Understanding the Difference between Immunology and Rheumatology
People who are not familiar with medical lines often mix immunology and rheumatology. Yes, the professionals working on these posts are internal doctors, they have different job roles and responsibilities. Immunologists are the medical professionals who are responsible for treating immune disorders along with allergies. Rheumatologists, on the other hand, are specialized professionals to treat the issues associated with the musculoskeletal system. In case you still have doubts, keep on reading the following differentiation explained by Dr. Kanury Rao.
They treat different conditions
Immunologists are also called allergists or clinical immunologists. These professionals are apt and trained enough to work with various conditions that occur when there is a problem with the immune system. Some of the common conditions that they treat include the following:
- Eczema
- Food allergies
- Hay fever
- Asthma
- Skin rashes
- Insect bites
- Medicine reactions
- Immunodeficiency disorders
Speaking about rheumatologists, they can be included in assessing, diagnosing, and treating autoimmune disorders. However, they are mainly responsible for managing and treating issues associated with the musculoskeletal system. The conditions that they treat include the following:
- Bones
- Muscles
- Joints
- Tendons
- Ligaments
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Vasculitis
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Sjogren’s syndrome
Immunologists vs. rheumatologists: How they are connected?
As we have described their areas of work, you will have an idea that they are different in terms of responsibilities. However, they are also interconnected somehow. Do you know how? For instance, autoimmune diseases or disorders are the conditions wherein they will work together.
According to Kanury Rao, autoimmune diseases typically attack a person’s musculoskeletal system. However, a weak immune system is the leading cause of this condition. When this happens, your body becomes weak and organs start getting affected due to this reason. Further, this can lead to weakened bones, joints, and muscles. Some of the conditions where these two professionals come ahead and work together include the ones listed below:
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus or systemic lupus erythematosus
- Scleroderma or systemic sclerosis
- Sjogren’s syndrome
For these health issues, these professionals team up so that they can find out the root cause and suggest suitable solutions to relieve the symptoms. Please remember that autoimmune diseases can also set off several allergic reactions including eczema and asthma which can only be controlled through immunology.
When to visit an immunologist and rheumatologist?
It is important to know when to see which of these medical professional. When you get sudden issues, you should know whom to visit. Below, Dr. Kanury Rao has given details about this aspect:
When to visit an immunologist?
Before you head to any of these, you should learn about the symptoms or conditions that are treatable at the clinic of an immunologist:
- When you are getting persistent allergies that last several weeks or months of a year.
- Any allergic reaction that comes with additional symptoms such as breathing issues, sinus infections, etc.
- If you are noticing warning signs related to asthma such as frequent coughing and sneezing along with occasional breathing issues, or congestion in the chest.
- In case you have already been diagnosed with asthma or you used to get frequent attacks of asthma even after a thorough treatment and medications.
When to visit a rheumatologist?
Some conditions can only be addressed and treated by a certified and experienced rheumatologist. Some of them have been listed here:
- Pain due to an injury in the muscles, joints, and/or bones.
- Muscular, joint, and bone pain that are not related to any injury.
- Any pain that is accompanied by rashes, chest pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, and fever.
- Chronic illnesses that are not treated properly by general physicians.
Finally,
While an immunologist such as Kanury Rao focuses on the immune system, a rheumatologist is responsible for treating ailments associated with the musculoskeletal system. However, there are diseases and conditions such as autoimmune disorders wherein these two professionals come together to suggest a better treatment plan. Lastly, you should obtain details so that you reach out to the right professional for your specific conditions.
