Allergology and Immunology

At United Medical Clinic (UMC), we diagnose and treat allergies in adults and children. In-person appointments, skin prick tests, drug allergy testing, and allergy shots are available at our clinic in Lisbon (Saldanha), and patients in Lisbon and Porto can also see an allergist online. An allergist consultation costs €120, a follow-up costs €100, and skin prick tests during the consultation cost €50. Consultations are available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian, and online also in Russian and Ukrainian. No referral is needed, and we work with all Portuguese and international insurance providers.

Our Doctors

• Dr. Mila Mikovic, Lisbon. Specialist in Immunoallergology (allergy and clinical immunology). She completed her residency at Hospital Dona Estefânia and ULS São José in Lisbon and has presented research on beta-lactam antibiotic allergy testing at the EAACI Congress and the World Allergy Congress. She sees adults and children in person and online, and performs skin prick tests, drug allergy testing, and immunotherapy injections. Languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian.
• Online pediatric allergy consultations. Online consultations on food allergy, atopic dermatitis, asthma, and other allergic conditions, with a focus on children from birth. Languages: English, Russian, Ukrainian, and Portuguese.

If you prefer another language, a medical coordinator can interpret during an in-person visit free of charge.

Conditions We Treat

• seasonal allergies (hay fever): sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, and itchy, watery eyes in spring and summer;
• year-round allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis caused by house dust mites, pets, or mold;
• allergic asthma, wheezing, and recurrent cough;
• food allergy and suspected reactions to specific foods;
• drug allergy, including suspected allergy to antibiotics;
• atopic dermatitis (eczema) in children and adults;
• acute and chronic urticaria (hives) and angioedema;
• allergic reactions to insect stings;
• recurrent respiratory symptoms, sinusitis, or ear infections in children when an allergic cause is suspected;
• second opinions on an allergy diagnosis or proposed treatment.

If you have difficulty breathing, rapid swelling of the tongue or throat, or feel faint after contact with an allergen, call 112. A scheduled appointment is not a substitute for emergency care.

Skin Prick Tests

Skin prick tests show which allergens cause an immediate (IgE-mediated) reaction. The doctor places drops of allergen solutions on the forearm and makes a light, shallow prick through each drop with a special lancet. The reaction is read after 15–20 minutes, so you get the results during the same visit.

The UMC panel includes:

• house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae) and the storage mite Lepidoglyphus destructor;
• cat and dog dander;
• a grass pollen mix and wall pellitory (Parietaria) pollen;
• olive (Olea europaea);
• the mold Alternaria alternata;
• foods: cow's milk protein, egg white, and peanut.

Every test also includes two controls: saline with phenol (negative control), which shows that the skin does not react on its own, and histamine (positive control), which confirms that the skin reacts normally and the result is reliable.

The doctor assesses the size and type of each reaction. A positive test shows sensitization, and the doctor compares it with your symptoms to see whether it explains them. Based on the results, you get a plan: avoiding the identified allergens, medication for symptoms, allergen immunotherapy, or further tests if needed.

Skin prick tests are performed by Dr. Mila Mikovic during her consultation in Lisbon. The consultation costs €120 and the tests cost €50. Antihistamines can affect the result, so they usually need to be stopped a few days before the test. We confirm the exact interval when you book.

Allergen Blood Tests (Specific IgE)

When skin testing is not suitable, for example if you cannot stop antihistamines or have widespread skin disease, the doctor may order a blood test for specific IgE antibodies. It shows sensitization to individual allergens from a blood sample.

Drug Allergy Testing

If a drug allergy is suspected, Dr. Mila Mikovic can perform skin tests with the drug and, when indicated, a drug provocation test: the medication is given in a controlled way under medical supervision to confirm or rule out the allergy.

This is especially useful if your medical record says you are allergic to penicillin or another beta-lactam antibiotic without confirmation. Such labels often prevent people from receiving the most effective antibiotics, and testing helps clarify the situation. Testing is done in Lisbon, and the cost depends on the drug and the type of test.

Allergen Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots and Drops)

Allergen immunotherapy is the only treatment that targets the cause of an allergy rather than just the symptoms. The patient receives regular doses of the allergen they react to, and over time the immune system becomes less sensitive to it. It is considered when testing confirms an allergy that matches your symptoms, for example in allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, or allergic asthma. A course usually lasts three to five years.

Immunotherapy is given in two ways:

• Injections (subcutaneous immunotherapy, SCIT), given at the clinic on a schedule set by the doctor.
• Drops or tablets under the tongue (sublingual immunotherapy, SLIT), taken at home, with regular follow-up visits.

Allergens Available for Immunotherapy in Portugal

• House dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae), the most common year-round allergen in Portugal: injections or drops.
• Grass pollen, one of the most common causes of seasonal allergy in spring and summer: injections or drops.
• Tree pollen (birch, olive, and cypress) and weed pollen (wall pellitory, which is common in Portugal, plantain, and mugwort): injections or drops.
• Cat and dog dander: injections or drops. Immunotherapy for horse dander is available from only one manufacturer.

Tablets are also available for some allergens. The doctor chooses the form and the manufacturer based on your symptoms and age.

Insect Venom Allergy

In Portugal, immunotherapy for bee and wasp venom allergy is carried out only in hospital allergy departments for safety reasons and is not available at outpatient clinics. Dr. Mila Mikovic assesses your risk, explains what to do if you are stung again, and refers you to a hospital if venom immunotherapy is indicated.

How Immunotherapy Works at UMC

• Immunotherapy is prescribed by our allergist after a consultation and testing. If you already have a prescription and a consultation report from a specialist in Immunoallergology in Portugal, you can have your injections at UMC with that prescription.
• Injections and drops are prepared individually for each patient based on the doctor's prescription, so the clinic cannot buy them in advance. The doctor chooses the form and the manufacturer.
• Once you have your preparation, you can bring it to the clinic in Lisbon and store it here. You then come in for injections on the schedule set by the doctor.
• Injections are given by Dr. Mila Mikovic. After each injection, you stay at the clinic under medical observation for 30 minutes.
• Drops and tablets are taken at home, and the doctor monitors the treatment at follow-up visits in person or online.

Online Consultations and Patients in Porto

Online consultations are available with both doctors. They are a convenient way to discuss symptoms, review previous test results, adjust treatment, and follow up during immunotherapy. Patients in Porto can start with an online consultation and come to Lisbon for skin prick tests, drug allergy testing, and injections.

Fees, Insurance, and Booking

• Allergist consultation: €120
• Follow-up consultation: €100
• Skin prick tests during the consultation (Lisbon): €50

The cost of drug allergy testing and immunotherapy injection visits depends on your treatment plan, and we confirm it when you book. We work with all Portuguese and international insurance providers, and patients without insurance can pay directly. No referral is needed.

You can book online, via WhatsApp or Telegram, or by phone at +351 300 502 822. In-person appointments take place at Avenida Defensores de Chaves, 73B (Saldanha), Lisbon. Online consultations are available to patients in Lisbon and Porto.

Frequently Asked Questions