After diagnosis
After you have been diagnosed with an allergy you will need to follow up with your GP, nurse practitioner and/or specialist. You should be advised about when you should have your next follow-up appointment.
Do not wait for your next scheduled review if:
- You are worried about your allergies.
- You have had an allergic reaction.
- You think your allergies have changed.
- There are changes happening in your life, for example starting high school or travelling.
Make an appointment to see your doctor so you can talk about these things.
People who are newly diagnosed or young children may need more regular follow-up than someone who has been managing their condition for many years. It also depends on the allergic condition that you have and how it is impacting your life.
Even if you have been managing an allergic condition for many years, it is still important that you follow-up with your doctor for review. You can discuss management, any changes in your condition, treatments options and ask questions about your allergic condition/s.
Working with your doctors
You may find it difficult to talk openly or freely with your doctor. It may also be hard to understand what the doctor is saying.
Doctors and other health professionals work with their patients to help them decide what medical care is best for them. This is called shared decision-making. To be involved in your care, it is important that you understand the choices you have. It is okay to ask questions, or to ask someone to explain something again or in a different way so that you can understand.
For more information about your healthcare rights, visit Healthdirect.
Chronic Disease Management Plans
Allergic conditions can be chronic (long term) health conditions. A Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM plans) can help you manage your allergic condition in a planned way and involves getting care from different health professionals. Speak with your GP to see if this type of plan would be helpful for you. If you are eligible, you and your GP will make a CDM plan together. A CDM plan may help you get Medicare rebates to see allied health professionals, such as a dietitian or psychologist.
Management and treatment plans
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) has developed plans to help manage many allergic conditions. These are for people of all ages, and it is important that your doctor or nurse practitioner gives you one. ASCIA has more information about the different types of plans on their website.
There may also be different treatment options for your allergic condition. Talk with your doctor about the options and how they may affect you. You can learn more about treatment plans and options for your allergic condition here:
Treatment options – what to think about
Ask your doctor or nurse practitioner to explain and guide you about the treatment options you have. Some treatment options are only available through an allergy specialist.
You will need to talk about:
- Available treatments for your allergic condition.
- Evidence to support this treatment and its success rate.
- Possible side effects of treatment.
- The impact on your daily life (e.g. how often you need to have the treatment, will you need to travel for it, will it cause a change in your daily activities).
- The cost of the treatment.
Knowing what your options are can help you and your healthcare team decide together on a treatment plan that is right for you.
If you are worried or need more time to make a decision about your treatment options, speak to your doctor or nurse practitioner. Ask how you can contact them after you have made your decision. You may need to make another appointment. If you have further questions, you may be able to call or email.
Decision-making steps
People with the same allergic condition may make different decisions about their care and treatment.
When making a decision you may find it helpful to:
- Consider the positives and negatives of each option.
- Ask if other treatments options are available
- Ask if there are any clinical trials or new treatments not yet registered in Australia that may be suitable for you. If there are none available currently, you can subscribe to be notified about new studies (see blue box below).
- Get a second opinion from another specialist or doctor if you are unsure or unhappy with your care.
You can call the National Allergy Helpline to speak to an allergy educator or contact us online for advice and support for managing allergies .
If you are interested in joining research on treatments, you can subscribe to us and the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) to be notified about new studies.
Understanding allergy care
Learn about allergy care, seeing an allergy specialist, the Australian health system, treatment options and more.
Developed in collaboration with the National Allergy Council through funding from the Australian Government.