Kids Should Feel Whole Inside and Out
Every child should be able to enjoy their world without the threat of an uncomfortable and possibly dangerous allergic reaction. Our allergy and immunology experts at AdventHealth for Children are here to help kids be kids.
We’re specially trained in three areas:
- Asthma and environmental allergies
- Food allergies
- Primary immunodeficiency disorders
Together, we’ll get to the bottom of what’s causing your child’s symptoms and create a plan to help them feel better — and help you breathe easier.
AdventHealth Medical Group Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Orlando
Find the right pediatric allergy specialist or location that’s convenient for you.
Allergy and Immunology Expertise and Solutions for Relief
- Diagnosing Your Child’s Condition
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Our first step in helping your child feel better is getting a clear and accurate diagnosis. We use proven methods to precisely identify what’s causing your child’s symptoms. We’ll start with a detailed review of their medical history and symptoms. Then, we’ll perform a comprehensive physical exam. From there, we’ll recommend which diagnostic tests may be best for your child, such as:
- Blood test
- Oral drug challenge
- Oral food challenge
- Patch testing
- Percutaneous skin test (scratch test/ skin prick test)
- Treatments We Offer
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Treating allergies and immunology issues often involves several medical disciplines. We work with a team of specialists across AdventHealth for Children to address your child’s whole-person health: physical, mental and spiritual. This collaboration often leads to the development of new treatments available in our locations.
Your child’s doctor will discuss the treatments that best address and prevent your child’s symptoms. Those may include:
- Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
- Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions)
- Allergic Asthma
- Atopic dermatitis
- Drug allergies
- Food allergies
- Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis)
- Hives
- Immunologic disorders
- Insect sting allergies
- Preparing for an Allergy Test
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A parent or legal guardian must accompany all patients under age 18 to their appointments. On the day of your child’s allergy test, please bring with you a complete list of all medications, as well as your pharmacy phone number and street address. We routinely send prescriptions electronically and will need your pharmacy information to ensure accuracy.
Please keep in mind your initial visit will take 2 to 3 hours. During the testing procedure, we will be using a marking pen on your child’s back and arms. Ink may transfer to their clothing; we recommend bringing a short-sleeved change of clothes.
Since perfumes, fragrances and animal hair/dander can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms, please refrain from wearing perfume, colognes or scented lotions while in our office. Pets and emotional support animals are not allowed. Certified service dogs may be allowed, but the office must be contacted in advance to confirm.
The following medications should be stopped at least seven days before testing. Do not stop any inhaled asthma medications or routine medications that treat blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, etc.
- Alavert
- Allegra
- Amitriptyline
- Antivert
- Astelin
- Astepro
- Atarax
- Benadryl
- Cetirizine
- Chlorphenamine
- Clarinex
- Claritin
- Cyproheptadine
- Desloratadine
- Diphenhydramine
- Doxepin
- Elavil
- Extendryl
- Fexofenadine
- Hydroxyzine
- Levocetirizine
- Lodrane
- Loratadine
- Meclizine
- Mirtazapine
- Nalex
- Olopatadine
- Patanase
- Periactin
- Phenergan
- Polyhistine
- Promethazine
- Q-Dall
- Remeron
- Rynatan
- Sinequan
- Vistaril
- Xyzal
- Zyrtec
Conditions We Treat
Our team of pediatric immunologists and allergists have proven experience in three key areas: food allergies, asthma and environmental allergens and primary immunodeficiencies. Together, these areas represent the most common causes that send children to see an allergist or immunologist.
We have decades of experience treating a wide range of conditions, including:
- Allergic asthma
- Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
- Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions)
- Atopic dermatitis
- Drug allergies
- Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis)
- Food allergies
- Hives (urticaria)
- Immunologic disorders
- Insect sting allergies
- Spirometry
Meet Our Medical Director
Our program’s medical director, Sthorn Thatayatikom, MD, MSc, is a board-certified allergist and immunologist who sees kids of all ages at AdventHealth for Children. Fluent in English and Thai, Dr. Thatayatikom provides exceptional care for every child through customized treatment plans for allergic diseases and immunologic conditions.
Allergy Care and Testing FAQs
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Q:Question: Why see a board-certified allergist and immunologist?
A:Answer:Allergists/immunologists have the knowledge, skills and experience required to provide exceptional care to patients with allergy and immunologic disorders. They undergo additional years of training in their specialty. To be an American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI)-certified allergist and immunologist, they must also pass a certifying examination.
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Q:Question: What are some symptoms of allergies?
A:Answer:Allergy symptoms can be noticed in the eyes, nose, throat, sinuses, ears, lungs, lining of stomach, or skin. Symptoms can vary and may include discoloration and discomfort, swelling, rash, itching and shortness of breath. They can also be life-threatening if they cause swelling in the airway or trigger an asthma attack.
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Q:Question: What are common allergens?
A:Answer:Common allergens include pollens (trees, grass, weeds), dust mites, food (nuts, eggs, cow’s milk, wheat, fish, soy, shellfish), stinging insects, animal dander (cats, dogs), mold spores, drugs (penicillin), latex.
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Q:Question: What kind of disorders does an immunologist treat?
A:Answer:Primary immunodeficiency diseases such as X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), DiGeorge syndrome (DGS), selective IgA deficiency, chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).
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Q:Question: What other specialists do allergists work with?
A:Answer:We collaborate with rheumatology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, and ear, nose and throat specialists to get your child a fast and accurate diagnosis.
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Q:Question: What are antigens and pathogens?
A:Answer:They are both seen by the body as invaders. Antigens are substances from allergens. Pathogens are from organisms.
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Q:Question: What changes can be made to reduce allergy symptoms?
A:Answer:Avoidance, medication and desensitization.
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Q:Question: Is allergy testing painful?
A:Answer:Skin prick test (scratch test) can make you itch if you are allergic to the testing allergens. You can feel the sharpness of the devices, but pain is not intense. An intradermal skin test is more painful as the potential allergy is injected deeper into the skin.
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Q:Question: How long does allergy testing take?
A:Answer:Typically, any reactions to the test will occur within about 15 minutes.
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Q:Question: How quickly do results from allergy testing take?
A:Answer:We can read your results within 15 to 20 minutes after administering your test.
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Q:Question: What type of allergens can you test for?
A:Answer:For skin testing: Indoors (cats, dogs, dust mites, indoor molds), outdoors (pollens (trees, grass, weeds and molds), food (common food allergies like nuts, cow’s milk, eggs, soy, fish, shellfish, some vegetables and fruits), some common substances causing skin allergy (contact dermatitis), some drugs.
For a blood test: Any allergens that are available commercially.
Pediatric Allergy News and Info
Allergies in kids are increasingly common and often misunderstood. We’re here to explain how allergies occur, who typically gets them, the most common ones in kids and treatments that can help.
Caring for the Whole Family
Now is the time for you to focus on your child, not logistics. Our multidisciplinary care team not only helps children get the medical care they need and deserve, we help families find hope and confidence. That means connecting you with local community resources and support groups, even helping you find a ride to your child’s appointments. Whatever the need, big or small, we’re here to support every member of the family throughout your child's care journey.