General Practitioners

• Sinusitis
  Sinusitis is a condition that causes inflammation in the sinuses and can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. Acute or new-onset sinusitis lasts for less than 4 weeks, while chronic sinusitis lasts for more than 12 weeks. If you’ve been experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may have sinusitis. Fortunately, our team can help.
• Medical Weight Loss
  GERD, or acid reflux is often treated with a change in lifestyle, including weight loss, avoiding GERD triggers including caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco and scheduling specific mealtimes. A moderate dosage of a “proton pump inhibitor,” such as omeprazole, may also be recommended by your allergist. If GERD is the cause of your chronic cough, it may take weeks or even months for reflux therapy to take effect.
• Pediatric Care
  Born and raised outside of Baltimore, I have called North Carolina home since completing medical school. After my pediatrics training at Duke, I practiced general pediatrics for three years in Hendersonville.  During this time, I realized that my passion lies in the treatment of allergies and asthma. After a brief sojourn in Augusta, Georgia for allergy and immunology training, my family and I returned to Western North Carolina and I joined Allergy Partners.
• Ear Infections
  Recurrent infections are a common problem and can greatly affect work, school, and quality of life. The most common recurrent infections are ear infections, sinus infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia. There are several causes of recurrent infections, including allergies, repeated exposure to viral illnesses (such as in daycare), immune deficiencies, and structural abnormalities (such as enlarged tonsils or adenoids).
• Infectious Diseases
  Your immune system functions as the body’s first line of defense against infectious diseases brought on by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. This system aids in detecting and eliminating foreign pathogens but may have trouble doing so when it is not working properly.
• Electrocardiogram
  Many people who consider participating in a clinical research trial will ask, “Is it safe?”  Yes, but with any investigational medication where clinical experience is limited, extra safeguards are required. First, most protocols require careful patient monitoring, which often involves serial lab tests, EKGs, breathing tests, and physical exams. For many protocols with electronic recording systems, the site can even track your progress online between scheduled visits. Patient volunteers are not allowed to continue in a trial if any worrisome changes occur. Second, an independent group called an institutional review board, or IRB, ensures that all patients’ rights and welfare, are protected. The IRB approves the protocol, the site, and the consent form for the trial. The site will report any serious adverse events to both the sponsor and the IRB. For events deemed related, the sponsor must distribute a report to all sites participating in the trial. In addition, the IRB has the authority to immediately suspend any research activities if they have concerns regarding patient safety.
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Immunizations
  Treatment of underlying medical conditions: Chronic sinus problems, acid reflux (heartburn), obesity, and other conditions may aggravate asthma. It is important that these problems be addressed in order to have optimal control of asthma. Since viral infections are common triggers of asthma, yearly flu vaccinations are also recommended for patients with asthma.

Ophthalmologists

• Eye Exam
  A physician can diagnose an eye allergy by evaluating your symptoms and performing an eye examination. With the help of an allergist, skin tests or, when needed, blood tests can be conducted to diagnose the specific allergen causing any eye reactions.

Internists

• Internal Medicine
  Dr. Farooqui is Board Certified in Adult and Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, and has been in clinical practice since 2013. He joins us after serving as an Assistant Professor of Allergy & Immunology at The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He has been a principal investigator on research grants, published numerous journal articles and regularly speaks at local and national conferences. Dr. Farooqui completed his fellowship training in Adult and Pediatric Allergy & Immunology at The Ohio State University. He completed his residency and board certification in Internal Medicine from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, and earned his medical degree from King Edward Medical University, where he graduated in the top ten percent of his class. Dr. Farooqui’s clinical interests include a variety of conditions such as hay fever, asthma, venom allergies, sinus disease, food allergies, eosinophilic esophagitis, and immunologic disorders.
• Endoscopy
  An endoscopy performed by a trained gastroenterologist is the most reliable method for diagnosing EE. The gastroenterologist uses an endoscope, a tiny tube put through the mouth, to examine the esophagus, stomach, and part of the small bowel. Biopsies (tissue samples) are collected during this process to confirm diagnosis.
• Lung Cancer

Radiologist

• X-Rays
• Computed Tomography
  Blood tests may be recommended to evaluate the immune system, and X-rays or CT scans may be performed to detect any internal abnormalities. Lung function tests may also be performed for severe respiratory symptoms to ensure your lungs are working properly. With an accurate diagnosis of what’s causing your recurrent infections, our Allergy Partners team can create an individualized treatment plan.

Surgeons

• Joint Replacement

Dermatologists

• Eczema
  Atopic dermatitis, commonly referred to as eczema, is a skin disorder that results in dry, scaly, red, and itchy skin. People of any age can develop it, and it may be more prevalent in some families than others. Approximately 10–20% of children and 1-3% of adults struggle from eczema. Although there is no known origin for atopic dermatitis, genetics is a strong factor.
• Lesions
  Eczema symptoms typically start before the age of five. Clinically, eczema is identified by the characteristic appearance of skin lesions – dry, scaling patches of redness, small bumps, and flaking – and intense itching. While the condition may cause itching and irritation, you should try your best to avoid scratching or touching the affected area. Scratching can generate more inflammation, which in turn can cause more itchiness, thus perpetuating the situation and making it worse. In severe cases, skin may even begin oozing, which may indicate an infection.
• Skin Care
  Appropriate skin care is crucial for relieving eczema symptoms. Restoring a healthy skin barrier and reducing inflammation are the main facets of atopic dermatitis treatment. The best method for preventing skin dryness and enhancing the skin barrier is daily hydration (soaking in lukewarm water for 10–20 minutes) and moisturizing with a high-quality, hypoallergenic cream or ointment.

Allergists

• Allergies
  While skin tests remain the gold standard and most common form of allergy testing, they may not be appropriate for everyone. Infants and very young children, those taking specific medications, or those with certain medical conditions often benefit from a secondary option: blood testing. When our immune system overreacts to an environmental trigger an allergic reaction occurs producing heightened levels of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the bloodstream. Interpreting the results of blood-based allergy tests requires expert knowledge and experience. Our allergists are specialty trained to analyze your results to pinpoint your allergic triggers.