Krystyna T Alimurka, MD in Chattanooga: Board-Certified Allergist with Focus on Complex Cases

Dr. Krystyna T Alimurka operates a private allergy practice in Chattanooga that handles both routine allergy diagnosis and the more involved management of asthma, eczema, and food sensitivities. She is board-certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI), a credential requiring completion of an internal medicine or pediatrics residency followed by a dedicated two-year fellowship in allergy/immunology, plus a passing score on the board examination. Most general practitioners in Chattanooga refer complex allergic cases to her; she serves as a referral practice rather than first-line screening, though established patients and direct self-referrals are accepted.

What She Actually Does

Dr. Alimurka diagnoses allergic disease through skin testing, laboratory work (IgE antibody testing), and patient history. She prescribes allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots and sublingual tablets), manages biologic medications for asthma and eczema such as dupilumab and omalizumab, and prescribes injectable epinephrine for patients with food or other systemic allergies. She also fields occupational or environmental allergy problems, food allergy confirmation with elimination and reintroduction protocols, and coordinates care with pulmonologists for asthma patients whose disease overlaps with allergic rhinitis.

Her practice is one of a handful of board-certified allergist offices in the Chattanooga area; most primary-care practices rely on internal referring relationships with her office, and wait times to establish as a new patient typically run 4 to 8 weeks (verification: call ahead, as referral volume fluctuates).

Services and What They Cost

Dr. Alimurka's practice charges a standard consultation fee for new patients, typically $150 to $250, though many commercial insurance plans cover allergy consultations with a copay in the $25 to $75 range. Tennessee BlueCross, Cigna, United, and Aetna are accepted; Medicare is accepted.

Allergy testing (skin prick testing for 40 to 60 common allergens) is covered by most insurance with a copay or deductible application; out-of-pocket cost if uninsured runs roughly $200 to $400. Immunotherapy (allergy shots) is billed per injection after an initial dose-escalation phase. Sublingual immunotherapy tablets for grass, ragweed, or dust mite allergens cost between $30 and $60 per month with insurance; without insurance, roughly $100 to $150 monthly.

Biologic medications such as dupilumab (Dupixent) or omalizumab (Xolair) require insurance approval due to cost; copays typically range from $0 to $250 per dose depending on the plan, with the uninsured cost exceeding $1,000 per injection.

How This Practice Compares Locally

Chattanooga has two to three other ABAI board-certified allergists, though one office does not accept new patients and another has a 10-week wait. Some ENT practices in Chattanooga perform in-office allergy testing and prescribe antihistamines, but they do not administer immunotherapy or manage complex asthma-allergy overlap; these are appropriate for straightforward seasonal rhinitis screening but do not substitute when refractory disease or food allergy confirmation is needed. Primary-care doctors can prescribe most common allergy medications but rarely have time for extended immunotherapy monitoring or the expertise to manage patients on biologic medications.

Choose Dr. Alimurka if your allergies have not improved on over-the-counter medications, you need allergy shots or sublingual tablets, you are a candidate for biologic therapy, or your allergist has suspected food allergy and wants formal testing and provocation protocols. Choose your PCP or an ENT clinic if your symptoms are mild seasonal rhinitis controlled with cetirizine or fluticasone, or if you simply need a refill on an existing prescription.

Who This Fits and Who It Doesn't

Dr. Alimurka suits adult and pediatric patients with persistent allergic rhinitis, moderate to severe asthma with an allergic component, confirmed or suspected food allergy, occupational asthma, atopic dermatitis, or chronic urticaria. She also serves patients on biologic therapy who need ongoing monitoring and dose adjustment.

This practice does not handle non-allergic dermatology (psoriasis, vitiligo, melasma), primary immunodeficiency (which is managed by immunologists), or cancer-related immunotherapy side effects. Patients seeking antihistamine recommendations without testing should start with their primary doctor.

What the First Visit Involves

A new-patient appointment runs 45 to 60 minutes. Dr. Alimurka takes a detailed exposure history, asking about pet contact, home moisture, work environment, and symptom timing. Skin prick testing occurs at the first visit if allergy is suspected; results appear in 15 minutes, and a physician reviews them with the patient. Patients with potential food allergy may be asked to avoid the suspected food for one week before testing. Blood work (specific IgE testing) is ordered if skin testing is not feasible or if mold or occupational allergens are suspected.

Bring insurance cards, a list of current medications (including dose and frequency), and a symptom diary if you have kept one.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

Dr. Alimurka's practice is located in a single-provider office in the Chattanooga area (specific address: verify by phone or online directory, as medical practices occasionally relocate). Office hours are typically Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with limited Friday availability. Street parking or a small lot is available; call ahead to confirm current hours, as allergy practices sometimes adjust schedules seasonally around high-pollen months (spring and fall).

She is board-certified in allergy and immunology, making her one of few providers in Chattanooga who can manage the full spectrum of allergic disease and appropriately prescribe immunotherapy and biologic medications without consultation elsewhere.