What are allergy shots?

Allergen immunotherapy ("allergy shots") treats the root cause of allergies such as reactivity to grass, tree, or weed pollens, cats or dogs, or dust mites, by gradually building tolerance -- instead of just temporarily symptoms as medications do.

With a course of immunotherapy, an allergic person can build lifelong tolerance to many of these allergy triggers, avoiding the need for chronic allergy medicines.


For more about what allergy shots can do for you, click here.

Meat allergy might really be due to tick bites

An unusual connection has been found between tick bites and the development of allergy to sugars found in meat.  See the full article here.

Peanuts and Airlines

Which airlines do not serve individual packages or bags of peanuts?

Many airlines post a written peanut allergy policy on their website. After reviewing these policies and corresponding with airline representatives, FAAN has concluded that the following domestic airlines do not serve individual packages of peanuts in coach class:

Air Canada, Air Tran, American, Continental, Frontier, Jet Blue, Midwest, United, US Airways

Please note! This list includes only airlines that do not serve packaged peanuts (i.e., PEANUTS ARE THE ONLY INGREDIENT) in coach class. Some airlines may serve peanuts in first class or business class. Some airlines, such as Frontier, sell snack items (e.g., trail mix, candy bars) in coach class that contain peanuts as an ingredient and/or snack items that include a “may contain” advisory warning on the label.

As long as a passenger with peanut allergy does not eat these products or come into very close contact with them, the risk of reaction from skin contact or inhalation will be minimized.

Again, the most important strategy for avoiding reactions while flying is: DO NOT EAT AIRLINE MEALS OR SNACKS!

What about tree nuts?

Most airlines continue to offer, generally for sale, snack items that contain tree nuts. Other airlines, such as American, serve a warmed tree nut mix in first and/or business class, where the tree nuts are warmed in an oven during the flight prior to being served.

Source: FAAN

Top 10 Tips for Airline Travelers with Food Allergy

1. Do Your Homework: Before booking your flight, read the airline’s allergy policy. Many airlines post their policy on their website – find it by using the search function using the term “allergies” or “peanuts.”
2. Check the Airline’s Snack Offerings: For individuals with peanut/tree nut allergy, try to choose an airline that does not serve complimentary peanut/tree nut snacks with the beverage service. (Some airlines will serve a non-peanut/tree nut snack, such as pretzels, upon advance request.) This will greatly decrease the risk of exposure to peanuts/tree nuts during the flight. Keep in mind that no airline will ever give you a guaranteed peanut- or tree nut-free flight.
3. Notify the Airline of Your Food Allergy: When booking your flight, notify the reservation agent of your food allergy, and ask if your information can be forwarded to other personnel such as the gate agent, catering/food service, and flight crew. Reconfirm your food allergy at every opportunity with the ticket agent, and again with the flight attendants. 
4. Understand Policies for Carrying Medication on Board the Aircraft: For security purposes, keep your epinephrine/adrenaline in its original packaging and have your emergency plan with your medication. It is also recommended that you have your epinephrine prescription, and a travel plan or letter from your doctor confirming your food allergy and indicating you need to carry your medication and food/drinks with you.  Consider wearing medical alert identification indicating your allergies.
5. Inspect Your Seating Area: Ask the gate agent if you may pre-board the plane in order to inspect/clean your seating area. Wipe down the seat to help prevent contact reactions or inadvertent skin contact with food particles or spills. Eating food off a contaminated surface area could lead to accidental ingestion of allergens through cross-contact. Since some airlines are cleaned at the end of each day, consider choosing early morning flights, where the chance of seats containing crumbs or food residue is minimized.
6. Avoid Airline Food: Never eat airline food; pack your own food. However, you may want to check with the airline to see if there are any restrictions as to which types of food you are allowed to bring on board or to your destination.
7. Keep Your Epinephrine With You: Always keep your epinephrine/adrenaline with you; do not store in the overhead bin. Let others you’re traveling with know about your allergies so they know what to do in case of an emergency on the flight and where your auto-injector is.
8. Notifying Other Passengers: Consider informing passengers sitting in your area about your food allergy. Keep in mind, however, that the airline will probably not make an announcement to the other passengers, and that passengers can eat food they have brought onto the aircraft.
9. Respect the Flight Crew: Be courteous and polite with the flight crew. They are there to help you and we need to help educate them about food allergies without making unrealistic or unnecessary demands.
10. Always Be Prepared: Never take a risk with food, especially when in the air away from access to medical help

This list was created by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Alliance.

Allergy-safe hotels all over the world

Getting ready for a summer vacation?  Don't let allergies get in the way -- plan ahead and check out the allergy ratings on hotels in major cities around the world, at AllerPassMD.

This great website can help you find the right allergy-safe hotels for your trip.  Reviewed by a Board Certified Allergist and still adding hotel ratings based on allergy-safe features:  

http://www.allerpassmd.com/

USA Today Article (Asthma)

Don't miss this great article about asthma published by USA Today!  Click Here

EpiPen Proposal Becomes Virginia Law

Good news for the state of Virginia!   EpiPens become mandatory in every school.    Read the article: Click Here

Primatene mist no longer available

Primatene mist has been the lone "over the counter" nonprescription quick relief asthma inhaler for decades.  Its active ingredient was adrenaline, which would relax the bronchial muscles for only about 15 minutes, and was meant only for dire emergencies till an asthmatic could get proper evaluation by a doctor and safer long term control of asthma.  Unfortunately, many asthma sufferers would ignore the limitations on the label, and repeatedly use the inhaler when effects would wear off 15 minutes later -- again and again, leading to cardiac toxicity and no relief of worsening asthma.  This dangerous practice led many doctors to question whether this type of medication should even be available over the counter.  


Now for other reasons, Primatene mist is no longer available, since the recent CFC propellant ban has required a change in its manufacturing -- but this is a good opportunity for every asthmatic to have proper medical evaluation and safer prescription treatment tailored to his or her situation, along with a good back up plan for management of asthma symptoms, and a plan for avoiding triggers.

Click here for the full article.

Is it a drug allergy or just a side effect?

Medication reactions are not always an allergy.  For example, many antibiotics will lead to non-allergic side effects, such as stomach upset or yeast infections.  This is due to irritation of the stomach or killing off of "good bacteria" as well as the bad -- leading to overgrowth of yeast and other organisms that normally are kept under check.

True allergy to a medication is an immune reaction to the drug, leading to release of histamine that can cause anything from mild to severe hives, swelling of the eyelids, lips, mouth, or throat, breathing difficulty, or life-threatening anaphylaxis.  Symptoms of a drug allergy can range from mild to life-threatening.  Once a drug allergy has occurred, it is important to let your doctors know, so that this drug can be avoided as a treatment option in the future.