Immunology

The Division of Pulmonology/Allergy and Immunology at the Nemours Children’s Clinic in Jacksonville sees patients referred for diagnosis and management of childhood respiratory, allergic, and immunologic diseases. Patients may be referred by their pediatrician, family practitioner, or self-referred. Urgent appointments may be scheduled in 2 weeks at the referring physicians request.

The division is the nationally accredited Cystic Fibrosis Care Center for the Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia regions. The division also houses the Nemours Children’s Clinic Asthma Center, the only asthma program for children that integrates patient and family teaching with patient programs developed by pediatric specialists in both pulmonology and allergy/immunology. Pediatric nurse-specialists and respiratory-care practitioners provide teaching.

Common referring complaints to the pulmonology section are: asthma, chronic cough, recurrent pneumonia, apnea, stridor, suspected airway obstruction, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sleep-related breathing disorders, and cystic fibrosis. Common referring complaints to the Allergy/Immunology section are: allergic rhinitis, asthma; food, drug, or stinging insect allergy; and urticaria, eczema, and suspected immunodeficiency problems.

Educational programs for children and their families with asthma, cystic fibrosis, other chronic lung disorders, and chronic allergies are provided by members of the division staff.

Division laboratories include the Pediatric Pulmonary Function Laboratory, Pediatric Allergy Laboratory, and Pediatric Sleep Center. Available procedures include flexible bronchoscopy, complete pulmonary function testing of the infant and older child, exercise challenge testing, sweat testing, polysomnography, complete allergy testing, and allergy desensitization therapy.

Inpatient care and consultation is available at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.