Pediatric Allergy, Asthma, Immunology, Pulmonology
The Pediatric Allergy, Immunology & Pulmonology department of Heart and Health Medical provides the Long Island community the best pediatric care available. Led by renowned physician Dr. Louis Guida Jr. the Heart and Health Medical team has a dedicated staff of specialists and support personnel with four offices in Nassau and Suffolk county.
Our allergy and immunology specialists care for infants, children, and adolescents with:
- Environmental allergies
- Food allergies and anaphylaxis
- Hymenoptera sting allergy
- Latex allergy
- Angioedema
- Atopic and contact dermatitis
- Other allergy and immunology disorders
Diagnostic testing and treatment procedures include:
- Thorough medical history, family history, and physical examination
- Skin testing for environmental allergies
- Pulmonary function testing for asthmatics
- Blood tests to evaluate immune system function
Patient Reviews
Pediatric Allergy & Immunology Services
Allergies are among the most common chronic conditions affecting children worldwide. Allergy symptoms range from making your child miserable to putting them at risk for life-threatening reactions.
If your child has an allergy, their immune system mistakes an otherwise harmless substance as an invader. This substance is called an allergen. The immune system overreacts to the allergen by producing Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. These antibodies travel to cells that release histamine and other chemicals, causing an allergic reaction.
If your child has allergy symptoms, an allergist can help with a diagnosis. An allergist has advanced training and experience to diagnose your condition correctly and prescribe an allergy treatment and management plan to help them feel better and live better. An allergic reaction typically triggers symptoms in the nose, lungs, throat, sinuses, ears, lining of the stomach, or on the skin. For some childran, allergies can also trigger symptoms of asthma. In the most serious cases, a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis (an-a-fi-LAK-sis) can occur.
A number of different allergens are responsible for allergic reactions. The most common include Pollen, Dust, Food, Insect stings, Animal dander, Mold, Medications/Drugs, Latex.
Pediatric Asthma
Childhood asthma impacts millions of children and their families. The majority of children who develop asthma do so before the age of five.
Asthma is a chronic disease involving the airways in the lungs. These airways, or bronchial tubes, allow air to come in and out of the lungs. If you have asthma, your airways are always inflamed. They become even more swollen, and the muscles around the airways can tighten when something triggers your symptoms. This makes it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
People with a family history of allergies or asthma are more prone to developing asthma. Many people with asthma also have allergies called allergic asthma.
There is no cure for asthma, but once it is properly diagnosed, and a treatment plan is in place, you will be able to manage your condition and your quality of life. An allergist is the best-qualified physician to diagnose and treat asthma. With the help of your allergist, you can take control of your condition and participate in normal activities.
Pediatric Pulmonology
A pediatric pulmonologist is a doctor who specializes in breathing and lung problems in children. They can help your child and your family learn to manage the symptoms of breathing problems, prevent complications, and improve their quality of life. A pediatric pulmonologist will evaluate your child’s lung health, diagnose the cause of the breathing problem, and develop a treatment plan.
The pediatric pulmonologist will use a wide variety of tests. These include:
- Pulmonary function test to find out how well your child’s lungs are working. This is a set of painless measurements taken while your child does simple tasks like breathing out, walking, or riding a stationary bike.
- Allergy testing, bloodwork, or a chest X-ray to look for what’s causing your child’s symptoms.
Accepted Insurances
Louis E Guida, Jr. MD, FCCP, FAAAAI, FACAAI
American Board of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Pediatrics.
Dr. Louis E. Guida Jr. was awarded his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in Pediatrics at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, New Jersey. He went on to complete two fellowships – Cystic Fibrosis (Adult and Pediatric) and Pediatric Pulmonology at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Adult & Pediatric Allergy / Immunology at Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow, New York.
Dr. Guida’s hospital affiliations are Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, New York, and St. Charles Hospital, Port Jefferson, New York.
He is an adjunct clinical assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and is the Medical Director of the adult and pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Programs and the Family Asthma and Allergy Center at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, American College of Chest Physicians, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Hospital Affiliations
