Allergies and Halloween-Are They as Spooky as They Sound?
Halloween is just around the corner and stores are filling with candy, costumes and pumpkins to carve. While many people view Halloween as a time to dress up and go trick-or-treating without a care in the world, this is not the case for those with …
Allergy Myth Busters: Egg allergy and flu vaccine
It seemed to make sense: Influenza vaccine is made in chicken-embryo cells so there are small amounts of egg protein (called ovalbumin) in the vaccine. Therefore, egg-allergic patients could have reactions to influenza vaccine and special precautions should be taken. Right? Wrong! Medical Studies: Where …
Allergy skin testing children-No needles, please!
Allergy skin testing continues to be a most valuable method to identify allergies. Even in children, the skin test may be better tolerated than attempting to obtain a blood sample. In the above photo (circa 1996), a patient is tolerating the skin testing like a …
Don’t Hop to Allergy Conclusions on Easter!
Easter is a blessed holiday frequently spent with family and friends. Easter celebrations bring several potential allergy exposures (food, pollen, latex and pets). How to prepare for an “allergy-safe” Easter: Host: If you are the host, don’t assume your guests do not have allergies—that can …
Does Chocolate Allergy Exist or is it a Myth??
Chocolate allergy? Yes, unfortunately, allergic reactions to chocolate confections can occur; and DO! How much chocolate is eaten each year? According to Euromonitor, Americans are major choco-holics, consuming 18% of the world’s supply of chocolate in 2015 amounting to $18.27 billion. However, the U.S. ranks …
The Gut Microbiome & Food Allergies: A Black Hole
The gut microbiome refers to the various microbes (especially bacteria) in the GI tract. The specific bacteria and their purposes are still largely unknown (hence the “black hole”). These gut bacteria are constantly changing! How do bacteria first colonize the gut? A newborn is first …
Did you know milk can make your lungs bleed?
Milk allergy is quite common and usually presents as eczema, hives, GI symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea or less commonly anaphylaxis. Rarely, other reactions can occur. Did you know that some young children develop severe lung problems related to ingesting milk? In 1962, Heiner …
Decoding Food Allergies: Break the Code
Do you want to know how severe your milk, egg or peanut allergy can be? These tests can help! Allergies to egg, peanut and cow’s milk are among the most common food allergies affecting children. These reactions can range from serious, life threatening reactions (such …
A Better Way to Diagnose EoE…”in a Galaxy Far, Far Away!”
The gold standard for diagnosing eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) at this time is symptoms and multiple tissue biopsies of the esophagus (food tube) showing eosinophils obtained by the gastroenterologist during the endoscopy procedure. However, diagnosing EoE is not always that straightforward. It can be difficult to …
Not-So-Scary Halloween Trick-or-Treating for Children with Food Allergies
The Teal Pumpkin Project™ is designed to make Halloween safe (and fun) for food allergic children. Rather than hand out candy, provide non-food items! Potential items that are available at most dollar stores or party supply stores include: Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces Pencils, pens, …