It may seem that November and December are odd times to talk about allergies; freezing weather kills pollen and many symptoms your child experiences subside during the winter. In reality, this time of year is the perfect opportunity to get the jump on building your child’s life-long immunity to next spring’s irritants and year-round pet dander, mold, dust mites, and other allergens.
Stephanie Cermak, PA-C, and Alzein Pediatrics are urging you to make an allergy-focused appointment by the end of 2018 for your child of any age. At the appointment, your child will be tested for allergies, you will be informed of the results, and we’ll discuss any treatment plans, including oral AllerVision sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).
Make an appointment if your child has asthma or frequently experiences:
- nasal congestion
- runny nose
- sneezing
- eye issues such as dryness, swelling, watering, redness and itching
- chronic sinusitis, when nasal passages become swollen or inflamed
- multiple ear infections
- eczema
- hives
- cough
- headache
- abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea
Testing is simple, non-invasive, needle-free, and painless. Ms. Cermak or a member of our medical staff will apply antigens to your child’s back, using a sterile plastic applicator. Antigens are substances that can cause an immune response, such as the production of antibodies, in the body. In this case, the response is typically redness, swelling and itching. Your child will be gently exposed to 72 different antigens, including weeds, trees, grasses, molds, cat hair, dog hair and some foods.
The testing will take about 20 minutes, but the appointment itself may run about an hour so paperwork can be completed and we can discuss results and treatment plans.
Upon identification and confirmation of your child’s allergies, we’ll discuss appropriate treatments. We may decide that avoidance of allergens, such as staying away from dogs and cats, is your child’s best course. Over-the-counter antihistamines may be considered. We’ll also talk about AllerVision, which helps your child build a life-long immunity to allergens.
AllerVision will formulate serums containing tiny amounts of your child’s specific allergens and ship them directly to your home. These serums will be administered via a dropper under your child’s tongue just once a day, slowly building a tolerance to these irritants in your child. The length of time your child will require the drops will be determined by the severity of the allergic reactions. Click here to read more about how AllerVision works.
Now is the perfect time for allergy testing and treatment. Please click here or call 708-424-7600 today to make your child’s appointment. If you have questions about insurance coverage, our professional administrative staff is happy to provide answers.
Stephanie Cermak PA-C and all of us at Alzein Pediatrics will ensure that you will leave your child’s appointment with a clear understanding of their allergies and how they are best treated.
