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Dr. Iris Kim, MD is an allergist and immunologist in Vista, CA specializing in allergy & immunology and general pediatrics. She graduated from University of Hawaii at Manoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine. Dr. Iris Kim, MD is affiliated with Providence and Sharp HealthCare.
Sharp HealthCare
Sharp HealthCare
Sharp HealthCare
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease where the tissue and airways of the lungs become extremely sensitive to certain substances. When these substances are breathed in, the lungs become inflamed. The muscles around the airways tighten and squeeze the lungs, and passages within the lungs swell and tighten. The airways themselves produce mucus, which further clogs the tightened, swollen airways. A person having an asthma attack finds it very difficult to breathe, and a severe attack can even be fatal.
Asthma affects people of all ages, but people with asthma are most often diagnosed as children. Symptoms can include wheezing, a tight feeling in the chest, shortness of breath, and coughing. Some people have mild symptoms all the time, and some people have no symptoms at all, but everyone with asthma is susceptible to occasional severe attacks or flare-ups of symptoms when they are exposed to triggers. Triggers vary widely but can include:
Treatment for most asthma patients involves three steps. Patients learn what their asthma triggers are and avoid them. They take a daily control medication, usually an inhaled corticosteroid, to reduce inflammation in the lungs. Also, they have rescue medication with them at all times to take in case of a severe attack. These quick-acting inhaled medications relax the muscles around the airways and allow the lungs to open up for air.
There is no cure for asthma, but with treatment it should not interfere with daily life and activities.
Autoimmune Diseases
An autoimmune disorder happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks the tissues of its own body, causing symptoms of illness. There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune disorders. While some are very rare, others are fairly common. Combined, autoimmune disorders are one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, affecting approximately 24 million people.
A properly working immune system identifies foreign substances in the body that might cause illness, such as bacteria and viruses. The immune system then creates antibodies which attack the foreign substances, neutralizing them and keeping the body safe. In people with autoimmune disorders, something goes wrong with this process. For reasons that are not fully understand, the immune system creates antibodies to attack the patient's own tissues.
Symptoms of an autoimmune disorder depend on which tissue is being attacked by the immune system, but common symptoms of autoimmune disease include fever, fatigue, and a general feeling of just not being well. Autoimmune disorders are more common in women than in men, and they may run in families. Autoimmune disorders can affect various parts of the body such as blood vessels, connective tissue, endocrine glands, joints, muscles, red blood cells, skin, and many others.
It is common to have more than one autoimmune disorder at a time. Most are chronic, or life-long illnesses, although they may come and go in flares. Treatment for autoimmune disorders depends on which part of the body is being attacked. For example:
Many autoimmune disorders of all kinds are treated with immune-suppressing medications, such as corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone) to reduce the effect of the immune system.
Subcutaneous Allergen Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots)
Also known as allergy shots, subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy is a treatment in which gradually increasing doses of an allergen are injected under the skin. An allergen is a substance that can bring about an allergic reaction. Pollen, dust mites, and pet dander are the most common examples of these substances. When patients receive an allergy shot, their body produces "blocking" antibodies that decrease the immune system's sensitivity to an allergen, thus reducing their symptoms.
Before treatment is begun, patients and their doctors first have to identify different factors that trigger their symptoms. Then, skin tests are done to confirm which substances cause allergic reactions. Blood tests may be performed as well, but they are typically not necessary.
There are two phases to subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy: a build-up phase and a maintenance phase. The build-up phase lasts three to six months, during which patients receive shots with increasing amounts of the allergens once or twice a week. When the effective dose is reached, the maintenance phase begins and may continue for up to five years.
Although allergy shots are the longest-lasting and most effective allergy treatment available, they are not for everyone. If patients have heart problems, high blood pressure, or severe asthma, they should not be given allergy shots. The injections are generally safe, but they may have a little swelling at the injection site, which is normal. Rarely, severe shock-like reactions, called anaphylaxis, can also occur. Patients will likely be required by their doctor to stay for half an hour after their shot, so in the event of an anaphylactic reaction, it can be treated immediately.
Dr. Iris Kim, MD graduated from University of Hawaii at Manoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine. She completed residency at University of California, Irvine Affiliated Hospitals. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics and has a state license in California.
Medical School: University of Hawaii at Manoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine
Residency: University of California, Irvine Affiliated Hospitals
Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics
Licensed In: California
Dr. Iris Kim, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Iris Kim, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross HMO, Aetna, Aetna HMO, Blue Shield of California, UnitedHealthcare, Sharp Health Plan, Anthem, United Healthcare HMO, Medicare Advantage, Humana Medicare Advantage, United Healthcare, Health Net HMO, CIGNA HMO, Health Net and Medicare.
According to our sources, Dr. Iris Kim, MD accepts the following insurance providers:
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These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Iris Kim, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.
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$152
Xembify $152 |
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Dr. Iris Kim's areas of specialization are general pediatrics and allergy & immunology; she sees patients in Long Beach, CA, Orange, CA, and Torrance, CA. Dr. Kim obtained a license to practice in California.
