The Epi-Pen that talks to you!

Click here to read the article that was in the New York Times about the newest epinephrine device.

Finding Relief for Eye Allergies

Allergies can affect the eyes, causing red, itchy, burning, and watery eyes and swollen eyelids. Many of the same treatments and self-help strategies that help reduce nasal allergy symptoms work for eye allergies, too.Eye allergies, also called "allergic conjunctivitis", affect one in five Americans. While allergies affecting the eyes usually do not threaten eyesight, they can be very uncomfortable and red, puffy eyes may be unbecoming.  But since these symptoms can sometimes be caused also by infections and other conditions that do threaten eyesight, it is a good idea to see your doctor if eye symptoms persist.

Triggers of eye allergies can be pollens, cat or dog danders, dust mites, or other airborne allergens.  On contact, thousands of cells in the surface of the eyes release histamine that leads to itchiness and other annoying allergy symptoms.  Rubbing the eyes makes it worse, while cool compresses and eyedrops that counteract the histamine effect can be very helpful.  Finding the cause and avoiding or immunizing against it (as with "allergy shots" or immunotherapy) can give more permanent relief. 

For more information, visit our website at www.southbayallergy.com.

A Stylish Solution for Kids with EpiPens

The Olli Pocket Cargo Pant from Olli Lolli is a stylish solution for kids who need to carry and EpiPen or asthma medication on them at all times.  Made of 100% organic cotton twill, these comfy cargos have a side pocket that's designed to carry those essential meds.  They also have sweaters, jackets and shirts that anounce to everyone what food your child is allergic to.  Visit www.ollilolli.com.

For more information on allergies and asthma, visit our website at www.southbayallergy.com.

Can peanut allergic people eat peanut oil safely?

For a peanut allergic person, it is not safe to eat cold-pressed, expressed, or extruded peanut oil, which are sometimes represented as "gourmet oils" -- these tend to contain the highly allergenic peanut protein. On the other hand, it has been shown that peanut allergic individuals can safely eat high-temperature, heat-processed, fully refined peanut oil (refined, bleached and deodorized), which means the proteins in the oil are stripped out during the processing.  

Certain restaurants such as Chick Fil-A do offer detailed information regarding their use of only this highly refined peanut oil, which is generally safe for peanut allergic patients.  However, in the absence of such detailed information, we would advise avoidance of peanut oils if you are severely allergic to peanuts.   

A list of foods that may be hidden sources of peanut protein is available at http://www.foodallergy.org/page/peanut-allergy.

For more on testing for peanut and other allergies, go to SouthBayAllergy.com
Source: FAAN

 

Awesome new site for food allergy patients - The Allergy Menu

This is a new searchable database of recipes where food allergic individuals can enter the foods they need to avoid (among the most common food allergens such as milk, egg, wheat, peanut, sesame, tree nuts), click a button and voila! A series of recipes that would be safe and allergen-free for them.  It costs $297 per year for a subscription -- which seems pricey at first, but in fact that is less than a dollar a day to get rid of the hassle of trying to navigate through recipe books and hundreds of labels to figure out what would be safe to eat.  Very nice idea, something we have needed for a long time!

Click here for the link.

Visit our website at: www.southbayallergy.com

Halloween Haunts Parents of Students with Life-Threatening Food Allergies

As ghosts and goblins race through neighborhoods chanting, "Trick or Treat", parents of children with life-threatening food allergies, called anaphylaxis, feel shivers of fright and real terror according to Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA), the leading patient education, advocacy and outreach organization. For good reason. They've seen that one bite of the wrong treat can turn a fun-filled evening into a nightmare at the hospital.

 

Even so, AANMA president and founder Nancy Sander says it is possible for parents and their food allergic children to be smart and have fun on the wackiest dress-up night of the year. "It's a great time for parents to remind children what their food allergens look like and not to eat any unapproved candy or treats until they get home—as well as to reinforce the need to keep two epinephrine auto-injectors everywhere, every day even if that means tucking them in your costume or goodie bag (or asking Mom and Dad to carry them)."

Anaphylaxis Community Expert (ACE) Teams nationwide are helping young people develop independent thinking skills necessary to prevent and respond to food allergy accidents. Volunteer teams are formed by local allergists, school nurses, registered nurses, PAs, and parents through a program developed by AANMA and the American College of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. This school year, ACE Teams have trained daycare providers, EMTs, school faculty and staff--as well as at-risk students and patients--how to identify and respond to an anaphylactic emergency.

"Fun begins by eliminating the fear of the unknown. We start with a qualified diagnosis, a written plan, parent and student education to prevent future episodes and training to know when and how to self-administer epinephrine auto-injectors." says Katie Marks, MD. "Our goal is to teach school children the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and when to ask for help."

This Halloween, ACE Teams are helping parents and students learn age-appropriate food allergy anaphylaxis prevention and emergency self-management skills.  At-risk students who complete free one-on-one or small group ACE training programs at schools, community and worship centers receive free Epi Everywhere! Every Day!^TM bag tags and stickers.  To learn more, please contact local ACE Team member Anna at anna@southbayallergy.com or 310-371-1388 ext 15.

About ACEs

The Anaphylaxis Community Experts (ACEs) program is developed by Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), sponsored by Mylan Specialty, LP. The ACEs program goal is to save lives through showing parents, teachers, school nurses, emergency responders, and others how to recognize and respond immediately to anaphylaxis symptoms.

http://aces.aanma.org 

 

Rain can temporarily decrease pollen counts in the air, but only if its a heavy enough downfall, light rain may not change pollen counts by very much. Following the rain, the humidity and warmer weather can actually increase pollen counts. Other aero-allergens like mold can increase and cause more symptoms too. So, it can be good and bad.

And then there are thunderstorms. Certain wind patterns called updrafts can occur and can these can worsen allergies and asthma due to increases in mold spore counts and a decrease in the size of grass pollen particles which can affect the respiratory tract more easily.

If you have allergies or asthma, talk to your allergist about tips you can follow to prevent your allergies or asthma from flaring!

Check out www.southbayallergy.com for allergen avoidance tips!