Specialty Clinics
Pediatric Food Allergy Clinic
Food Allergy is an abnormal response of the body to a certain food. A food allergy can cause a minimal reaction, such as hives to a severe reaction such as anaphylaxis which can cause the body to go into shock and even cause death.
The UCLA Food Allergy Clinic harnesses the skills and expertise of the allergist, gastroenterologist, immunologist and dietician to diagnose and treat everything from common food allergies to highly challenging cases. In addition to frequently used tools such as the skin test, radioallergoimmunosorbent (RAST) blood test, and diet-elimination test, the allergy team uses the double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC), the gold standard for diagnosing a food allergy. While other tests can establish increased probability for food allergy, only the DBPCFC can confirm or rule out a food allergy with absolute certainty. Only a few medical facilities offer the DBPCFC.
Pediatric Celiac Disease & Eosinophilic Esophagitis Clinic
Through collaboration between Pediatric Gastroenterology, Allergy/Immunology and Nutrition, the Pediatric Celiac Disease & Eosinophilic Esophagitis Clinic at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive care for children with allergic and immune-mediated gastrointestinal diseases. Allergic and immune-mediated gastrointestinal diseases are becoming more common in the pediatric population. Celiac Disease can be diagnosed at any age but symptoms often develop in early childhood. Eosinophilic esophagitis also seems to be on the rise, partly due to increasing recognition. Optimal diagnosis and treatment for these problems relies upon a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates an understanding of nutritional factors, the immune system and the gut microbiome.
Pediatric Chronic Sinusitis Clinic
Sinusitis is an inflammation, or swelling, of the tissue lining the sinuses. Normally, sinuses are filled with air, but when sinuses become blocked and filled with fluid, germs (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) can grow and cause an infection.
Young people with chronic sinusitis often undergo surgery only to find themselves back in the operating room when the condition recurs. Specialists at the UCLA Chronic Sinusitis Clinic seek to break this cycle by pinpointing and treating the underlying cause. Many patients with chronic sinusitis are found to have mild immunodeficiencies, such as impaired pneumococcal antibody response. Often, these conditions can be successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or antibiotic prophylaxis.
The Jeffrey Modell Foundation Diagnostic Center for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases
Immunodeficiency is a state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious diseases is compromised or entirely absent.
The Jeffrey Modell Foundation supports 35 diagnostic and research centers worldwide, each dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with primary immunodeficiency (ID) disease. UCLA is home to Southern California's only Jeffrey Modell Foundation Diagnostic Center.
Primary ID is a new area of investigation. While some conditions are well characterized, new immunodeficiencies are described each year. The Modell Center at UCLA is unique in that it offers diagnostic evaluation for patients with these newly described immunodeficiencies.
Pediatric Skin Allergy / Eczema Clinic
Eczema is inflammation of the skin. It is characterized by itchy, erythematous, vesicular, weeping, and crusting patches.
The UCLA Skin Allergy / Eczema Clinic offers help for the eczema patient whose pediatrician has run out of treatment options. The clinic's team of immunologists, allergists, dermatologists and nutritionists isolate the cause of the child's eczema and help manage the condition. The eczema team has extensive experience with novel therapies that are often not available from practitioners in the community.
Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID) Clinic
SCID is a life-threatening disorder of infants. UCLA specializes in the care of children with immune disorders and is officially designated as a referral center for the treatment of babies with low T cell counts and SCID. To make the correct diagnosis of the immune disease, we offer every baby genetic testing plus the most sophisticated immune diagnostics. To cure babies with SCID, we offer cutting-edge hematopoietic stem transplantation and, in certain cases, gene therapy to correct the immune defect. For more information about our newborn screening program click here.
Contact us to make an appointment at any of the specialty clinics