What does Immunology & Allergy treat? Scope, related specialties and specialist registration
Immunology & Allergy (Medical Council specialty code S34) is a specialty of adult internal medicine dealing with diseases that affect the immune system, from prevention, investigation and diagnosis to treatment (Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Specialty Descriptions, April 2025). Immune system disorders, allergies and infections in children belong to a separate specialty, Paediatric Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (S56); diagnosing immune diseases by laboratory tests is the work of Immunology (S44), a pathology specialty.
What does an allergy specialist treat?
Immunology & Allergy is a specialty of adult internal medicine that approaches diseases affecting the immune system through their immune mechanisms, from prevention, investigation and diagnosis to treatment; Paediatric Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases is a branch of paediatrics; Immunology belongs to pathology and diagnoses immune diseases mainly through laboratory tests and clinical consultation (Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Specialty Descriptions, April 2025). On the Medical Council's register, the three are different specialties.
Which specialty follows up a particular problem is decided by the treating doctor according to the condition.
| Specialty (Medical Council specialty code) | College | Scope | Chinese name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immunology & Allergy (S34) | Hong Kong College of Physicians | A specialty of adult internal medicine; diseases affecting the immune system, from prevention, investigation and diagnosis to treatment | 免疫及過敏病科 |
| Paediatric Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (S56) | Hong Kong College of Paediatricians | A branch of paediatrics; immune system disorders, allergies and infections in children | 兒童免疫、過敏及傳染病科 |
| Immunology (S44) | Hong Kong College of Pathologists | A pathology specialty; studies immune diseases, provides tissue-typing tests, and diagnoses immune diseases and monitors their course through laboratory tests and clinical consultation | 免疫學 |
How do I check whether a doctor is a specialist in Immunology & Allergy?
On the Medical Council of Hong Kong website, the Specialist Register can be opened by specialty to show its list of doctors; a search by name shows the specialty and specialist registration number in the specialist registration field of the doctor's record. For the steps, see how to check a doctor's registration and specialty.
Doctors can present themselves as specialists only if they are on the Specialist Register, and can use only the title of the specialty in which they are registered (Medical Council, Code of Professional Conduct for the Guidance of Registered Medical Practitioners, section 7, revised October 2022).
For the name and code, see Immunology & Allergy: English name and code; for other specialties, see the Chinese–English list of medical specialty names.
How do I get a referral to public allergy services? Can I book a private allergy specialist directly?
To book a new-case appointment at a Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinic, you need a referral letter issued within the past three months by a locally registered doctor; one from a private doctor is also accepted. Compiled by this site: for a private specialist, you can ask the hospital or clinic directly how to book; if you use medical insurance, whether a referral letter or pre-approval is needed depends on the policy terms, and you can ask the insurer first.
For the steps to book a public specialist outpatient clinic, see how to book a public specialist outpatient clinic; for what to prepare before seeing a specialist, see what to prepare before seeing a specialist.
Frequently asked questions
Is ‘allergy’ the same specialty as Immunology & Allergy?
Compiled by Book a Doctor: what people commonly call ‘allergy’ (過敏科) corresponds to Immunology & Allergy (S34) on the Medical Council's Specialist Register.
Which specialty covers children's allergies?
Paediatric Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (S56) is a branch of paediatrics dealing with immune system disorders, allergies and infections in children (Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Specialty Descriptions, April 2025); for the other paediatric subspecialties, see how to choose a paediatrician.
Not sure whether to see an allergy specialist? Can I see a family doctor first?
Primary healthcare is the first point of contact for individuals and families in a continuing healthcare process, and family doctors are the main providers of primary healthcare; the Primary Healthcare Blueprint's directions include improving the arrangements for family doctors to refer patients to specialists and hospitals (Health Bureau, December 2022). On choosing a family doctor, see how to choose a family doctor.
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