorders, including allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, skin allergies, drug allergies and food allergies. He urged postgraduate medical students to make full use of the academic sessions.

Professor and Head of the Department of ENT Renuka S. Melakundi said an allergy is not confined to a single organ but affects the entire body. She stressed that its diagnosis and management require a multidisciplinary approach involving specialists from different medical disciplines. She added that the workshop would provide postgraduate students with deeper insights into allergy care and that similar interdisciplinary programmes would be organised in future.

In-charge Head of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine S.N. Manidevi Karampudi welcomed the gathering.

Guest speakers Narendra and Revanasiddha, faculty member Shraddha Pawar, organising committee members Siddharam Patil, Ramachandra Joshi, Anam Riha, Wasim Patel, Akash Anadure, Anand, Harsha and Ashba Mahendarkar, along with postgraduate students, interns and healthcare professionals, were present.