What to Expect During a Rhinology Visit at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

At the Rhinology Clinic, we take a child-friendly approach to caring for severe and complex nasal and sinus conditions.

Contact The Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology at UPMC Children's

  • Call 412-692-5460 to make an appointment.

Here is what you can expect before, during, and after your child's first visit to our clinic.

Before Your Child's Visit for Nose and Sinus Care

If your child's doctor refers them to us, we'll contact you to book your appointment. You can also call us to make your child's appointment at 412-692-5460.

During our call, we'll ask:

  • About your child's symptoms and health history. This will help us make sure the Rhinology Clinic is the best option for your child.
  • For your insurance details if your child is new to UPMC Children's Hospital. This ensures that your insurer will cover our services -- and you won't face unplanned costs or hassles.

Before your visit, we suggest that you write down your child's symptoms, triggers, and medications and bring the list with you.

Based on your referral or our phone call, we may do an allergy test on your child's 1st visit.

In this case, we'll tell you to stop giving your child antihistamines a week before the visit. They block the immune response, and the immune response is how we diagnose allergies.

During Your Child's Visit to the Children's Rhinology Clinic

Your child's first visit may take 1 to 2 hours.

A nurse practitioner or physician assistant will ask about your child's symptoms, medications, and previous diagnoses and surgeries.

Your ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor will then review your child's medical history with you.

This lets us get a full picture of your child's health.

What tests will my child have at our first visit?

Often, our ENT doctor will do a nasal endoscopy.

This is a test to view inside the nose and sinuses with a tiny camera attached to a small scope. It doesn't hurt and your child won't need anesthesia. But because it can feel uncomfortable, we often numb the area first.

You and the doctor will be able to see the insides of your child's nasal and sinus cavity on a screen. During or after the procedure, the doctor will explain what the images show.

If your child has allergic rhinitis (hay fever), the doctor may perform a skin test. This will help determine what is causing your child's allergic reaction. The test is safe, and the doctor will be able to review the results with you during the same visit.

In rare cases, such as if your doctor suspects a cyst or tumor, they may order an MRI or CT scan.

Most often, the doctor will diagnose your child on the 1st visit. And they will give you details about the diagnosis and treatment options.

Treatments may include one or a mix of:

  • Medications to relieve symptoms.
  • Lifestyle changes to avoid allergy triggers.
  • Surgery to fix nose and sinus problems.
  • When there is more than one treatment option, your doctor will explain the options and why we recommend one treatment over another.

After Your Child's Visit for Nose and Sinus Care

If you will be managing your child's condition with medicine or lifestyle changes, we will book follow-up visits. This way, we can make sure the plan is working for your child -- and adjust it if need be.

If the doctor suggests surgery, we will:

  • Book the procedure before you leave.
  • Give you details about how to prep your child for the surgery and what to expect.
  • Stay in touch with you and your child after surgery to make sure their condition continues to improve.