Children's Mercy Hospital
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Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics

Child Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

Children's Mercy's Allergy/Asthma/Immunology staff members focus on the specialized needs of pediatric patients. Treatment is carefully managed using cost-saving, data-driven disease management initiatives including a child asthma disease management program and fully defined evidenced-based guidelines and critical pathways. Our physicians, board-certified in pediatrics and allergy/immunology, diagnose and manage clinical immunological diseases, evaluate and treat child asthma, allergic diseases and child allergies such as allergic rhinitis and eczema.

Why is Children's Mercy the best place for treatment of child allergies and child asthma?
The National Allergy Bureau recognizes Children's Mercy Hospital as a certified counting station for pollen and mold.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has selected Children's Mercy as a site for developing asthma disease management tools.

Our increasing emphasis on primary care treatment of child asthma continues to drive down inpatient stays and emergency care visits for the patient population of one local health plan. Asthma care costs have decreased by 37 percent for patients in the plan. In contrast, utilization by other asthmatic patients has increased by 4 percent and asthma care costs have decreased by 2.5 percent.

What is asthma? How do I know if my child has asthma?
Child asthma is a lung disease that involves the breathing tubes (airways) that allow air to go in and out of the child's lungs. Normal airways are wide open, so air can go in and out easily. With asthma, the airways are narrow so it is harder for air to go in and out. Asthma also causes inflammation in the lungs that can cause blockage of the airways.

Asthma is an inherited disease – it runs in families. It is a common disease that affects 1 out of every 10 people. There is no "cure" for asthma. It may be life long. Treatment involves understanding and avoiding the triggers of asthma. Triggers are things that are irritating to the lungs and cause asthma symptoms. Medicines are used to control asthma and its symptoms.

Common triggers of causing child asthma episodes:

  • Allergies (pollen, mold, cockroaches, animal dander, etc)
  • Household products (cleaning solutions, deodorants, perfumes, etc)
  • Dust
  • Air pollution (ozone, smog, gasoline fumes, etc)
  • Weather (cold air, temperature change, etc)
  • Exercise
  • Infections (colds, viral illnesses)
  • Night time
  • Smoke
  • Emotions

Signs and symptoms of child asthma:

  • Coughing (especially at night and during exercise)
  • Wheezing (a musical whistling sound with breathing)
  • Trouble breathing
  • Retractions (skin tugging between the ribs)
  • Feeling of tightness in the chest

What is an allergy? How do I know if my child has an allergy or a cold?
An allergy is an abnormal reaction or increased sensitivity to certain substances or "allergens." The allergic individual produces symptoms when exposed to these substances which are harmless to non-allergic people.

While both colds and certain allergies may share common symptoms, a cold is caused by a virus and an allergy is triggered by an allergen. Many people who suffer from allergic rhinitis (hay fever) think they have a cold, when in fact substances in their environments are to blame.

Allergic rhinitis results from an inflammation and irritation of the lining of the nose in response to an allergen. Common symptoms include a clear, watery nasal discharge, itchy nose, and sneezing with watery and itchy eyes. A cold is frequently accompanied by other symptoms such as sore throat and cough and only lasts 3 - 5 days, whereas allergic rhinitis tends to come and go and recur during the same season each year.

What is allergic rhinitis and how does Children's Mercy diagnose and treat it?
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) in children occurs when the mucous membranes lining the nose becomes inflamed or irritated. Allergic rhinitis symptoms usually include a runny nose, a stuffy nose, itching and sneezing, and itchy, red and watery eyes. When symptoms occur year around, the allergy is usually caused by allergens. Allergies that occur seasonally are usually caused by specific pollens. 

Skin testing is often used to diagnose allergic rhinitis in children. Once diagnosed, the first approach in treatment involves limiting exposure to individual allergens and irritants. When this is not effective, medications are then given. If medications do not adequately control symptoms, then immunotherapy, or allergy shots are recommended.

How does Children's Mercy treat eczema in children?
Eczema is an inflammation of the skin which may cause dryness, flakiness, heat and itching. It can be caused by a number of different factors and may result in just a small patch of skin being affected, but can affect skin anywhere on the body. Patches of eczema on infants and young children may ooze and look weepy, and usually occur on a child's face, body and the outside of the arms and legs. In older children, the skin may appear thick and scaly.  At this age, the child is most likely to be affected at skin folds, such as the neck, under the arms and behind the knees. Eczema in children is sometimes accompanied with respiratory allergies or asthma. Allergy testing may be recommended to determine the best treatment. Most parents can effectively treat their child's eczema with a daily skin care routine.

What child allergy services are available through the Children's Mercy Allergy Clinic?

  • Clinical consultation for child allergies
  • Allergy skin testing
  • Pulmonary function testing
  • Oral challenges
  • Allergy shots given on clinic days
  • Full laboratory services available
  • Environmental assessment/Home inspections
  • Community and professional education programs are available
  • Clinical research regarding new allergy/asthma medications: (816) 234-3359 for information
  • Indoor home assessment of allergens, bioparticulates, sick building syndrome, and pollen and mold counts for the metro area: (816) 346-1331

What types of pediatric research does Children's Mercy perform in the area of child asthma and allergy?
Child allergy and asthma research includes:

  • Child asthma
    • growth studies
    • efficacy studies
    • safety studies
  • Allergic rhinitis in children
    • seasonal
    • perennial
    • allergic/non-allergic
  • Child eczema
  • Sinusitis in children
  • Rhinovirus/Influenza
  • Environmental studies
  • Clinical outcomes/Disease management
  • Vaccine development
  • Topical therapies

Physicians

  • Amado, Mercedes , MD
    Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
  • Ciaccio, Christina E. , MD
    Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
  • Dinakar, Chitra , MD
    Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
  • Dowling, Paul , MD
    Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
  • Jones, Bridgette L. , MD
    Assistant Professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
  • Miller, Christopher , MD
    Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine
  • Portnoy, Jay , MD
    Section Chief, Allergy/Asthma/Immunology, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
  • Rosenwasser, Lanny , MD
    Dee Lyons/Missouri Chair in Pediatric Immunology Research, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Child Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
(diagnoses and conditions)

Listed In Order Of Frequency

  • Child Asthma
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Non-allergic rhinitis
  • Sinusitis
  • Urticaria (hives)
  • Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
  • Drug allergy
  • Food allergy
  • Recurrent infections
  • Chronic otitis media
  • Immunodeficiency
  • Laryngeal papillomas
  • Latex allergy
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Stinging insect allergy

Services & Treatments

  • Allergy shots
  • Allergy testing (skin and blood testing)
  • Drug desensitization
  • Evaluation of drug and food allergies
  • Evaluation of immunodeficiency
  • Indoor home assessments of allergens, bioparticulates, sick building syndrome
  • Oral challenges for food allergy
  • Pollen and mold count for the metro area: (816) 346-1331
  • Pulmonary function tests:
    --     Spirometry challenges
    -- Bronchial challenges
    -- Rush desensitization

Additional Resources

Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics is the Kansas City region's exclusive pediatric medical center and health care network. Our physicians, nurses and technicians are all trained specifically to work with children. We provide the finest care possible in the following pediatric subspecialties: Adolescent Medicine; Allergy/Asthma/Immunology; Anesthesiology; Bone Marrow Transplant; Burn/Trauma Care; Cardiology; Cardiovascular Surgery; Cleft Palate/Craniofacial; Comprehensive Sleep Disorders Center; Critical Care Medicine; Dentistry; Dermatology; Developmental and Behavioral Sciences; Ear, Nose and Throat (Otorhinolaryngology); Emergency Medicine; Endocrinology/Diabetes; Gastroenterology; General Pediatrics; General/Thoracic/Urologic Surgery; Genetics; Gynecological Surgery; Hearing and Speech; Liver Transplant; Hematology/Oncology; Hospitalists; Infectious Disease; Medical Research; Medical Toxicology; Minimally Invasive Surgery; Neonatology; Nephrology: Kidney Transplant; Neurology; Neurosurgery; Nursing; Occupational Therapy; Home Care; Ophthalmology; Orthopaedic Surgery; Pathology/Laboratory Medicine; Pharmacology; Physical Therapy; Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; Pulmonology; Radiology; Rehabilitation Medicine; Respiratory Care; Rheumatology; Transport; Click here for additional information.

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