Pediatric Allergist Aldie VA

Black & Kletz Allergy has a board certified pediatric allergist Aldie VA residents respect.  Our pediatric allergist underwent several years of specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of allergic and immunological disorders affecting children.  Our pediatric allergy doctor has decades of experience in managing these disorders and has treated thousands of children and young adults.

Our pediatric allergist Aldie VA inhabitants trust evaluates and treats environmental, food, and medication allergies.  Inhalant allergens or aeroallergens typically affect the upper and lower respiratory tract and eyes.  Food allergens may affect the gastrointestinal tract, skin (e.g., eczema, hives) and rarely multiple systems in a condition known as anaphylaxis (i.e., acute, severe life threatening allergic reaction).  Anaphylaxis and skin symptoms can also be caused by medication allergies such as penicillin, sulfa, aspirin, etc.

When aeroallergens (i.e., dust mites, molds, cats, dogs, cockroaches, pollens from trees, grasses, and weeds) affect the eyes, the condition is referred to as allergic conjunctivitis.  The conjunctiva is the thin transparent membrane that covers the front side of the eyeballs.  When an allergic child’s conjunctiva is exposed to certain aeroallergens, the conjunctival membrane becomes inflamed.  Due to increased blood flow, the eyes turn red and excessive tears are secreted.  The eyes also itch, sometimes uncontrollably.  Our pediatric allergist Aldie VA residents have trusted for years begins the allergy evaluation by obtaining a comprehensive history of the frequency and severity of the specific symptoms, with special attention to their seasonal variation, if any.  A comprehensive physical examination will follow the detailed history.  The next usual step would be a prick skin test or a blood test in order to identify the specific allergen triggers.  After the diagnosis is established, the pediatric allergist Aldie VA citizens admire provides detailed information about the various ways of avoiding exposure to the offending allergens.  When avoidance is not practical or feasible, he will offer relief from bothersome symptoms by prescribing medications.  These medications may include oral antihistamines, oral leukotrienes, nasal corticosteroids, ocular antihistamines, ocular mast cell stabilizers, and/or ocular anti-inflammatory drops.

When inhalant allergens affect the upper respiratory tract, the condition is termed allergic rhinitis (i.e., hay fever), which indicates inflammation of the mucus membrane lining of the inside of the nose and throat.  After performing a comprehensive history, the pediatric allergist Aldie VA residents trust usually does diagnostic skin testing and/or blood testing.  Some of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis may include nasal congestion (due to the inflammatory swelling of the tissues inside the nostrils, called turbinates), runny nose (due to excessive secretion of mucus), post-nasal drip, itchy nose, itchy throat, sinus congestion, headaches, and/or snoring.  In addition to information about environmental control, the pediatric allergist Aldie VA citizens respect prescribes medications in order to give relief from the symptoms.  These medications may include oral antihistamines, oral decongestants, oral leukotrienes, nasal corticosteroids, nasal antihistamines, nasal mast cell stabilizers, and/or nasal anticholinergics.  When the environmental controls and medications do not adequately relieve the symptoms, the pediatric allergist Aldie VA residents trust can offer a long-term treatment option called allergen immunotherapy (i.e., allergy shots, allergy injections, allergy desensitization, allergy hyposensitization).  This modality entails exposing the immune system to gradually increasing doses of allergen extracts in small increments at regular intervals in a standardized protocol.  This process is very effective in building up tolerance to the allergens found to be allergic to by the child.  This process helps prevent future symptoms as well as reduce the need for medications in the long-term.  Allergy shots are effective in 80-85% of the patients that take them.  They have been given to both adults and children for over 100 years.  The average length of time that someone is on allergy shots is generally 3-5 years.

When the inhalant allergens affect the lower respiratory tract, inflammation of the tissues inside the lungs result in symptoms of asthma.  These may consist of frequent coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and/or difficulty in breathing.  The board certified pediatric allergist Aldie VA residents admire at Black & Kletz Allergy has decades of experience in treating children with asthma.  Our pediatric allergy specialist can identify the relevant allergens by testing and provide detailed information to children and their parents as to how to avoid exposure to them. Many children with asthma require inhaled medications to adequately control their asthma.  There are daily maintenance medications to control the inflammation, prevent the symptoms, reduce exacerbations, and preserve the lung function.  The pediatric allergist Aldie VA citizens trust gives detailed information to the patients and their families regarding various medication options, including the benefits and risks, and helps choose the most appropriate medication in a shared decision-making process.  In addition to prescribing medications, the pediatric allergist Aldie VA inhabitants respect will explain and demonstrate the proper technique of using the various inhaler devices, which may consist of metered dose aerosols and/or dry powder inhalers.  The pediatric allergist Aldie VA residents admire also coaches the parents to properly monitor their child’s symptoms and lung function parameters.

Some other conditions treated by our pediatric allergist Aldie VA citizens trust include hives (i.e., itchy, red blotches and “welts” of various sizes and shapes over the skin) and eczema (i.e., dry, flaky, itchy, and sometimes excoriated skin patches over face, trunk and extremities).  Allergic sensitivity to certain foods may play a role in these disorders.  The pediatric allergist Aldie VA residents respect offers testing to detect the offending foods and teaches children and their parents about ways of avoiding exposure to them.  Unfortunately “desensitization” options are not available for most foods with the exception of peanuts.  As of 2019, oral desensitization with Palforzia has become available as a new treatment for peanut allergies.  Besides peanuts, avoidance of exposure is the only option in the management of food allergies.  It is important to note that self-injectable epinephrine devices (e.g. EpiPen, Auvi-Q, Adrenaclick) are prescribed by our pediatric allergist Aldie VA citizens trust for children at risk for anaphylaxis.  The staff at Black & Kletz Allergy will demonstrate the proper technique of using these devices as well as educate the child and their parents that one is to go to the closest emergency room immediately if a self-injectable epinephrine device is used.

The board certified allergists at Black & Kletz Allergy have been diagnosing and treating hay fever, asthma, sinus disease, hives, eczema, generalized itching, contact dermatitis, food allergies, food intolerances, eosinophilic esophagitis,  medication allergies, insect sting allergies, and  immunological disorders for more than 50 years.   If you or your child suffer from any type of allergy, asthma, or immune disorder, please call us to make an appointment.  Alternatively, you can click Request an Appointment and we will respond within 24 hours by the next business day.  Black & Kletz Allergy has an office in Manassas, VA, which is in close proximity to Aldie, VA.  We also have offices in Washington, DC and McLean, VA (Tysons Corner, VA).   We have on-site parking in all 3 locations.  Our Washington, DC and McLean, VA locations are Metro accessible and we offer a free shuttle between our McLean, VA office and the Spring Hill metro station on the silver line.  We look forward to serving you with all your allergy, asthma, and immunology needs as we strive to provide state-of-the-art allergy care in a compassionate, friendly, professional environment.