Unexpected Allergy Source: Stuffed Furniture

Upholstered furniture provides a cozy refuge for dust mites. Vacuum furniture fabric regularly. Leather, vinyl, or other smooth surfaces can lessen allergies.

'Life in a Bubble' Leaves Kids with Food Allergies at Risk

Food allergies and anaphylaxis are on rise, as are peanut-free schools, baseball parks and airplanes. But is it possible or medically recommended to isolate food-allergic children from killer proteins?

This hot topic is spicing up communities throughout the U.S. and Internet forums. As the pendulum swings from irrational fear to the blatantly cavalier, school-aged kids with food allergies are left hanging in the balance.

This year, allergists and community members team up nationwide to help steer the debate with realistic expectations and evidence-based solutions. Anaphylaxis Community Experts (ACEs), a program developed by Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics in partnership with the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, conduct free local seminars to increase awareness about anaphylaxis and treatment and prevention strategies.

Food allergy anaphylaxis can be deadly but doesn't have to be. Our goal is to prevent death and anxiety due to anaphylaxis in our community.

A board-certified allergist should confirm which food allergens are responsible and assess risks for severe anaphylactic reactions. Parents are instructed to eliminate the food from the child's diet. But it's one thing to strip the kitchen cupboards bare of offending peanut protein, for example, and quite another to try to institute bans outside the home.

Designated areas such as 'peanut-free zones' can give a false sense of security. For children with life-threatening food allergies, the key is to identify and treat medical emergencies appropriately -- no matter where they are.

Teachers rather than trained medical professionals are often first on the scene when anaphylaxis happens at school. Most fatalities occur because access to life-saving auto-injectable epinephrine was delayed or nonexistent.

Unexpected Allergy Source: Kitchen

This is a favorite room for mold. If your refrigerator has a drip pan, pull it out and scrub it regularly. Standing water attracts mold. Old, moldy food can also trigger allergies.

Also, cover trash cans and store food in sealed containers to keep cockroaches away. These nighttime bugs are hard to see, and they trigger allergies in many people.

Lawmaker introduces bill requiring EpiPens in all school systems

Sen. Christopher B. Shank wants policies in place for treating students with life-threatening allergies.  A bill is being introduced requiring EpiPens in all school systems.  Read the full article here.

Latex Allergy

Latex, also known as rubber or natural latex, comes from the milky sap of the rubber tree, found in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Latex allergy is an allergic reaction to substances in natural latex. Rubber gloves are the main source of allergic reactions, although latex is also used in many other products -- here are some common places latex may show up in your environment:



At Home:

• balloons
• rubber gloves for cleaning house
• rubber erasers
• some computer mouse pads 
• rubber bands
• tennis shoe soles
• ping pong paddles
• foam rubber pillows 
• some "pillow top" mattresses
• koosh balls
• party "bounce" houses
• tires
• freshly resurfaced roads

At School:

• rubber balls on the playground
• rubberized playground surfaces
• rubber running tracks
• artificial turf fields
• mouse pads

Other:

• dental or medical offices where latex gloves are worn by staff
• restaurants or cafeterias where food handlers wear latex gloves
• some medical devices such as urinary catheters with a rubber tip
• latex condoms

It is thought that repeated exposure to latex and rubber products may induce symptoms in people prone to allergies.

About 5% to 10% of health care workers have some form of allergy to latex.  Many hospitals are now latex-free as this condition has become more prevalent in the population.


What Happens During a Latex Reaction?

There are three types of latex reactions:

• Irritant contact dermatitis.  Least threatening form, a non-allergenic skin reaction. Usually occurs as a result of repeated exposure to chemicals in latex gloves and results in dryness, itching, or burning of the skin.
• Allergic contact dermatitis. Results in the same type of reactions as irritant contact dermatitis, but the reaction is more severe, generally itchier, spreads to more parts of the body and lasts longer.
• Immediate allergic reaction (latex hypersensitivity). The most serious reaction to latex. It can include hay fever-like symptoms, conjunctivitis (allergic pink eye), hives, wheezing or chest tightness, swelling of the lips, eyelids, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing. Rarely, symptoms may progress to include rapid heartbeat, tremors, chest pain, low blood pressure, anaphylactic shock, or potentially, death.

What Should I Do During an Allergic Reaction to Latex?

If you experience severe symptoms, call your doctor or 911 immediately, or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you suspect latex allergy, we can help you decipher the causes of your symptoms.  Give us a call at (310) 371-1388 and set up a time to come see one of our allergy doctors.

Tips for Fighting Winter Allergies

It's winter and even in sunny Southern California, we are closing up our houses and trying to keep warm at night.  If you have allergies or asthma, keep that indoor environment free of allergens and airborne irritants and enjoy some nice clean air:




Keeping warm 

• Opt for a radiant space heater or washable blankets rather than forced air heater, especially if your air ducts have not been professionally cleaned in the last few year.  
• Fireplaces are cozy, but may create smoke that irritates the airways, and firewood can bring in pollen or mold as well.

Clean heating ducts and filters

• Dust and dust mites thrive in your heating system. Professional cleaners can give your ducts a clean bill of health. A complete air duct cleaning should be done at least every 5 years.
• Change heat system filters at least once a month.

Wash pets frequently

When it's cold or rainy outside, pets need to come in, but exposure to pet dander will increase, so...

• Keep them in a confined living area, preferably one without carpeting -- not the bedroom if you or a family member is allergic to animal dander. 
• Give them a bath every week if pet dander is a problem.

Beware of extremes

• When it's very cold outside, keep your face covered. 
• Avoid running or exertion in extremely cold air if you are prone to asthma.  

Avoid airborne irritants

Common examples of indoor airborne irritants that may make it into your home:

• Potpourri
• Fireplace smoke
• Cigarette smoke
• Air fresheners 
• Incense
• Scented candles

5th Grader Saved by an Epi-Pen

A fifth grader experienced a severe allergic reaction while eating candy containing peanuts at school.  Luckily, he was treated with auto-injectable epinephrine by the school nurse and survived. Read the full story here http://bit.ly/wrhkoC

Unexpected Allergy Source: Air Conditioner

Air conditioning helps keep your home cool and dry, helping to fight allergens. But sometimes it can be part of the problem. As dust collects on the cooling coils, mold may begin to grow.

Keep dust out by installing a heavy-duty filter and changing it regularly. Window A/C units should be professionally cleaned and disinfected every year.

Would You Know the Symptoms of Life-Threatening Anaphylaxis?

Many of the deaths in the U.S. each year due to anaphylaxis, a sudden, serious allergic reaction, could be prevented if more people knew the symptoms and the immediate treatment needed to survive. 

To increase awareness of anaphylaxis, South Bay Allergy and Asthma have joined the national Anaphylaxis Community Experts (ACEs) educational program to present community awareness programs to schools, hospital grand rounds, PTA meetings, medical offices, Scouting organizations, EMS, fire and police departments, and more.

The first line of treatment is early administration of epinephrine. Most fatalities from anaphylaxis occur outside the home, especially when treatment is delayed.  Our goal is to show parents, teachers, school nurses, emergency responders and others how to recognize and respond to anaphylaxis symptoms the moment they begin.

Anaphylaxis is a rapid-onset, whole-body, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can happen to anyone at any time, but is more commonly experienced among people with risk factors. There are three major risk factors for fatal anaphylaxis:

·         -Allergic reaction to food, stinging insects or medications

·         - Presence or history of asthma symptoms

·         -Delay in administration of epinephrine

The affected person may experience cardiovascular shock and/or serious respiratory compromise.

What causes the allergic reaction? The answer may not be what you think. See an allergist. Get a strategy and reduce anxieties associated with anaphylaxis.  Forty-seven states protect students’ rights to carry and use auto-injectable epinephrine. We’ve created resources to help them and families coordinate students’ needs.

Every child at risk should have an anaphylaxis action plan on file with all schools and caregivers.  The plan should list symptoms and state that immediate action can be life-saving and outline what to do in order of importance.

For more information on the symptoms and treatment of anaphylaxis or to request an ACE awareness presentation for your group, contact our allergy nurse, Anna, at 310-371-1388 ext. 15.

The ACE program is a partnership of Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), supported by Dey Pharma, L.P.