Allergic diseases

Allergy testing and lung function testing are available on site for:

• Rhinitis, chronic sinusitis and hay fever 
• Asthma, including severe asthma requiring biologic therapies (for example, omalizumab) 
• We offer prescription and initiation of subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy where indicated

We offer food allergy testing:

• Diagnosis, including skin testing, blood testing or challenge testing where appropriate
• Developing a treatment plan including specialist nurse education
• Prescription where necessary of adrenaline auto-injectors

Anaphylaxis is often due to drugs, stinging insects, foods or with a cause not yet identified.

We offer:

• Diagnosis including skin testing, blood testing or other testing where appropriate
• Comprehensive treatment plans including specialist nurse education
• Prescription where necessary of adrenaline auto injectors
• Immunotherapy or desensitisation treatment where appropriate

We offer allergy testing to a range of medications including:

• Antibiotics (for example, penicillins)
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, aspirin)

Patients will initially be assessed in our clinic, and referred for skin testing and / or challenge as appropriate. This may be offered on our day ward or specialist clinics, depending on the severity of previous reactions.

We undertake anaesthetic allergy testing in conjunction with Anaesthesia & Pain Management.

Patients should be referred using the referral form on the Australian and New Zealand Anaesthetic Allergy Group (ANZAAG) website. In many instances we will assess the patient initially in our clinic to determine any underlying significant medical problems, organise relevant blood tests and to identify clearly which drugs ought to be tested.

If patients are being referred, please be aware that the Alfred and Monash Medical Centre also offer this service.

Patients who have suffered a systemic reaction to a stinging insect sting should be reviewed in our clinic for diagnosis and prescription of an action plan and adrenaline auto injector.

Patients with diagnosed anaphylaxis due to venom sensitivity will generally be offered desensitisation therapy. This is available for patients who suffer from allergies to bee and wasp venoms. Patients requiring desensitisation therapy for Jack Jumper ant allergy should be referred to Monash Medical Centre. 

We see and assess patients with urticaria and angioedema. In many instances chronic urticaria is not an allergic condition so that patients are initially treated with antihistamines and many will resolve spontaneously.

We also investigate and treat patients with angioedema including hereditary angioedema.

Patients with cutaneous or suspected systemic mastocytosis are invited to be referred to our service. Services for patients with mastocytosis are run in close collaboration with Dermatology. We are undertaking an active clinical trial in this rare condition and are therefore currently seeking symptomatic patients.

The RMH provides a comprehensive adult immunodeficiency service with close links to Genetic Medicine, the immunopathology laboratory and the Royal Children’s Hospital, together with research links to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.

We see referred patients aged 16 years of age or above in a regular clinic staffed by specialists in immunology and allergy. Patients will receive infusion treatments, if necessary, in the RMH day wards.

A transition program is in place with The Royal Children’s Hospital to assist the transition of primary immunodeficiency patients from paediatric to adult care.

Patients with immune deficiencies may have problems affecting many organ systems, so the expertise of colleagues in other medical and surgical specialities is particularly important.

The following expertise is available at the RMH:

• Suspected immunodeficiency investigation
• Managing humoral immunodeficiencies including assessment for and administration of immunoglobulin therapy
• Managing cellular immunodeficiencies such as chronic granulomatous disease
• Managing hereditary angioedema (HAE)
• Genetic counselling for families affected by inherited immunodeficiency in a multidisciplinary immunogenetics clinic run in conjunction with Genetic Medicine
• Participating in research for patients with immunodeficiency in collaboration with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and Genetic Medicine

The service provides diagnosis and management of patients with a broad range of systemic connective tissue and autoimmune conditions, including vasculitis, sarcoidosis and Behçet’s disease.