Archive for the ‘Allergies’ Category

Pearls from the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

I just returned from New Orleans where I attended the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) annual meeting. It was very hard for an Indianapolis Colts fan to venture into the city that beat my team in the most recent Super Bowl. They still celebrate that victory – deservedly so. It’s just that everywhere [...]

March 11, 2010  Tags:   Posted in: AAAAI Meeting Higlights, Allergies, Asthma  No Comments

Food Allergy among Children in the United States – Article Review

Food Allergy among Children in the United States
Authors: Amy Branum and Susan Lukacs
Reference: Pediatrics Volume 124 (6) December 2009
This title caught my eye. The impression in clinical practice is that more and more children have food allergy. This article looks at the prevalence of food allergy in children. I wanted to get this review posted [...]

December 1, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Allergies, Allergy Testing, Food Allergies  No Comments

Increase in Food Allergy in Children

Today’s Indianapolis Star (Sunday November 29, 2009) had an article “Researchers can’t explain rise in kids’ food allergies”. According to a study that will appear in the December issue of Pediatrics The number of children with food allergy is up to 18%. The information came from surveys of parents and health care organizations. This pre-publication [...]

November 29, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Allergies, Food Allergies, Interesting Stories  3 Comments

Egg Allergy and Influenza Vaccinations

Dr. Vitalpur and I have had many calls about the influenza vaccination (both the usual annual vaccine and the new H1N1 vaccine) and children with egg allergy. We follow a number of children who are allergic to egg. Their reactions to egg include those who; are allergy test positive only, have hives with skin contact [...]

October 8, 2009   Posted in: Allergies, Egg Allergy, Food Allergies, Immunizations  6 Comments

Asthma and Allergy or Just Allergies?

All during my training in allergy at Duke University and my first job as a member of the allergy section at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan asthma was always considered a large part of the realm of allergy. During my time in Detroit I was privileged to be the principal investigator (Detroit site) for [...]

October 1, 2009   Posted in: Allergies, Asthma  2 Comments

What Causes Allergy? What Causes Asthma? A short review of two recent articles

During my training in Allergy/Clinical Immunology the estimates for allergy in the population was about 20%. Over the past 20 years there has been an alarming increase. The reason for this is unknown. There are plenty of theories including exposure to allergens, pollutants, and endotoxins (Hygiene Hypothesis). Other suspected factors include immunizations, diet, viral infection, [...]

June 24, 2009   Posted in: Allergies, Asthma  3 Comments

Practical Pediatrics- Providence, Rhode Island April, 2009

I had the chance to moderate a course given by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) last weekend. For many years I had the role as a speaker for these programs. These are great opportunities for primary caretakers, pediatricians and nurse practitioners to hear some very practical approaches to common problems in pediatrics.
Providence, Rhode [...]

April 8, 2009  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Allergies, Meeting Updates  One Comment

Highlights from the 2009 Allergy Meeting

I recently attended the 2009 annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology(AAAAI) in Washington, DC. There were five days of extraordinary educational activities (March 13-17, 2009). I thought that while I could still read my notes I would share with you a few things I observed, heard, and learned in the [...]

March 23, 2009   Posted in: Allergies, Asthma, Food Allergies, Interesting Stories, Meeting Updates  7 Comments

Peanut Allergy or Peanut Sensitization?

I have many patients and families who have significant concerns about peanut allergy. I have been at Riley for 15 years, and during that time I have seen a significant rise in peanut allergy. Once upon a time I would see a new peanut patient about once a week. Now it is closer to a [...]

March 2, 2009   Posted in: Allergies, Food Allergies  2 Comments

My letter to the editor of Bottom Line Personal

I have never written a letter to the editor that I have actually sent. Most of them wind up in the circular file (aka file 13, trash etc). I usually feel better having written them, but I do not have a track record in this regard. Perhaps doing this blog has emboldened me. After all [...]

February 15, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Allergies, Food Allergies  No Comments