Pune: KEM Hospital Pune has launched a dedicated Allergy Clinic to address the growing prevalence of allergic disorders across all age groups.
With allergies increasingly becoming a common yet often underdiagnosed health concern, the Allergy Clinic aims to provide comprehensive care focused on accurate diagnosis, targeted treatment, and long-term management.
The initiative around the Allergy Clinic is particularly relevant in urban settings, where pollution, changing lifestyles, dietary habits, and reduced exposure to the natural environment have contributed to a noticeable increase in allergy-related conditions.
The launch event of the Allergy Clinic was attended by key dignitaries including Dr. Xexes Coyaji, Medical Director; Shirin Wadia, Chief Executive Officer; Dr. Rakesh Shah, Chief Operating Officer; Dr. Ashish Bavdekar, Director, Department of Paediatrics; and Dr. Neelam Vaid, Head of ENT & Big Ears.
Allergy specialists including Dr. Bela Gandhi, Dr. Kirti Shrotriya, and Dr. Shubhangi Avhad were also present on the occasion.
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Comprehensive Services at the Allergy Clinic
The newly launched Allergy Clinic at KEM Pune is equipped to offer a full spectrum of diagnostic and treatment services. These include detailed allergy evaluation and history-taking, skin prick testing, specific blood tests, pulmonary function testing (for asthma), and allergen identification.
The Allergy Clinic will also provide personalized treatment plans, immunotherapy (allergy vaccines), and patient counselling to ensure sustained relief and improved quality of life.
Advanced infrastructure such as modern skin prick testing systems, spirometry and pulmonary testing machines, allergy blood testing, and nebulisation and emergency management setups further enhance the clinic’s capabilities.
Experts Highlight Need for Allergy Clinic
Speaking about the importance of the Allergy Clinic, Dr. Bela Gandhi, Allergy Specialist at KEM Hospital Pune, said, “allergies are increasingly common today and often underdiagnosed or mismanaged.
Many patients continue to suffer for years without identifying the exact trigger. The need for a dedicated allergy clinic arises from the importance of accurate diagnosis, targeted treatment, and long-term management. A specialized clinic helps provide comprehensive care under one roof, improving patients’ quality of life.”
Experts associated with the Allergy Clinic emphasized that with proper treatment and diagnosis, people can coexist with allergies without much trouble.
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Rising Allergy Burden Across Age Groups
The Allergy Clinic will address a wide range of conditions including allergic rhinitis (sneezing, runny nose, nasal blockage), asthma, and skin allergies such as urticaria and eczema, along with food and drug allergies, which have grown significantly.
Experts noted that conditions such as food allergies—especially in children—chronic urticaria, severe allergic asthma, and environmental allergies linked to pollution and climate change are on the rise. The Allergy Clinic is designed to tackle these emerging concerns through specialized care.
Allergies affect all age groups, with children and young adults particularly vulnerable due to early exposure to environmental allergens.
Urban populations report higher incidence rates due to pollution, lifestyle changes, and reduced natural immunity exposure. The Allergy Clinic aims to mitigate these factors through targeted interventions.
Factors such as increasing pollution, changing diets, indoor lifestyles, and reduced microbial exposure (often referred to as the “hygiene hypothesis”) are contributing to the surge in allergies.
These conditions impact not just physical health but also daily life, leading to fatigue, poor sleep, reduced productivity, recurrent infections, breathing difficulties in severe cases, and emotional stress.
Managing Allergies with the Right Approach
The Allergy Clinic also emphasizes long-term management strategies. Living with allergies is manageable with the right approach, including identifying and avoiding triggers, adhering to prescribed medications, and maintaining good indoor air quality.
Protective measures such as wearing masks in high-pollution environments can reduce exposure, while a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet strengthen overall immunity.
For patients with persistent symptoms, immunotherapy offered at the Allergy Clinic can provide long-term relief, supported by regular follow-ups with specialists.
Shirin Wadia, CEO of KEM Hospital Pune, said, “Allergies today are a growing health challenge that require specialized and continuous care. Through this dedicated clinic, we aim to empower patients with the right diagnosis and treatment, while also educating them on managing triggers effectively so they can lead normal, active lives.”
