As part of our Allergy Center, Rochester Regional Health is pleased to have a program devoted entirely to children and their allergy needs. Because almost anything can be an allergen or cause an allergic reaction, many kids experience allergies. Our Pediatric Allergy Program providers offer compassionate and comprehensive services for the diagnosis and treatment of all pediatric allergic problems. They have trained at some of the leading children’s hospitals in the world, and have brought their expertise in pediatric allergies to our program. If you think your child may have allergies, now is the time to schedule a consultation!
Schedule a Pediatric Allergy Consultation
Allergies are problems with your immune system–the system tasked with keeping you healthy. Many allergic reactions start when your immune system reacts to a false alarm. Usually, your body can defend itself against harmful viruses and bacteria, but sometimes your defenses attack things like animals, dust, pollen, and mold – this is an allergic reaction.
In kids, it can be hard to determine the cause of their symptoms and the best possible treatments – that’s where the expertise and compassion of a dedicated team is important. Our Pediatric Allergy Program providers offer allergy screenings and evaluations, focused on understanding the causes of your child’s symptoms so we can deliver the best, most comprehensive care.
Allergic reactions can happen anywhere in a child’s body. These include the eyes, the nose, the lungs, skin, the lining of the stomach, sinuses, and the throat. Allergic reactions can cause common symptoms including:
If your child is having trouble breathing, please call 911.
Many things can trigger your child’s allergic reactions, but the most common triggers include:
Allergies can affect anyone but are more common in children. For some, symptoms and causes can evolve over time, disappearing and reappearing as bodies grow and change.
To diagnose an allergy or allergies in your child, your Allergy Center provider will take a complete health history and do a physical examination. They may also order tests, including:
Our team utilizes oral food challenges when possible as they offer the most accurate results of all allergy tests. In an oral food challenge, your child will be given food in increasing amounts, under medical supervision, to accurately diagnose or rule out a true food allergy. Most food allergies lead to symptoms soon after the food is ingested. For some, like food protein-induced enterocolitis (FPIES), symptoms may not begin for at least 2 hours after being consumed. The dosing and observation time will be adjusted to best address your child’s pattern of reaction.
Skin tests are the most common allergy tests. They measure the IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibodies to certain allergens like animal dander, foods, and pollens. During the test, your child’s provider will place a small amount of a diluted allergen on their skin, and then prick or scratch the area. The results of the skin test will be interpreted by your allergist in only 15 minutes.
Testing for many allergens can be done at the same time. Skin test results are available once the testing is done.
Allergy blood tests measure the IgE antibodies to certain allergens in the blood. Blood tests are often suggested in conjunction with skin tests to offer additional data to help manage food allergies over time.
DID YOU KNOW?: Did you know that you can test positive to a food and not be allergic? A positive blood test does not always mean that a certain allergy is present. All allergy tests must be reviewed by your Allergy Center provider before results are conclusive.
Your child’s provider will help you determine which test type will work best for them.
Your child’s treatment will depend on their symptoms, age, and overall health, in addition to the severity of their allergies. The three most common treatments for children are avoidance, allergy shots (immunotherapy), and medicine.
Avoidance is the act of staying away from something that gives you an allergic reaction, and can often be easier said than done. Suggestions for avoiding allergens include:
It is also recommended to take vacations in areas where pollen counts are lower. Your Allergy Center provider will have other suggestions to help with allergy avoidance.
Similarly, it is important to avoid trigger foods. Your Allergy provider will help you create an emergency action plan in case your child comes in contact with an allergy trigger. Additionally, they can avoid allergy triggers by:
Your provider will help you and your child with avoidance plans, emergency action plans, and teach you how to use an auto-injector, in case they accidentally come in contact with an allergen. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask when you are with your provider.
We also treat allergic reactions by administering regular injections of a small amount of the allergens that trigger your symptoms. Progressively, we will increase the doses until your immune system builds up a tolerance to the allergen over time, and your allergic reactions diminish.
Our physicians help treat allergies and combat symptoms, through the safe, appropriate, and economical use of medicines that help control immune system chemicals that are released during an allergic reaction. Your child’s provider will find the right medication for them depending on their age, overall health, and the severity of their symptoms. For some, that includes epinephrine autoinjectors, which can help when a severe allergic reaction causes anaphylaxis. Your provider will teach you and your child how to use an epinephrine autoinjector correctly, as well as maintain your prescription.
