When to See an Immunologist: Understanding Immune System Issues

Question
Hi.  I have been wondering (a lot) about what situations merit a referral to an immunologist.
Throughout my adult life, I have been prone to extended bouts of winter pharyngitis/sinusitis, but things have been getting worse in the last few years. Some people have suggested that it is because I now have a 3 year old in daycare, but I find this arguement to be weak, because he is rarely sick, and when he is sick, it is a minor cough or runny nose. My husband has not caught these infections either.

This past year I have suffered:
*3+ months of subclinical or intermittant Strep throat with reactive arthitis
*2+ months of chronic pharyngitis/sinusitis pain with cough
*multiple (more than 5) individual occurrances of pharyngitis/sinusitis (in addition to the strep infection, and chronic cough above)
*walking pneumonia
*asthma symptoms following walking pneumonia
*2 occurrances of conjunctivitis(one mild, one severe)
*2 miscarriages (both 10-12 weeks, and chromosomally normal)
*Fatigue (worsening)

38 years old
mild mold allergies (claritin, flonase)
controlled depression (wellbutrin, prozac)

I would greatly appreciate your opinion.

Answer
an immunologist is typically trained in allergy and immunology and unless at a medical center, 95% of their work is in allergy.

Your sinus/strep/allergy problems don't mean you have an immune system deficiency... the child in daycare part carries more weight than you think.... they do carry colds a lot, sometimes with minimal symptoms.... also, chronic allergies makes you a setup for recurrent sinus infections.... Given all that, I would have a thorough evaluation and treatment of your allergy, sinus issues then see how your infections go..... and that can be done thru a good primary doc or a referral to an allergist/immunologist, or sometimes some ENT doctors subspecialize in the allergy/sinus part of their field..... I hope this helps