The management of allergic patients; the role of the internist

There has been an increasing trend in the United States toward intensive specialization in allergic diseases. Whereas the tendency toward specialization has led to greater knowledge of the scientific aspects of allergic phenomena, it has somewhat diverted the specialists' attention from the many clinical problems that await solution. Effective treatment of the allergic patient depends in no small measure on the broad viewpoint and clinical experience of the internist. This fact has been reemphasized by the growing awareness of the significance of the secondary or precipitating causes, such as climatic, nutritional, hormonal and psychogenic factors which influence allergic manifestations. Overemphasis on specialization in allergic diseases with their wide ramifications may defeat the main objective-a successful therapeutic result. To meet this challenge, the internist should be trained in allergy and yet retain a broad approach to the more basic problems of internal medicine. This objective may be attained by certain modifications in undergraduate medical instruction in allergy. Postgraduate training sponsored by our national allergy societies affords internists an excellent opportunity to advance their knowledge of clinical allergy.