Allergies: A Leickly Story » Family

Why House Dust Mite Avoidance is Hard

fleickly — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:04:00 +0000

Why House Dust Avoidance is Hard

Another way to title this is ‘Why allergists can be meanies’. How could we even think of shattering such a peaceful, tranquil, and sweet image? I wonder if this is the more commonplace reality of young children and stuffed animals.

A colleague of mine, Dr. Veda Ackerman once told me that an allergist can never give a talk without saying something about house dust mites and/or showing a picture of a house dust mite. She is probably correct on that.

The simple retort is that house dust mites are important allergens. Individuals can be sensitized and allergic to proteins in the fecal pellet of the house dust mites. Yes that is where the allergen is found in feces (also known by a number of other terms not allowed on this site). I recall the look of horror when a patient on oral drops from house dust mites realized the source of the allergen.

In the lore of allergy, it has been said that inch for inch that there are more house dust mites in stuffed animals than any other item manufactured by mankind. Given that fact, when there is sensitization to house dust mites and this is suspected as a reason for allergy symptoms, the most effective therapy is avoidance of the house dust mite. So the recommendation is the removal of the stuffed animals from the child’s environment. There are a few other options; placing the stuffed animal in the freezer over night once a week or dry cleaning the critter. I fear that in this situation, the freezer would be filled to capacity with these friends.

This picture of my granddaughter clearly shows why advising avoidance of stuffed animals can be a problem. It is often said that more than one stuffed animal in the bed with a house dust mite sensitive/allergic individual is too many. Fortunately Stella has no allergic conditions. This picture is precious. My daughter labels it as ‘Stella and her friends’.

Stella’s Papa

FEL

Welcoming a New Family Member

fleickly — Sun, 09 May 2010 13:35:57 +0000

Miles

We are proud to announce that we are grandparents for the second time. Miles was born on April 28, 2010 in Falls Church, Virginia. He joins his his now two year old sister Stella making the family a foursome. I spent the first part of my vacation visiting Miles and playing with Stella. She really is interested in this new family addition. They are a beautiful family indeed!

Welcome to the world Miles!

The ‘Silly Pizza’ Dance!

fleickly — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:06:01 +0000

The institution of ‘day care’ is very interesting. In my allergy/immunology practice I see a good number of children for evaluations of their immune systems due to recurrent infection. The concern is that there may be a problem with the immune system that predisposes them frequent infections. All too often the problem began in the child when day care started. So I am used to seeing day care as a possible reason for more cough and colds. This does make sense due to exposure to other children.

Stella, my favorite granddaughter goes to day care. Day care is a fact of life for working parents. And yes she has had the human equivalent of kennel cough. What has really caught my attention is what the little lady is learning in day care and I am amazed! Stella is 16 months old now. At 16 months verbal communication is developing, however she has learned at school and via her parents sign language. Really! She can communicate ‘more’ and ‘enough’. She also knows the sign words for a most amazing silly pizza.

Stella has done the silly pizza song at family gatherings. Most recently my son Brandon was married and at Brandon and Amanda’s wedding she entertained the families with ‘Silly Pizza’.

With my ever present encouragement, Stella’s mom (daughter Bethany) made a video for me with Stella doing the Silly Pizza song.

Silly Pizza Song from L.A. King on Vimeo.

I love this video- I have the song ringing in my head and now it can ring in your head as well. I hope you enjoy it.

Fred Leickly

Pictures and Portraits

fleickly — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:16:06 +0000

My daughter Bethany is an excellent photographer. I frequently look to her for pictures to use in this blog. She has an excellent eye and she has a very pretty daughter Stella to take pictures of. She posts many of her pictures and she is very generous in allowing others to use them, just as long as they credit her for the work. We would hear from her how information services would use her work. She has had her pictures in Washington D.C. publications and I think even with the Wall Street Journal.

So my wife is looking at the web site to see which pictures have been used elsewhere and yes she found my picture on two sites. My dilemna is what to do about it.

The first is a publication from Arizona about finding a pediatrician who works well with children especially children with challenges. The picture is of me, in a white doctor’s coat holding Stella in the air. We are both enjoying the moment. The problem is that Stella (thanks be to the Lord) is very healthy and my area of specialty is allergy and not child development. The article along with the picture does make a very nice point and I am okay with it. However it is the next posting that worries me.

You may have heard a story not too long ago about a gentleman from Russia who had a tree growing in his lung. We found an article on this topic and there is a picture of a doctor with the caption “We check for trees, da?”. Was I surprised to see that the picture of the doctor was me!! I laughed about it. Then I got concerned about it as well. I have never seen such a patient. It sounds like a ‘Ripley’s believe it or not’ entry- man has tree growing in lung and keeps local squirrels suppied with acorns. The tree thing was an obvious hoax. They really should have picked some other picture- that one has me wearing a white coat with the Riley Children’s Hospital logo on it.

It was pretty funny. If you post pictures on the internet, others can use them and they may wind up in strange places. I will let this go but be watchful in the future.

Bethany now does not allow the use of her pictures so freely. She is busy with a new direction for her talent. Check out this site http://bethanykingphotography.com/ to see the great work she does.

Fred Leickly

With Tremendous Pride- A son enters Dental School

fleickly — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:45:57 +0000

: The IU Dental School Class of 2013- White Coat Ceremony

The program for the Ceremony.

My eldest son Brandon was accepted at the Indiana University School of Denistry. Classes started for him in early July, however the school conducted their ‘White Coat’ ceremony in early August.

This ceremony is a somewhat new tradition for the school. The speakers explained the tradition of the white coat. The program warmly welcomed the class of 2013. I recalled what the white coat signifies for me in the practice of medicine and what it means to the families and patients we see. Interestingly, it is rare to see a health care profession wearing a white coat in practice. It was strongly suggested to these new dental students that they place this symbol of their dedication where they can see it every day to remind them of their oath, to remind them of the high esteem that the community places them, and to remind them of their responsibility to their patients.

What a proud moment to see that white coat be placed on him. His mother and I want all to know how proud we are of him.

A pair of students; one dental and one medical

Brandon and his fiance Amanda.