Dr. Brant Ward
Allergy and Immunology
Richmond, VA
15 years experience male
Locations
Office
Richmond, VA
Office
Richmond, VA
About
Bio
Graduated with an MD, as well as PhD in Immunology. Currently a Physician-Scientist Fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University. Clinical interests include primary immunodeficiency-, mast cell-, and eosinophil-disorders. Scientific interests include mast cell biology and regulation of immunity.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Allergy and Immunology
Internal Medicine - Immunology
Doctor Q&A
151 Answers
71 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Maybe, maybe not: There are many different types of autoimmune disorders, many of which are not associated with immune deficiencies. Certain immune deficiencies (e.g., ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Too many mast cells: Mastocytosis is an overgrowth of mast cells, immune cells that release histamine and other chemicals upon activation. There are several forms, from sm... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
NIH website: The national institutes of health have good information about mastocytosis on their website: http://www.Niaid.Nih.Gov/topics/mastocytosis/pages/defaul... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Using: Using topical bendaryl can actually increase your risk for developing an allergy to the medication.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Probably cold: Allergies can sometimes cause mild irritation of the throat, but it shouldn't be downright painful. They are also usually accompanied by sneezing and ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Unlikely: An "allergy" is actually a very specific type of immune reaction. While it is possible for someone to develop an allergy to nearly anything, allergy t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Time is only cure: Other tips: if you know you've touched poison ivy, wash the affected area with soap and water immediately to get rid of the plant's oils. Taking a hot... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Control of symptoms: After diagnosis, treatment is mostly focused on controlling symptoms. Flushing, itching, and (to some extent) GI symptoms are helped by antihistamines... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
See your doctor: If your symptoms are not controlled with a normal dose, you should be evaluated for other causes and treatments. 2nd-generation antihistamines like Cl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Apples & oranges: Afrin works to reduce blood flow to nasals tissue, leading to reduced swelling. It is used to treat congestion from colds, allergies, etc. Nasonex (mo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
20-30 minutes: Oral antihistamines like Allegra (fexofenadine) need to be absorbed by the digestive system and distributed thru the body before they are effective--a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
See an allergist: People with allergies to local anesthetics tend to cross-react to medicines within the same chemical group. You've listed medicine from both major ane... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Usually normal: Most people with a systemic mastocytosis have the 'indolent' variey, in which case their life span is the same as anyone else's (provided they get app... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Too many eosinophils: Eosinophils, a type of immune cell, are too abundant in hes. High eos can be seen in allergies and in some parasitic or viral infections. If these con... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Multiple tests: A complete blood count will determine if you have increased numbers of eosinophils. Then, common causes of high eosinophils must be excluded, usually ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Symptoms can vary: Anaphylaxis is a systemic allergic reaction. That is, symptoms occur not just at the site of exposure, but at other parts of the body as well. Sympto... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Yes and No: Allergies to specific triggers, like peanuts, shrimp, dust mites, etc., are not inherited from one generation to the next. However, the general state ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Recent infection: Igm antibodies are the first type produced by the immune system after an infection, but they are transient. Igg takes a while to get produced by the i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
It depends: You cannot predict the severity of a reaction based on how severe a prior one was. So, if there is even the potential for a serious reaction (e.g., al... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
See a specialist!: Treatment of aggressive systemic mastocytosis can be extremely complex. If at all possible, you should see a specialist with experience treating this ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Antihistamines: For most people, hives can be controlled with one or a combination of antihistamines. A non-sedating antihistamine like Allegra (fexofenadine) or zyrt... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
See an immunologist: There are certain warning signs, like multiple ear/sinus/skin infections each year, multiple pneumonias in our lifetime, requiring prolonged antibioti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Yes and no: Antihistamines, as their name implies, effectively treat itching caused by histamine released from immune cells. This includes allergies, but also oth... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Histamine release: People with chronic hives sometimes find that drinking alcohol worsens the hives. The same can be said for people with disorders of mast cells (cells ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
See your doctor: If your allergies are not controlled with one med alone, stepping up to a different med like flonase, nasonex, etc., will likely help you more than ta... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Immune process: Complement proteins in the blood coat bacteria, viruses, etc., to make them easier for the immune system to grab onto and destroy. They can be activat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old male asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Rarely dangerous: Your symptoms sound like urticaria with angioedema, that is, chronic hives with swelling of the lips or mouth. This condition is mostly a nuisance, bu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Research only: Unfortunately, there is no clinically available hsv vaccine yet. A lot of researchers are working to develop a vaccine. Much work has been done with a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 54-year-old female asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Hard to convert: The >1:4800 means they can dilute the serum from your blood more 4800 times and still detect the antibody in their test. Because of differences in how... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
It's complicated: I assume you mean a transplanted organ.The immune system is essentially trained to attack anything that is not "self." this includes viruses, etc., bu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
How high?: An eosinophil count slightly above normal may be due to allergies, asthma, reactions to medications, certain infections, etc. A very high count (>1... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
See an immunologist: Immunoglobulin g (igg) is the main type of antibody found in the blood and is used by your body to help fight off infections. Some people may have a s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Its complicated: The activation of naive and memory b/t cells, and the generation of memory b/t cells is quite complex. There are multiple redundant pathways at work. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Quite possibly: It's possible to develop allergies later in life--if you moved to a new area a couple of years ago, for instance. Sneezing and congestion are suspicio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Yes, but...: Reactions to contrast are usually not caused by a true allergy to iodine (which is rare). Low-ionic strength contrast should be used if you have a his... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Multiple reasons: Some people have vocal cords and/or airways that are irritated by the fine crystals of the meds or propellants in the inhaler. Others may develop poly... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Mast cells: The same cells in your nose that react to the pollens (or other allergens you breathe in) are also located in your eyes. In some people, exposure to a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Usually: Most cases of cutaneous (just in the skin) mastocytosis start in childhood and will go away as a person gets older. Sometimes the spots may stay but t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Talk with your doc: The best for nasal allergies is a corticosteroid nasal spray (flonase, nasonex, (mometasone) rhinocort, etc.) that must be prescribed by your doctor. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Start with PCP: Your primary doctor can often treat mild nasal allergies. If he/she is not successful in treating allergy issues, then see a doctor board-certified in... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Depends on the cause: If it's caused by allergies, nasal corticosteroid spray (e.g. Flonase) may help. If a sinus infection is the cause, antibiotics may help. Drip caused ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
See a specialist: Normal blood work taken when you are feeling relatively "normal" may not exclude all cases of mast cell disease. It may help to recheck certain labs (... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
It's a great idea: Swimming in a chlorinated pool may actually help his eczema, similar to the benefit of using bleach with bathwater. Be sure he rinses off after swimmi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Itch...: Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the whites of the eyes, and typically gives redness of the eyes. When caused by allergies, the eyes will almost inva... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Hard to say: More important that the percentage of eosinophils is the actual number of them in the blood. If your total white blood cell count is low, that % may b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Too many mast cells: Mastocytosis is an overgrowth of mast cells, immune cells that release histamine and other chemicals upon activation. There are several forms, from sm... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
NIH website: The national institutes of health have good information about mastocytosis on their website: http://www.Niaid.Nih.Gov/topics/mastocytosis/pages/defau... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Depends on treatment: Without treatment, an infant with scid will not survive more than a couple of years after birth. Treatment with bone marrow transplantation, enzyme re... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old female asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Happens regularly: This picture is encountered relatively often. Think of it as if the thyroid is inflamed but still has enough reserve to produce adequate hormone. It c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Brant Wardanswered
Allergy and Immunology 15 years experience
Likely, not certain: The majority of people who are told they are allergic to penicillin are not actually so (they get rashes for other reasons, e.g.). Of those that are a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
263
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Ward is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Ward is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful! He has not had many infections but does report some joint pain. So thanks for the info!
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Thank you for your help! I wish I could afford health insurance or get insurance through my employer.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you for the reply. Things have seemed to tapper off with season.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, TX
Graduated 2008MD
Residency
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA HOSPITALS
Completed 2010
Awards
Top Allergist and Immunologist , Second Place, Virginia - Winter
2013
Thought Leader, Third Place, Richmond Region, VA - Summer
2013
Top Allergist and Immunologist , First Place, Virginia - Summer
2013
Affiliations
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
Clinical Immunology Society
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