Did you know that more than 1 in 4 children in the U.S. suffer from seasonal allergies, food allergies, or eczema? Allergies are among the most common chronic conditions in kids and can significantly impact their immune health. Left unmanaged, they can even contribute to the development of more serious issues like asthma. At Next Wave Kids, we’re proud to offer a dedicated pediatric allergy department, including skin testing and customized immunotherapy management, all in a kid-friendly environment.
How Are Allergies and ENT Connected?
You may not realize that your child’s chronic congestion or snoring could be caused by environmental allergies—not just sinus or tonsil issues. It’s a common scenario: you bring your child in to see Dr. Walker and his ENT team. Their exam shows no anatomical concerns—no enlarged tonsils, no sinus abnormalities—so you’re referred to our allergy team. That’s when you meet Diana Karnilaw, our pediatric allergy Nurse Practitioner, and discover that your child is highly allergic to common indoor or outdoor allergens.With this insight, we’ll work with you to create an individualized allergy care plan focused on reducing exposure and managing symptoms effectively.And it works the other way, too. A child scheduled for ear tube surgery due to frequent ear infections may actually be suffering from chronic allergic congestion. Managing their allergies can sometimes reduce the frequency of infection and thus the need for surgical intervention.
What Are the Most Common Food Allergies in Children?
Some of the most frequently diagnosed food allergies in kids include:
Milk (most common)
Egg
Peanut
Sesame
These allergens can trigger a range of reactions, from mild rashes to severe anaphylaxis. If your child has a suspected food allergy, we’re here to guide you through safe testing and long-term management.
What’s the Link Between Allergies, Eczema, and Asthma?
We often refer to the "Allergic Triad" in medicine:
Allergies
Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
Asthma
These three conditions are connected by a common allergic and immunologic basis. While having allergies doesn’t guarantee your child will develop eczema or asthma, uncontrolled allergies can increase that risk. That’s why early diagnosis and symptom control are so important.
What Allergy Testing Do We Offer?
At Next Wave Kids, we offer epicutaneous (scratch) skin testing using a carefully selected panel of the region’s most common allergens, including:
Grass, tree, and weed pollens
Indoor allergens like dust mites and mold
A wide variety of common food allergens
If necessary, we also offer blood testing to gather additional data. Our allergy department is designed with kids in mind—with toys, bubbles, "buzzy bees," and other child-friendly tools to help make testing as stress-free as possible.
We're here to support your family in uncovering and managing allergies with expertise, empathy, and a staff and facility focused on our tiny patients' perspective making sure we’re always having fun :)
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