Allergy and Immunology

Overview

The Department of Allergy and Immunology at Cleveland Clinic in Florida provides comprehensive care for allergic and immunodeficiency conditions. You have access to experts who provide the most advanced treatments for allergies, asthma, eczema and immune system disorders. As part of Cleveland Clinic’s world-class program, we care for routine and difficult-to-treat conditions.

Department of Allergy and Immunology at Cleveland Clinic in Florida: Why Choose Us?

Our team provides care for adults and children across South Florida. As our patient, you benefit from:

Expert team: You have access to a multidisciplinary team working to care for you or your child. Our allergists and immunologists partner with rheumatologists, psychologists, social workers and dietitians to cover all your needs. Meet our allergy and immunology specialists.
Innovative asthma and eczema care: Our expertise makes us a major referral center for the most severe cases of asthma and eczema. We have specialized training in advanced therapies that control inflammation with fewer side effects. These therapies provide hope for patients who thought they had no treatment options left.
Compassionate approach: Allergic and immunologic diseases can affect every part of your life. You receive a customized treatment plan that addresses your physical and mental health needs so you feel your best.
Clinical trials: Our team includes published researchers who explore new therapies for asthma, eczema and food allergies. You have access to these innovative treatments before they’re widely available. Search for clinical trials.
Convenient care: We’re committed to providing accessible care that fits your life. With our virtual visits, you can see our trusted experts from the comfort of your home.

Conditions We Treat

Our highly trained specialists treat the full range of allergic and immunodeficiency conditions in children and adults. We listen to your concerns and provide a careful workup to diagnose conditions that are often difficult to detect. You have access to experts who use science-backed therapies and new, breakthrough treatments.

Types of allergies we treat

You receive compassionate, leading-edge care for any type of allergy or sensitivity, including:

Types of allergic skin conditions we treat

Our specialists are experienced in treating allergic conditions that affect your skin, including:

Angioedema (swelling deep in your skin).
Eczema (atopic dermatitis).
Hives (urticaria).

Types of asthma we treat

Experts in our Asthma Program provide leading-edge care for:

Other conditions we treat

We treat rare, complex conditions in our clinic, including:

Hereditary angioedema (C1 inhibitor deficiency syndromes).
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID).
Mastocytosis.
Primary immunodeficiency.

Services and Treatments

Whether you’ve had a condition for years or need a diagnosis, our team is ready to help. We provide advanced, compassionate care for people of all ages. Our specialties and programs include:

Asthma Program.
Food Allergy Program.
Eczema treatment.
Hives and angioedema treatment.
Medication allergy treatment.
Seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis or hay fever) treatment.
Sinusitis with nasal polyps treatment.

Our team also diagnoses and treats rare immunodeficiency disorders, such as C1 inhibitor deficiency syndromes and mast cell disorders.

Asthma treatment

Asthma can hold you back from leading an active life, but it doesn’t have to. Our specialists work with you to find a treatment that minimizes asthma attacks so you feel your best. At Cleveland Clinic in Florida, children and adults with asthma receive specialized treatment from a team of experts.

Learn more about our Asthma Program.

Food allergy treatment

Food allergies can be challenging for people of all ages, but our experts are here to help. With our comprehensive Food Allergy Program, you receive advanced tests, education and therapies that help you live well with any type of food allergy.

Learn more about our Food Allergy Program.

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) treatment

Eczema causes dry, itchy, irritated patches of skin and is often the result of allergies, genetics and other factors. In severe cases, this condition can negatively impact your quality of life.

Our team is at the forefront of eczema research and has expertise in providing the newest medications available. We work with you to determine the causes of eczema flare-ups through comprehensive testing and a detailed health history. You receive a customized treatment plan that may include:

Patient education: Our allergists help you identify triggers and provide detailed instructions to care for your skin at home. Our caring staff is here to answer your questions and help you achieve eczema control.
Topical medications: Prescription skin creams and ointments often give better relief than standard moisturizers. Our team provides you with the best medication for your needs.
Oral medications: You may need oral eczema medications (pills) if topical medications aren’t enough. Our specialists have been safely prescribing immunosuppressants and anti-inflammatory drugs for decades. We work with you to determine which medication is right for you and closely monitor any side effects.
Biologic medicines: We prescribe biologics for patients whose eczema does not respond to other therapies. These newer medications have a lower risk of side effects and use your immune system to calm inflammation. We provide these medications by injection (shot) in most cases. We determine which medication works best for each patient, often with life-changing results.

Hives and angioedema treatment

Hives, also known as urticaria, are itchy, red, swollen welts on the skin. Angioedema is swelling that occurs deeper in the skin. Allergies, genetic illnesses and your environment can trigger urticaria and angioedema. For some people, the itching, pain and disfigurement can last months or years.

At Cleveland Clinic in Florida, our allergists use the latest tests to find the root cause of chronic (long-term) hives and skin swelling. We carefully choose and adjust your medications and work with you to identify and avoid triggers. Our approach provides better results with fewer side effects.

We rule out other conditions and find your triggers using evidence-based tests. You receive care from specialists with decades of experience diagnosing and treating severe cases of hives and angioedema.

Medication allergy treatment

Many people receive an incorrect diagnosis of medication (drug) allergies. As a result, they may needlessly use more expensive or less safe medications.

Our physicians confirm a true medication allergy with a careful medical history and tests. If your results are positive, we provide:

Education and support: Our team explains how to avoid the medication and alert your other healthcare providers. We also explain the best alternatives for the medication.
Allergy desensitization: In cases where no alternative medications are available, our specialists offer desensitization for drug allergies. You receive tiny amounts of the drug to build a tolerance to it slowly. Our highly trained staff provides this specialized therapy even to people with severe, life-threatening allergies.

Seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis or hay fever) treatment

People with seasonal allergies, also called “allergic rhinitis” or “hay fever,” experience itching, runny nose and sneezing due to seasonal factors like pollen. Symptoms can be severe and interfere with work, school and personal life. In South Florida, many people experience year-round hay fever due to the subtropical climate.

Our team specializes in diagnosing and treating seasonal allergies, including severe cases. We first identify the allergens (allergy triggers) through skin testing and evaluate your medical history. Then, we discuss your treatment options, which may include:

Antihistamines: These medications block histamine, a chemical that causes symptoms like coughing, itching and sneezing.
Nasal corticosteroids: These nasal (nose) sprays calm inflammation in your nose and treat symptoms like sneezing, runny nose and post-nasal drip.
Immunotherapy (allergy shots): We may recommend immunotherapy if your allergies don’t respond to other treatments. You receive a personalized plan that fits your unique needs.

Sinusitis with nasal polyps

Nasal polyps are benign (non-cancerous) growths in your nose and sinuses. These growths can cause sinusitis (sinus swelling), leading to ongoing runny nose, facial pain and headaches. Many people live with these symptoms for years.

Our specialists diagnose nasal polyps by discussing your symptoms and looking inside your nose with a light. We may also perform allergy tests or order imaging tests like MRI to examine your sinuses.

We address the underlying cause of nasal polyps by providing comprehensive treatment, including:

Corticosteroid nasal sprays: These sprays calm inflammation in your sinuses and relieve symptoms like runny nose and post-nasal drip. We provide ongoing care to ensure you are getting results.
Surgery: Larger or more severe cases of polyps may require a procedure to remove them. We partner with skilled otolaryngologists, who provide minimally invasive nasal polyp surgery.
Biologic medications: These new medications work with your immune system to treat nasal polyps when other therapies haven’t worked well. We also use them if polyps grow back after surgery.

Immunodeficiency disorders treatment

Immunodeficiency diseases can appear in children and adults, and frequent illnesses may be the first sign. Our team provides a complete workup to look for these rare conditions. Because of our years of expertise, we can identify and treat immunodeficiency disorders that others may overlook.

Our immunologists work with infectious disease and rheumatology care specialists for these complex disorders. Cleveland Clinic in Florida provides comprehensive treatment for HIV and AIDS through our Department of Infectious Disease.

Asthma and Food Allergy Programs

Asthma and food allergies often require care from an experienced team of specialists. At Cleveland Clinic in Florida, we understand your unique needs and provide dedicated care for people of all ages with these conditions.

Asthma Program

Our dedicated Asthma Program uses an innovative treatment approach that focuses on the root causes of asthma. Our allergists provide comprehensive testing to identify why you experience asthma flare-ups.

Your detailed workup may include:

Allergy tests: Based on your symptoms, we may check for environmental, food, medication or seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis).
FeNO (exhaled nitric oxide) test: A FeNO test measures inflammation in your lungs. The results allow us to see how your medications are working and make changes when needed.
Spirometry measurements: These breathing tests provide us with information about your lung health.

We design your personalized plan to help you feel your best and maintain optimal lung function. Our program offers a full range of asthma therapies for patients of all ages, from mild to severe cases.

Our treatments include:

Support and education: Our team provides guidance to help you feel your best, avoid triggers and be active. We’re with you at every step, empowering you to understand asthma and overcome challenges.
Control and quick relief medications: Most people with asthma benefit from a combination of control and quick relief medications. Our specialists determine the right type and dose based on your age, test results and overall health.
Allergen-specific immunotherapy: Our team provides allergy immunotherapy (shots) to decrease sensitivity to allergens. This treatment can be life-changing for people who have allergic asthma symptoms.
Biologics for severe asthma: Patients with severe asthma often do not respond to standard medications. Our team specializes in prescribing biologic medications for patients who need additional options. These medications work with your immune system to prevent asthma attacks and long-term complications.

Food Allergy Program

Food allergies affect children and adults and can be life-threatening in severe cases. Our Food Allergy Program provides comprehensive testing, treatment and education to help patients with food allergies live healthy lives.

We start with evidence-based diagnostic tests and a detailed health history. Our careful evaluation helps avoid a misdiagnosis and provides you with clear answers.

Our food allergy tests include:

Blood tests: We check a sample of your blood for antibodies, or immune system proteins, for certain foods.
Oral food challenge: This test is a reliable way to diagnose a food allergy, but it requires a skilled, experienced team. Our program offers oral food challenges in a safe environment where we are ready to treat a severe reaction with life-saving care if needed.
Skin-prick tests: Our skin tests provide key information about your potential food triggers. Our experts analyze and explain your results and advise you on the next steps.

Our food allergy treatment approach includes:

Medications for severe reactions: Some food allergies cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction. We walk you through how to use life-saving rescue medication on yourself or your child. We’re with you at every step to answer your questions and provide support.
Patient education: We help you identify which foods are causing the reaction and how to avoid them. Our dietitians help you find safe alternatives and provide strategies for eating out and other challenges.
Peanut allergy oral therapy: Our allergists provide a specialized, FDA-approved oral medication that helps desensitize children with peanut allergies. This medication can help your child avoid a reaction to peanuts or make the reaction less severe.

Our Doctors