Module overview
This module covers practical aspects of allergy diagnosis, investigation and management, and includes all major allergic diseases, with a focus on those affecting the nose and lung.
A mix of lectures, small group and interactive presentations are used for teaching, as well as optional exposure to clinical environments.
It is suitable for students with prior biomedical science training, and is typically sat within the MSc Respiratory Medicine or alongside respiratory modules, however we also accept students enrolled on related health programmes, or as a standalone module.
By the end of this course you will be able to:
- Global trends in allergic diseases
- Clearly understand indications, limitations and interpretation of allergy tests
- Describe detailed features of anaphylaxis, critically appraise the following: triggers and mechanisms behind anaphylaxis, immediate treatment of anaphylaxis, education of the patient/carer regarding use of an adrenaline auto-injector and referral pathway for specialist input
- Critically appraise principles of management of allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic eczema and food allergy including current national and international guidelines
- Critically appraise allergen-specific immunotherapy (desensitisation), who is suitable for this treatment and when to refer to an allergy specialist
- Explain drug allergy labelling, de-labelling and referral pathways for drug allergy tests
- Perform the following tasks: Advanced drug allergy history taking, documentation, differentiation of what is and what is not drug allergy, clinically differentiating different types of hypersensitivity reactions
Module attendance
- Pre-contact reading demostrating how published evidence is implemented effectively in clinical practice
- 3 full days of face to face teaching.
- Self-directed learning.
Assessment
This module is assessed by a short answer question exam (50%), a clinical case study or essay (40%) and case-based discussions (10%).
Academics involved in the delivery of this module
- Professor M Thirumala Krishna
- Professor Adel Mansur
- Dr Gareth Walters
- Dr Surendra Karanam
- Dr Omar Mohamed
- Dr Lavanya Diwakar
- Professor Nick Makwana
- Dr Prasad Nagakumar
Stand-alone module
This module can be taken as a stand-alone assessed or non-assessed course.
Entry requirements - BSc or equivalent professional degree in a relevant subject area
Please contact Professor M Thirumala Krishna m.t.krishna@bham.ac.uk for further information.