PEDIATRICS
Otitis Media
Key Points • Otitis media remains an extremely common disorder; vaccination strategies are decreasing its incidence. • Recent guidelines highlight the need for more careful diagnostic criteria. • Initial treatment…
Allergic Rhinitis
Key Points • There are many different causes of rhinitis in children and 50% of all cases of rhinitis are caused by allergy. • On the basis of timing and…
Immunotherapy for Allergic Disease
Key Points • Subcutaneous immunotherapy is an effective treatment for pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis and stinging insect hypersensitivity, and selected pediatric patients with allergic asthma. • Sublingual immunotherapy is…
Environmental Control
Key Points • The major indoor allergens include dust mite, animal danders, cockroach, rodents and mold. • Indoor allergen exposure and sensitivity should be considered for all patients with chronic…
Indoor Allergens
Key Points • Studies in both inner city and suburban locations indicate that more than 80% of school age children with asthma are sensitized to at least one indoor allergen….
In Vivo Testing for Immunoglobulin E-Mediated Sensitivity
Key Points • Skin testing is the preferred method for in vivo detection of IgE-mediated sensitivity due to its objective end-point and the ability to test for multiple sensitivities in…
Outdoor Allergens
Key Points • Sources of airborne allergens vary from microscopic to large fauna. • Outdoor aeroallergenic particles include intact pollen grains or spores, as well as cell fragments and submicronic…
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Therapy
Key Points • Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can correct many primary immune deficiencies (PIDs) by providing a normal source that produces functional leukocytes to replace the defective cells. •…
Laboratory Diagnosis of Human Allergic Disease
Key Points • Allergen-specific IgE antibody is a marker of allergic sensitization and a risk factor for allergic disease but, alone, it does not make the definitive diagnosis of allergic…
