Virtual visit appointments available 7 days a week from 9:00am to 11:00pm. Learn More
The Woodlands
Specialty
Allergy and Immunology
Phone: 936-267-7577
Address
Texas Children's Hospital - The Woodlands
17580 I-45 South, 5th Floor, Green Pod
The Woodlands, TX 77384
Karen Thursday S. Tuano, MD
Allergist/Immunologist
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Education
| School | Education | Degree | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor College of Medicine | Fellowship | Allergy and Immunology | 2016 |
| Driscoll Children's Hospital | Internship/Residency | Pediatrics | 2013 |
| Showa University Hospital | Research Fellowship | Allergy | 2005 |
| University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery | Medical School | Doctor of Medicine | 1997 |
About
As an allergist and immunologist at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, Dr. Tuano strives to improve the quality of life of children with allergic and immunologic conditions and help their families manage and cope with these conditions. She sees patients with a wide range of allergic conditions, like eczema, food allergy, allergic rhinitis, asthma, drug allergy, and those with problems with recurrent infections and possible immune system deficiencies. She has a special interest in food allergy and has focused on the study of shrimp allergy. Her research interest has been describing the clinical and immunological profile of patients with shrimp allergy, and finding skin and blood test markers to predict clinical reactivity to shrimp.
From Dr. Tuano:
Being one of the first clinicians at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands gave me the opportunity to establish The David Clinic. This provided me the ideal environment to fully develop my clinical expertise in allergy and immunology and to write policies and guidelines.
- I am responsible for seeing patients for consultation, supervising staff and assessing patients with allergen immunotherapy and oral challenges.
- I helped establish a program for patients with eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases, which entails a multi-disciplinary approach that also involves the gastrointestinal specialists and nutritionists.
- I have co-written a policy and guideline for treating anaphylaxis in the clinic setting, which has been implemented and as a result, helped decrease the number of patients who are sent to the ER for allergic reaction in clinic.
I continue to promote patient care by formulating QI projects on eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases, food and drug allergies. One of my community outreach programs involves educating primary care providers and school nurses on common allergic conditions they may encounter.
Clinical Interests: Food allergy focused on shrimp allergy, Eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases
Research Interests: describing the clinical and immunological profile of patients with shrimp allergy, and finding skin and blood test markers to predict clinical reactivity to shrimp
Organizations
| Organization Name | Role |
|---|---|
| American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology |
Member |
| American Academy of Pediatrics | Member |
Selected Publications
Tuano KTS, Seth N, Chinen J, Anagnostou A, Insights from a single center Registry of Infant and Toddler Anaphylaxis: Food and Fire Ants. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2023. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2023.09.024.
Neehus AL, Tuano K, Le Voyer T, Nandiwala S, Murthi K, Cassanova JL, Puel A, Chinen C, Bustamante J. Chronic granulomatous disease-like presentation of a child with autosomal recessive PKCδ deficiency. Journal of Clinical Immunology. 2022 Aug;42(6):1244-1253.
Seth N, Tuano KS, Chinen J. Inborn errors of immunity: Recent progress. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2021 Dec;148(6):1442-1450.
Tuano KS, Seth N, Chinen J. Secondary Immunodeficiency. An overview. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2021 Dec; 127(6):617-626.
Bethea LH, Tuano K, Seth N, Chinen J. Hereditary tryptasemia in identical twins. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2021 June; 19:S1081-1206.
Seth N, Tuano K, Buheis M, Chan A, Chinen J. Serum tryptase levels in a large pediatric cohort with mastocytosis and association with symptom severity. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2020 Aug;125(2):219-221.
Tuano KTS, Davis CM. Oral allergy syndrome in shrimp and house dust mite allergies. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2018 Nov–Dec; 6(6):2163-64.
Awards & Honors
Texas Children’s Hospital, The Woodlands, Provider Excellence in Patient Experience, January 2023,
Texas Children’s Hospital, The Woodlands, Provider Excellence in Patient Experience, May 2021,
Baylor College of Medicine, Early Career Faculty Excellence in Patient Care Award, May 2020,
Driscoll Children’s Hospital, The John G. and Elena Suess Kenedy Award Achievement as Prescribed in the Pediatric Education Program, June 2013,
Board Certification
American Board of Allergy and Immunology
Language
English, Filipino
Latest Blogs
* Texas Children's Hospital physicians' licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician's office and were not verified by Texas Children's Hospital.