What to Expect at Your First Appointment at the Allergy Clinic
Allergies can impact almost all areas of a child's life—from what foods they can eat to when they can safely play outside. Our team of experienced allergists and immunologists (doctors with specialized training in caring for all types of allergies) will help your child find relief.
We'll start by getting to the bottom of what's triggering your child's allergies and make a plan to reduce their exposure to allergens as much as possible. We'll also treat and manage symptoms when they do occur.
Our goal is to keep your child safe, healthy and happy so they can focus on what's important–being a kid.
Making an Appointment at the Allergy Clinic
We want it to be easy for you to get the care your child needs. You can contact us directly to schedule an appointment. Or, your child's pediatrician or provider can refer your child to our clinic. We also take referrals from the emergency department and other hospitals.
Oral Immunotherapy
Families interested in oral immunotherapy (OIT) can contact our food allergy coordinator. We'll then schedule an appointment for your child with a provider who offers OIT. They will then determine whether your child is a candidate for OIT.
Before Your Appointment
A nurse will contact you before your child's appointment to prepare for the upcoming visit. During this call, we will:
- Gather information about symptoms, health history and past treatments
- Collect past test results and medical records (We'll provide instructions on how to share this information with us.)
- Provide pre-visit instructions. Depending on the reason for your child's visit, we may ask you not to give your child antihistamines for seven days before the appointment and may also share how to prepare for a food challenge.
During this call, we can also answer questions you have before your child's visit. Of course, you're welcome to call any time before or after your child's visit.
On the Day of Your Visit to the Allergy Clinic
Arriving At Your Appointment
You will need to arrive about 30 minutes before your child's appointment—15 minutes to park and walk to our clinic and 15 minutes to check in at our registration desk. There are several allergy clinics located throughout Greater Cincinnati, including the one at our main hospital. We'll share where your appointment is and provide instructions on how to find the clinic once you arrive on site during our pre-visit planning call.
If you are running late, please contact us.
At Your Appointment
Visits to the Allergy Clinic can look a little different depending on the reason for your child's appointment. But, no matter what brings you in, we'll find the answers that bring your child relief.
Your child's care team can also change depending on their diagnosis. Care is always led by an experienced allergist and immunologist and supported by a registered nurse. Your child may also meet with a respiratory therapist (asthma) or a dietician (food allergies). We're dedicated to delivering the resources your family needs to keep your child safe, healthy and happy.
During your child's visit, we'll spend time getting to know them, including their goals, likes and dislikes, questions, concerns and symptoms. We'll also perform a physical exam to evaluate symptoms and assess their overall health. We may also recommend additional testing during your visit to help diagnose your child's condition. This could include:
- Skin prick test to identify what your child is allergic to
- Food challenge test to safely monitor allergic reactions your child has to food or drinks
- Asthma tests to evaluate lung strength and function
- Allergy blood tests to detect and measure allergens in your child's blood
Your nurse will discuss the tests your child may need during the pre-visit planning call.
Once we have a clear picture of what's causing your child's symptoms, we'll develop a care plan—one that addresses symptoms and helps reduce exposure to allergens or triggers. If your child had blood drawn, we will call you within two weeks to review the results and next steps.
Your first visit can last anywhere from one to two hours.
After Your Visit to the Allergy Clinic
You will receive an “After Visit Summary” at the end of your appointment, which includes important information about upcoming appointments, test results, referrals to specialists and all medications (including new prescriptions). It will also include contact information for your child's care team, including how to reach the on-call allergy physician.
If you indicated your interest in OIT (oral immunotherapy) for your child, our food allergy coordinator will contact you after your child's appointment to determine whether OIT is a good fit for your child and family. We will work with you to schedule the appointment, answer questions and get pre-authorization from your insurance.
