Dr. William Berger, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI
Physician
Allergy
Specialty
Pediatric Allergy
About Dr. William Berger, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI
William E. Berger, MD, is one of the nation's foremost experts on allergies and asthma. He practices both adult and pediatric allergy and asthma in Mission Viejo, Calif., and is clinical professor in the College of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology at the University of California, Irvine.
“I entered the field of medicine because I wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of others. I chose to specialize in allergy and immunology because allergies, asthma and other related conditions affect many millions of people of all ages in the US. Today, I offer my patients over 30 years of experience along with a commitment to exceptional patient care."
Conditions Treated
Food Allergy
Allergic Conjunctivitis
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Allergic Rhinitis
Anaphylaxis (Anaphyactic Shock)
Asthma
Atopic Dermatitis
Autoimmune Disorders
Hereditary Angioedema (HAE)
Hives (Urticaria)
Sinusitis
Procedures & Services
Allergy Shots (Immunotherapy)
Allergy Tests
Epinephrine Auto-Injectors
Lung Function Tests
Patch Testing for Contact Dermatitis
Tips & Wisdom
Outgrowing Your Asthma
Asthma isn't something that you ususally outgrow. Extensive studies over the past 15 years have shown that asthma is an ongoing physical condition that doesnt just disappear forever when you feel better. Your asthma can vary in its symptoms and severity during yur lifetime. However, just like the color of your eyes or your individual fingerprint pattern, when you have asthma, it remains as another of your distinctive, although unseen, physical characteristics. When you have asthma, the ai...
Asthma isn't something that you ususally outgrow. Extensive studies over the past 15 years have shown that asthma is an ongoing physical condition that doesnt just disappear forever when you feel better. Your asthma can vary in its symptoms and severity during yur lifetime. However, just like the color of your eyes or your individual fingerprint pattern, when you have asthma, it remains as another of your distinctive, although unseen, physical characteristics. When you have asthma, the ai...
Recognizing Your Asthma Triggers
One of the most important steps you need to take to effective manage your asthma is to identify what triggers the symptoms of your condition. These triggers include: Inhalant allergens, including animal danders, dust mite and cockroach allergens, some mold spores, and certain airborne pollens of grasses, weeds and trees. Occupational irritants and allergens, found primarily in the workplace, that induce occupational asthma or aggravate an already existing form of the disease. ...
One of the most important steps you need to take to effective manage your asthma is to identify what triggers the symptoms of your condition. These triggers include: Inhalant allergens, including animal danders, dust mite and cockroach allergens, some mold spores, and certain airborne pollens of grasses, weeds and trees. Occupational irritants and allergens, found primarily in the workplace, that induce occupational asthma or aggravate an already existing form of the disease. ...
Quick Asthma Fix vs. Long-Term Control
Controlling asthma means treating the underlying inflammation of your airways. Don’t substitute the quick fix of an inhaled short-acting beta 2 -adrenergic bronchodilator for consistent, routine use of the appropriate long-term asthma medications that your doctor prescribes. Think of your asthma as a smoldering campfire in your lungs. If you pay attention to the embers only after they flare up, containing the flames becomes a serious problem. The goal of your asthma management plan is t...
Controlling asthma means treating the underlying inflammation of your airways. Don’t substitute the quick fix of an inhaled short-acting beta 2 -adrenergic bronchodilator for consistent, routine use of the appropriate long-term asthma medications that your doctor prescribes. Think of your asthma as a smoldering campfire in your lungs. If you pay attention to the embers only after they flare up, containing the flames becomes a serious problem. The goal of your asthma management plan is t...
Patient Education Resources
4 Levels of Asthma Severity
Experts from different fields of medicine have classified the severity of asthma - whether allergic or nonallergic - into four levels. These asthma severity levels provide the basis for stepwise management of the disease. Bear in midn, however, that these levels of severity aren't permanent or static. Asthma is a condition that can change throughout your life. The primary goal of the stepwise approach is to get your asthma to the lowest classification possible. Therefore, effectively trea...
Experts from different fields of medicine have classified the severity of asthma - whether allergic or nonallergic - into four levels. These asthma severity levels provide the basis for stepwise management of the disease. Bear in midn, however, that these levels of severity aren't permanent or static. Asthma is a condition that can change throughout your life. The primary goal of the stepwise approach is to get your asthma to the lowest classification possible. Therefore, effectively trea...
Asthma Control with Long-Term Medications
If used in an appropriate, consistent manner, long-term control medications can reduce existing airway inflammation and may also help prevent further inflammation. However, your doctor should make sure you understand that these types of drugs aren’t advisable for rescue relief of a severe asthma episode. For this reason, your asthma management plan should also include a prescribed quick-relief medication (most often a quick-relief bronchodilator, as I explain in &l...
If used in an appropriate, consistent manner, long-term control medications can reduce existing airway inflammation and may also help prevent further inflammation. However, your doctor should make sure you understand that these types of drugs aren’t advisable for rescue relief of a severe asthma episode. For this reason, your asthma management plan should also include a prescribed quick-relief medication (most often a quick-relief bronchodilator, as I explain in &l...
Asthma in Adults
People are living longer than ever before, especially in developed countries, such as the United States, Canada, and most European Union members. However, people’s increased life spans have also been paralleled by an unfortunate rise in the incidence of asthma worldwide among people older than 65. For seniors, dealing with asthma can present unique challenges due to the following reasons: Many elderly patients are first diagnosed with asthma only in their later years, after ...
People are living longer than ever before, especially in developed countries, such as the United States, Canada, and most European Union members. However, people’s increased life spans have also been paralleled by an unfortunate rise in the incidence of asthma worldwide among people older than 65. For seniors, dealing with asthma can present unique challenges due to the following reasons: Many elderly patients are first diagnosed with asthma only in their later years, after ...
Exercise-Induced Asthma
Understanding EIA Typically, EIA symptoms start minutes after you begin vigorous activity, when the airways in your lungs become narrow and constricted. These respiratory symptoms usually reach their peak of severity between five and ten minutes after you stop exercising. In many cases, the symptoms can spontaneously resolve (without the use of a short-acting inhaled bronchodilator) within 30 minutes. Exercises that involve breathing cold, dry air, such as running outdoors or skiing, are more...
Understanding EIA Typically, EIA symptoms start minutes after you begin vigorous activity, when the airways in your lungs become narrow and constricted. These respiratory symptoms usually reach their peak of severity between five and ten minutes after you stop exercising. In many cases, the symptoms can spontaneously resolve (without the use of a short-acting inhaled bronchodilator) within 30 minutes. Exercises that involve breathing cold, dry air, such as running outdoors or skiing, are more...
Inhaled Corticosteroids for Asthma Control
Doctors generally consider inhaled corticosteroids the primary controller or maintenance therapy for patients with moderate and severe persistent asthma, because of the drugs’ anti-inflammatory properties. Doctors use these drugs because the inhaled forms directly deliver the medication to the airways with minimal side effects. Consistent and appropriate (as determined by your doctor) use of inhaled corticosteroids can also reduce the need for oral (or systemic ) corticosteroids, which may...
Doctors generally consider inhaled corticosteroids the primary controller or maintenance therapy for patients with moderate and severe persistent asthma, because of the drugs’ anti-inflammatory properties. Doctors use these drugs because the inhaled forms directly deliver the medication to the airways with minimal side effects. Consistent and appropriate (as determined by your doctor) use of inhaled corticosteroids can also reduce the need for oral (or systemic ) corticosteroids, which may...
Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) for Food Allergy
You or a family member may be starting treatment for food allergy, also known as oral immunotherapy (OIT). This handout is designed to help answer the most common questions about OIT. Please feel free to speak with one of our staff members if you have additional questions, or if new questions or problems arise. By working together on your treatment plan, we will have the best opportunity for good control of your allergy symptoms. How long will the first visit take? The first-day procedure ...
You or a family member may be starting treatment for food allergy, also known as oral immunotherapy (OIT). This handout is designed to help answer the most common questions about OIT. Please feel free to speak with one of our staff members if you have additional questions, or if new questions or problems arise. By working together on your treatment plan, we will have the best opportunity for good control of your allergy symptoms. How long will the first visit take? The first-day procedure ...
Traveling with Your Asthmatic Child
When traveling with a child who has asthma, many of the same considerations that adults must contend with also apply. These points include the following: Pack two containers of all medications, and make sure that you’ve labeled them properly. Keep one container as a carry-on with you, and keep the other in a purse, backpack, or briefcase. Obtain a MedicAlert bracelet or necklace for your child to wear. If you’re not around, emergency medical personnel will immediately know wh...
When traveling with a child who has asthma, many of the same considerations that adults must contend with also apply. These points include the following: Pack two containers of all medications, and make sure that you’ve labeled them properly. Keep one container as a carry-on with you, and keep the other in a purse, backpack, or briefcase. Obtain a MedicAlert bracelet or necklace for your child to wear. If you’re not around, emergency medical personnel will immediately know wh...
Education & Training
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Fellowship, Allergy and Immunology, 1976 - 1978
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical Center
Residency, Pediatrics, 1973 - 1976
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Class of 1973
