Find a Clinical Service | Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Our Programs
CAAEC – The Children’s Allergy and Asthma Education Centre (CAAEC) provides education to children, teens and families with asthma, food allergies, eczema and other allergic conditions.
Allergy Education – Allergy Education provides support to children and families of children with food and other allergies. Food Allergy Nurse Educators review recognition and avoidance of food allergy triggers, prevention, recognition and management of anaphylaxis, and education surrounding oral immunotherapy. They also provide support to URIS nurses, who provide education regarding prevention, recognition and management of anaphylaxis in schools and daycares. Nurse Educators also conduct teaching sessions and provide support for providers at remote health centres. In-person and virtual education are available.
Asthma Education – Asthma Education has supported children with asthma and their families for over a decade. Asthma Nurse Educators review recognition and avoidance of asthma triggers, techniques for using inhalers, and support with following individualized Asthma Action Plans for increasing therapy preventatively or during times of worsened symptoms. They also conduct education sessions and provide support for providers at remote health centres. In-person and virtual education are available.
Eczema Education – The Eczema Education Program has been developed over the past three years to provide support to children and their families with managing the extensive skin care regimens needed for severe eczema. Nurse Educators review prevention and recognition of flares and infection, and demonstrate application of emollients, topical medications, wet wraps, and diluted bleach or salt water baths. In-person and virtual education are available.
Food Allergy Education – Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) to foods has been available to Pediatric Allergy patients on a small scale since 2015. In early 2021, we began developing a formal program and this therapy is now offered to all eligible patients. Education and support are provided by the Food Allergy Nurse Educator.
Research
CHILD Cohort Study – The CHILD Cohort Study is a prospective longitudinal birth cohort study that has followed over 3000 Canadian children starting before they were born at four sites: Vancouver, Edmonton, Manitoba (Winnipeg and Morden-Winkler), and Toronto. Contributions from the Manitoba Site and Section of Allergy have included demonstration of the importance of early dietary food allergen introduction in infants at low risk of food allergy, examination of relationships between maternal prenatal consumption of highly allergenic food and risk of infant food allergy, and evaluation of epigenetic associations with food allergy.
COVID-19 Vaccine Allergy Evaluation and Management – With individuals age 12 and older eligible to receive immunization to COVID-19, support has been provided to children and teens with a history of possible allergic reactions to their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or reactions to other vaccines or medications with similar components. Testing and challenge or graded dosing enables teens at risk of allergic reactions to the COVID-19 Vaccine to receive their immunization doses safely.
Newborn Screening for SCID (Severe Combined Immune Deficiency) – Prompt evaluation of immune system function is provided for infants with a positive SCID Newborn Screen.
Key Staff & Contacts
Phone: 204-787-2455
Fax: 204-787-5040
Nurse Clinicians and Educators
Allergy Nurse Clinician
Immunology Nurse Clinician
Nurse Educators
Eczema
Asthma Education
Food Allergy
Full-Time Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Faculty
Dr. Shannon Deane, Assistant Professor
Dr. Tamar Rubin, Assistant Professor, Training Program Director, Primary Immunologist
Dr. Elinor Simons, Assistant Professor, Section Head, CAAEC Director, Manitoba CHILD Lead
Community Allergists Affiliated with Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Dr. Elissa Abrams, Assistant Professor
Dr. Nestor Cisneros, Assistant Professor
Dr. Tom Gerstner, Assistant Professor
Dr. Michelle Halbrich, Assistant Professor
Links
Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
www.csaci.ca
CHILD Cohort Study
www.childstudy.ca