If your child suffers from allergies or other problems with
his immune system, a pediatric/immunologist has special skills to treat your child.
Dr. Bernard Fruge, pediatric allergist from the Allergy,
Asthma, & Immunology Clinic in Lafayette, LA, explains, "Your child's immune
system fights infections. If your child has allergies, her immune
system wrongly reacts to things that are usually harmless like pet dander, dust, etc. This
reaction may cause her body to respond with health problems such as asthma, hay fever, and
eczema."
"Sometimes," Fruge said, "if your child's
immune system is not working right, he
may suffer from frequent, severe, and/or uncommon infections, such as sinusitis,
pneumonia, thrush, and abscesses that keep coming back."
Pediatric allergists/immunologists diagnose allergic
conditions by using special testing. Treatment may combine avoiding things that cause
symptoms, immunotherapy (allergy shots), or medication. Tests and effective treatments
also are available for various causes of a weakened immune system.
