The Allergy Clinic, located in Marsascala, traces its origins to Zaid Teebi’s realisation that “there was a big gap both in the awareness about allergies and the availability of professional allergy management services.” Having studied and specialised in various medical fields, including geriatric medicine, he explains how the lack of availability of allergy management prompted him “to take a two-year break from work and go to the UK to do a degree and training in Advanced Allergy at Imperial College London, ranked in the top 10 universities worldwide.”

A common point of discussion is whether allergies are on the rise, or whether increased awareness among the population is making us better at pinpointing the symptoms.

Dr Teebi contends that “In Europe today and all over the world, allergic diseases are among the most common chronic illnesses, both in childhood and adult life and allergies are on the increase.” He underlines that “actually, in the last two decades, the incidence and severity of allergic diseases has increased significantly.”

Since then, Dr Teebi acknowledges that he has garnered more than fifteen years of experience in the field of allergy and allergy therapy. He affirms that the aptly named clinic is committed to provide high quality service for the diagnosis, management and advice for people who suffer from allergy problems.

And so, while allergies are often touted as unexplained ills, Dr Teebi clarifies that “an allergy is a reaction of the immune system towards various elements.” He remarks that an allergic reaction can be observed when one comes into contact “with a foreign substance, from air, food or direct contact, which is usually harmless to most people,” however, he continues, in this case “this causes an exaggerated response within the body, leading to few or many symptoms in various parts of the body.”

Dr Teebi notes that the contact can be through the skin, mouth, nose or lungs. Elaborating further, he says that “people who are susceptible to a particular allergen may suffer from various symptoms ranging from a mild cough or sneezing to more severe and potentially life-threatening reaction and shock.”

Providing more insight, Dr Teebi states that “An allergy can be considered as the body’s way of alerting the person that something foreign and unsuitable has entered the body. Allergies are responsible for many illnesses, especially in young children.” His guidance is that “if you think that you may have an allergy then it is important that you seek medical advice.”

The so-called classical allergy diseases, as outlined by Dr Teebi, include hay fever; perennial allergic rhinitis (nasal allergy all year round); asthma – bronchial; atopic eczema; urticaria (an allergic reaction with accompanying swelling, oedema, red skin patches and may occasionally be itchy); anaphylaxis (a violent allergic reaction which can affect breathing, swelling of face and may sometimes be life-threatening if not treated immediately), and the often-mentioned food allergy.

There are many possible symptoms, depending “on the allergen and the point of entry into the body,” remarks Dr Teebi, with a variety of symptoms reflecting the different types of allergies. From a medical point of view, several symptoms can be grouped according to the functions being impacted.

The main challenge is to find and looking out for the source of the allergy. Dr Teebi highlights the common triggers: airborne allergens such as house dust mite, moulds, tree and grass pollen and animal dander; certain food and drinks; cosmetics, metals in jewellery; insect bites; latex or rubber, and certain medicines. Due to medical advances practically most of these can be tested for and diagnosed.

Dr Teebi’s medical perspective pushes him to exhort that “it is therefore essential that recognition and diagnosis of allergies is made as early as possible.” The Allergy Clinic offers a “modern approach” for the diagnosis and treatment of these common allergy problems. “The first priority,” explains Dr Teebi, “is to identify the causes for allergy as well as the triggers.”

The Clinic itself is well equipped to allow for the service to be provided in a more pleasant environment.

At the Clinic, the allergy assessment is conducted by Medical Consultant Dr Teebi who takes “a comprehensive medical and allergy history,” serving as “the essence of the allergy consultation.” This full structured assessment explains Dr Teebi, “tackles all aspects of a person’s health that are related to allergies,” including symptoms, clinical signs, family history, past medical history, as well as past and present medications. Other elements that are given their due importance, observes Dr Teebi, are the home environment, the set up at the workplace, sports activities undertaken, and whether there is any specific type of exposure such as dust or heavy metals.

In addition to the above, one can expect a full medical checkup and examination, various tests to be carried out depending on the condition presented, as well as food allergy and intolerance tests or a Skin Prick Test. Individuals can expect computerised results, and perhaps more importantly a “plan of action” by Dr Teebi where recommendations are also mapped out. Furthermore, the Clinic provides educational information on allergies and advice on prevention, with the service promising continuous support and regular follow-ups to monitor progress. This is because a blood test alone might not be meaningful as it has to be interpreted in the context of the symptoms and medical history of the individual. A holistic approach is The Allergy Clinic Marsacala and Dr. Teebi’s strategy and approach.

Dr Teebi notes that “allergy tests and diagnosis and treatment have come a long way,” underlining that “there have been enormous improvements in the medical treatments used to treat allergic conditions including Immunotherapy where certain airborne allergies like hay fever can be reversed leading to a significant improvement in the quality of patients’ lives.”

Having a specialised service addressing such a relatively widespread ailment gives some peace of mind, especially for those looking at solutions to tackle this health issue. The Allergy Clinic’s approach at attempting “to detect and establish a clear diagnosis of where the allergy is coming from and address it directly,” as Dr Teebi highlights, “rather than treating symptoms only,” surely comes as a welcome relief.