Children's Hospital

Divisions/Specialties

Division of Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy

The Division of Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy offers comprehensive evaluation, treatment and education for asthma and other breathing disorders, allergic diseases, and primary immunodeficiencies. The division conducts research in many areas including asthma, food allergies and sleep disorders.

Patient Conditions

• Asthma
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• Sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, central apnea and hypoventilation
• Chronic lung disease
• Chronic cough
• Recurrent pneumonia
• Aspiration syndrome
• Allergic rhinitis
• Allergic conjunctivitis
• Latex allergy
• Food allergy
• Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
• Drug allergy
• Primary immunodeficiencies
• Chronic sinusitis

Comprehensive Evaluations

• Diagnostic testing of asthma and its severity:
  • Assesment of asthma control
  • Symptom review
  • Pulmonary function testing
  • Peak flow monitoring
  • Review of medication compliance
  • Review of inhaler technique
  • Response to therapy
  • Review of environmental triggers
• Diagnostic testing of allergic disease:
  • Environmental
  • Food (skin testing and atopypatch testing)
  • Latex
  • Drug
• Diagnostic testing of chronic lung disease
• Diagnostic testing of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders disorders in collaboration with the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Diagnostic testing of central apnea:
  • Polysomnography
  • Cardiorespiratory monitoring
• Diagnostic testing of obstructive sleep apnea:
  • Overnight polysomnography
• Diagnostic testing of recurrent pneumonia:
  • Bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage
• Environmental assessment and education regarding environmental controls
• Chronic Care Clinic -- once a month, primary care providers and subspecialists provide care for patients with multiple chronic illnesses (special needs children) so the child can be seen in one day by multiple specialists.
• Diagnostic testing for Cystic Fibrosis:
• Comprehensive evaluation and sweat testing
  

Specialized Treatments

• Care of poorly controlled asthma
• Immunotherapy (allergy shots)
• Omalizamab (Xolair) -- an injectible treatment for asthma
• Food challenges
• Management of sleep disorders
• Management of chronic respiratory insufficiency, including home ventilation
• Management of children with pulmonary disordes in addition to mulitple chronic diseases (special needs children)

Research Activities

• The impact and cost-effectiveness of the Breathmobile on the underserved children with asthma
• Pharmacy fill patterns in underserved children with asthma
• Environmental and psychosocial variables affecting children with asthma
• Prevalence of asthma and access to resources for Hispanic children
• Impact of food allergy on parent-child interactions
• Analysis of testing methods for evaluation and management of children with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders
• Sleep disordered breathing in children

Special Programs and Services

• Breathmobile --a school-based asthma diagnosis and management program
• Healthy First Saturdays at Port Discovery
• Pediatric Asthma Program
• Pediatric Sleep Disorders Center
• Physician appointments in Spanish

Services to Physicians

• Consultation on difficult cases
• Second opinions
• Special procedures
• Short-term and long-term management

This page was last updated on: May 10, 2011.