August marks the start of misery for as many as one in five Americans who suffer from hay fever, also called seasonal allergic rhinitis. That's because ragweed, the main cause of hay fever, begins blooming around mid-August and in one day each plant can produce a million pollen grains that can travel for miles from its source.
"Ragweed can bring on sneezing, snuffy nose and watery eyes," says allergist James Sublett, MD, chair of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology's (ACAAI) public relations committee. "But there are lots of things people can do to find relief until the first freeze comes along."
Monday, August 30, 2010
Dr. Ellis
To avoid the more intense early reaction, people with cat, dog and dust mite allergies should try to limit their exposure to those allergens before ragweed season starts, said Dr. Ellis. Because that often is not practical when it comes to family pets, an alternative is to treat their cat, dog or dust-mite allergies, she said.
"Allergy immunizations or year-round allergy medication can provide hay fever relief to those sufferers who have ongoing symptoms from cats, dogs or dust mites, even if they think the symptoms are mild and easily tolerated," said Neil Kao, MD, chair of the ACAAI Rhinitis/Sinusitis Committee. "They'll likely find ragweed allergy season easier to endure if they're treating their perennial allergies."
Those who suspect they have hay fever or other allergies should get tested by an allergist a doctor who is expert in diagnosing and treating allergies and astma
Source: American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)
"Allergy immunizations or year-round allergy medication can provide hay fever relief to those sufferers who have ongoing symptoms from cats, dogs or dust mites, even if they think the symptoms are mild and easily tolerated," said Neil Kao, MD, chair of the ACAAI Rhinitis/Sinusitis Committee. "They'll likely find ragweed allergy season easier to endure if they're treating their perennial allergies."
Those who suspect they have hay fever or other allergies should get tested by an allergist a doctor who is expert in diagnosing and treating allergies and astma
Source: American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Food allergies are adverse immune responses to food allergens
NICE has opened the consultation on its draft clinical guideline on the diagnosis and assessment of food allergies in children and young people. Its aim is to support GPs and other health professionals in primary care and community settings in recognising the signs and symptoms of food allergy, by giving clear recommendations on taking allergy-focussed histories to assess the condition.
Food allergies are adverse immune responses to food allergens[1]. They are among the most common of the allergic disorders and are recognised as a major paediatric health problem in western countries. Reactions can be extremely severe; hospital admissions in the UK for food allergies have increased by 500%since 1990[2], and there has been a dramatic increase in prevalence in the last twenty years, ranging from 6% to 8% in children up to the age of 3 years across Europe and North America. The most common foods to which children and young people are allergic include cow's milk; fish and shellfish; hen's eggs; peanuts, tree nuts and sesame; soy; wheat and kiwi fruit.
Food allergies in children can result in a number of symptoms, therefore the draft guideline recommends that the condition should be considered if the child has one or a combination of the following, including:
- skin conditions such as eczema or acute urticaria (itchy rash)
- respiratory complaints such as sneezing or shortness of breath
- gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting, difficulty swallowing or constipation
- anaphylaxis (severe, hyper-sensitive reaction) and other allergic reactions.
Food allergies should also be considered in children who are not adequately responding to treatment for atopic (allergic) eczema, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (where stomach contents leak out of the stomach and into the oesophagus), and chronic constipation.
If a food allergy is suspected, the GP or other healthcare professional should take an allergy-focused clinical history, tailored to the presenting symptoms and age of the child or young person. This should include a family history of allergies, an assessment of the symptoms, and feeding history as an infant. A physical examination should pay particular attention to growth, and physical signs of malnutrition.
The draft guideline also recommends offering the appropriate information based on the type of allergy suspected, the risk of allergic reaction, and the diagnostic process which may include excluding specific foods from the diet, reintroducing these foods with reoccurrence of the allergic reaction confirming diagnosis. Diagnosis may also include skin prick and blood tests for IgE (immunoglobulin) antibodies; specific antibodies suggest particular allergic reactions. Alternative methods of diagnosis such as hair analysis and kinesiology are not recommended. Referral to secondary care should be considered if the child has ongoing problems including faltering growth, vomiting, abdominal pain, loose or frequent stools, or constipation.
Food allergies are adverse immune responses to food allergens[1]. They are among the most common of the allergic disorders and are recognised as a major paediatric health problem in western countries. Reactions can be extremely severe; hospital admissions in the UK for food allergies have increased by 500%since 1990[2], and there has been a dramatic increase in prevalence in the last twenty years, ranging from 6% to 8% in children up to the age of 3 years across Europe and North America. The most common foods to which children and young people are allergic include cow's milk; fish and shellfish; hen's eggs; peanuts, tree nuts and sesame; soy; wheat and kiwi fruit.
Food allergies in children can result in a number of symptoms, therefore the draft guideline recommends that the condition should be considered if the child has one or a combination of the following, including:
- skin conditions such as eczema or acute urticaria (itchy rash)
- respiratory complaints such as sneezing or shortness of breath
- gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting, difficulty swallowing or constipation
- anaphylaxis (severe, hyper-sensitive reaction) and other allergic reactions.
Food allergies should also be considered in children who are not adequately responding to treatment for atopic (allergic) eczema, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (where stomach contents leak out of the stomach and into the oesophagus), and chronic constipation.
If a food allergy is suspected, the GP or other healthcare professional should take an allergy-focused clinical history, tailored to the presenting symptoms and age of the child or young person. This should include a family history of allergies, an assessment of the symptoms, and feeding history as an infant. A physical examination should pay particular attention to growth, and physical signs of malnutrition.
The draft guideline also recommends offering the appropriate information based on the type of allergy suspected, the risk of allergic reaction, and the diagnostic process which may include excluding specific foods from the diet, reintroducing these foods with reoccurrence of the allergic reaction confirming diagnosis. Diagnosis may also include skin prick and blood tests for IgE (immunoglobulin) antibodies; specific antibodies suggest particular allergic reactions. Alternative methods of diagnosis such as hair analysis and kinesiology are not recommended. Referral to secondary care should be considered if the child has ongoing problems including faltering growth, vomiting, abdominal pain, loose or frequent stools, or constipation.
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