Pediatrics: How Early Allergy Testing & Treatment Can Benefit Young Patients
Allergies are a common yet often overlooked concern in pediatric care, affecting millions of children across the U.S. While allergy symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and congestion may seem minor, untreated allergies can lead to more serious conditions, including asthma, chronic sinus infections, and sleep disturbances.
Early allergy testing and treatment can significantly improve a child’s quality of life, preventing unnecessary discomfort and long-term health issues. United Allergy Services (UAS) partners with pediatricians to provide in-office allergy testing and immunotherapy, ensuring children receive timely and effective care.
For pediatricians, adding allergy testing and treatment services to their practice offers clinical benefits for young patients and provides a valuable opportunity to enhance their scope of care with ancillary medical services.
Common Pediatric Allergy Symptoms
Identifying allergies in children can be challenging since symptoms often mimic those of colds or respiratory infections. Parents and healthcare providers should be aware of key indicators such as:
- Persistent nasal congestion or sneezing
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Skin reactions, including eczema or hives
- Frequent ear infections or sinus infections
- Coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath
- Sleep disturbances due to congestion or postnasal drip
Common Triggers
Children’s allergies often stem from seasonal allergens like pollen, as well as perennial allergens such as:
- Dust mites
- Pet dander
- Mold spores
- Certain foods (though UAS treats only environmental allergies)
As previously noted, without proper diagnosis and management, allergies can lead to more severe conditions, including asthma and chronic respiratory issues.
The Importance of Early Allergy Testing
Research shows that early allergy testing and treatment can prevent the progression of allergic rhinitis into asthma. According to the Preventive Allergy Treatment (PAT) study, 45% of untreated children developed asthma over 10 years, whereas only 25% of children who received allergen immunotherapy (AIT) developed asthma. Early identification allows for targeted intervention, helping children avoid unnecessary medications, frequent doctor visits, and reduced quality of life due to persistent symptoms.
How Pediatric Allergy Testing Works
United Allergy Services offers in-office skin prick testing, which is:
- Safe – Designed specifically for children, non-invasive, and physician-supervised
- Efficient – Identifies common environmental allergens within a single visit
- Accurate – Provides a clear picture of a child’s specific sensitivities, enabling a personalized treatment approach
Treatment Options & Benefits of Early Intervention
Once allergens are identified, families can choose from several treatment options:
1. Allergen Avoidance Strategies
- Reducing indoor allergen exposure (e.g., air purifiers, hypoallergenic bedding).
- Implementing seasonal precautions, like keeping windows closed during peak pollen times.
2. Medication Management
- Non-drowsy antihistamines, nasal sprays, and leukotriene inhibitors can help manage symptoms but do not address the root cause.
3. Immunotherapy
Unlike symptomatic relief medications, allergen immunotherapy (AIT) builds long-term tolerance by gradually desensitizing the immune system to allergens.
- Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT): Administered via injections under the provider’s supervision.
- Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT): Allergy drops placed under the tongue for at-home administration.
The Proven Benefits of AIT in Children
- Reduces symptoms of allergic rhinitis and asthma
- Decreases the likelihood of developing new allergies over time
- Lowers long-term healthcare costs by reducing medication dependence and emergency visits
- Prevents progression from allergic rhinitis to asthma
Studies have shown that pediatric patients who undergo immunotherapy experience lasting allergy symptom relief even years after stopping treatment.
Enhancing Pediatric Care with Allergy Services
Many children with allergy-related conditions visit pediatricians first. By integrating allergy testing and treatment, pediatricians can:
- Improve patient outcomes – Address allergies at their source rather than just treating symptoms
- Provide comprehensive care – Reduce the need for specialist referrals while managing allergies in-house
- Support long-term respiratory health – Prevent complications like asthma and chronic sinus issues
The United Allergy Services Advantage for Pediatricians
UAS provides a seamless, physician-supervised allergy program tailored for pediatric practices:
- Customized Immunotherapy: Personalized treatment plans based on each child’s allergy profile.
- In-Office Allergy Testing & Treatment: Delivered within the pediatrician’s practice, improving accessibility for families.
- Convenience for Families: Allows children to receive care from a trusted provider in a familiar setting, with at-home immunotherapy options available.
- Proven Safety & Efficacy: UAS analyzed the systemic reaction rate of 15,000 pediatric patients, six to 17 years of age, using the physician-approved proprietary UAS immunotherapy protocol. Out of that population, a total of 10 patients experienced systemic reactions, all of which were very mild (grades 1 to 2). This represents a reaction rate of 0.06% in pediatric patients. (Reported literature of systemic reactions by allergists is between 3-7% for all age groups.)
Adding UAS allergy services helps pediatricians expand their practice offerings while ensuring high-quality, evidence-based allergy care.
Conclusion
Allergies are more than just a seasonal nuisance. They can impact a child’s health, development, and overall well-being. Early allergy testing and immunotherapy can significantly reduce symptoms, prevent the progression of allergic diseases, and improve long-term outcomes.
For parents, now is the time to consider early allergy testing for children experiencing persistent allergy symptoms. For pediatricians, integrating UAS’ in-office allergy program is an effective way to enhance patient care, improve clinical outcomes, and provide families with accessible, long-term allergy solution.
Why Offer Allergy Treatment for Children?
For providers passionate about providing care to the pediatric population, integrating fundamental allergy care into their practice can bring about significant benefits. Allergy screening, testing, and treatment fosters healthier lives and also enhances the overall quality of care that can be provided.
Allergy immunotherapy, commonly known as allergy shots or allergy drops, is a therapeutic approach designed to modify the immune system’s response to allergens. While regularly considered for adults, recent increased adoption by pediatric providers has paved the way for immunotherapy’s integration into pediatric care, offering a transformative option for managing allergies.
Advantages
One of the primary advantages of incorporating allergy immunotherapy into pediatric care is the potential for long-term relief from allergy symptoms. When children are exposed to small, controlled amounts of the allergens that they are allergic to, their immune system gradually builds tolerance. This can result in reduced severity and frequency of symptoms, decreased allergic reactions, decreased asthma exacerbations, preventing the development of asthma, and less antibiotic and steroid use, as well as leading to a significant improvement in the overall quality of life for pediatric patients.
For many pediatric patients with allergies, the standard approach involves medications to manage symptoms as opposed to foundationally changing the state of the disease. Medication issues can include high cost, unwanted side effects, and only partial control of symptoms. Allergy immunotherapy, however, offers a natural alternative that aims to modify the body’s immune response, substantially reducing or eliminating symptoms, and potentially reducing or eliminating the need for long-term medication use.
Individualized Immunotherapy
Every child is unique, and so are their allergies. Allergy immunotherapy allows for individualized and targeted treatment plans tailored to each child’s specific allergens, lifestyle, and the family’s financial situation. This individualized approach maximizes the potential for efficacy as well as adherence. Also, offering allergy immunotherapy as a pediatric provider creates an opportunity to further strengthen partnerships with parents and caregivers.
Collaborating on a comprehensive treatment plan fosters trust and active involvement in the child’s healthcare journey. It positions pediatric providers as already trusted members of the child’s healthcare team serving as proactive partners in managing and alleviating allergic conditions. This further positions pediatric practices as leaders in proactive and preventive healthcare for children.
