What is the difference between the specialties immunology and rheumatology?

Several!: First, as a rheumatologist, i trained in two medical schools in programs called "clinical immunology and rheumatology." rheumatologists deal with autoimmune diseases. But they usually do not deal with allergies, either food or inhaled. They do not skin test. That being said, most allergist are also well trained in immunology, and their is some overlap in treating patients with immune diseases.

Overlap: Rheumatologists tend to examine both mechanical, inflammatory and immunologic contributions, while immunologists tend to be more restricted to the last component.

Immune system: Immunology is a specialty that mostly focuses on deficiencies of the immune system, or diseases that make people susceptible to infections. Rheumatology, on the other hand, generally focuses on problems of an overactive immune system, whereby the immune system seems to attack itself (autoimmunity), in diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.