The Division of Allergy and Immunology at Lurie Children’s treats more children for allergies and asthma than any other hospital in Illinois. Several of our allergist/immunologists are leaders in their field, having worked with national organizations to improve the understanding and care of pediatric asthma, allergies and immune deficiencies.
Our food allergy team performs cutting-edge food allergy diagnoses, including oral food challenges, the best way to confirm a food allergy. We have the capacity to safely perform this test in children in a controlled manner. Our specialists perform 350 or more oral food challenges each year, far more than most other hospitals.
Lurie Children’s has the most comprehensive program in the Chicago area to evaluate primary immune deficiencies. Our program is one of 125 globally recognized Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic Centers for Primary Immune Deficiencies, which are dedicated to improving the awareness, early detection and treatment of these serious conditions.
We work closely with highly specialized laboratories at Lurie Children’s, such as the Clinical Immunology Laboratory. This laboratory has pioneered diagnostic tests for primary immune deficiencies that are now used around the world, such as the Dihydrorhodamine (DHR) Flow Cytometry Assay for diagnosis of Chronic Granulomatous Disease.
Lurie Children’s also provides comprehensive treatment to patients with primary immune deficiencies with outpatient treatments in the Ambulatory Infusion Center or definitive therapy via stem cell transplantation. Lurie Children’s has a Severe Immunodeficiency Stem Cell Transplant Program made up of physicians and nurse practitioners from the stem cell transplantation and allergy and immunology specialties. This program is part of the Primary Immune Deficiency Transplant Consortium, a research consortium that evaluates the most effective methods to treat primary immunodeficiency diseases through transplantation, gene therapy or enzyme replacement.
Although most of these diseases are rare, our primary immune deficiencies team cares for 340 patients annually. Because these conditions are often inherited, our team provides genetic screening of patients’ close family members and works with genetics experts at Lurie Children’s to provide genetic counseling.
We also help the The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health in the prenatal diagnosis of primary immune deficiencies. Our program is part of the U.S. Immunodeficiency Network, a research consortium established to advance scientific research of primary immune deficiencies.
Our doctors also work with gastroenterologists to provide multidisciplinary care for eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases.
In addition to caring for children with general allergies, we offer these specialized programs:
Our pediatric specialists treat children for various allergies and immunology-related conditions.
View a list of conditionsIf you’d like to request an appointment with one of our specialists, call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC®).
Physicians and scientists in our division conduct many research studies in patients that evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments. These clinical trials give your child the chance to take part in groundbreaking research that is improving the treatment of asthma, food allergies and primary immunodeficiencies.
Our researchers also conduct translational, or “bench to bedside,” research. For example, Lurie Children’s Food Allergy Program is performing laboratory studies exploring how food allergies develop and how a person can develop a tolerance to food allergies. Our investigators also collaborate with food allergy researchers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Through research and education, the Food Allergy Program seeks to improve the lives of children and families affected by food allergy.
Keeping with our belief that quality education is inseparable from our quality patient care, we partner with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine to train tomorrow’s leading pediatric physicians. As the pediatric teaching hospital for the Feinberg School, we offer several opportunities for residents to further their education in a pediatric specialty. Review the Feinberg School’s information to learn how to apply for a fellowship with the Division of Allergy and Immunology.
Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children’s relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.
