As we embrace the great outdoors, encounters with insects are virtually unavoidable. While most insect bites and stings result in minor discomfort, some individuals may experience more severe reactions, raising concerns about allergies. In this blog post, we'll delve into the differences between local reactions and insect allergies, as well as provide valuable tips for preventing and treating insect stings.
Navigating Summer Camp with Allergies and Asthma: Tips for a Safe and Fun Experience
Summer camp is a time-honored tradition for many children, offering opportunities for growth, adventure, and unforgettable memories. However, for children with allergies and asthma, navigating the great outdoors can present unique challenges. With proper preparation and awareness, both campers and their parents can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. In this blog post, we'll explore some essential tips for preparing for summer camp when dealing with allergies and asthma.
Food Allergy Testing
Food allergy testing is a process used to determine if a person has an allergy or sensitivity to certain foods. There are several methods for testing food allergies, including skin prick tests, blood tests (such as IgE antibody tests), and oral food challenges. Alternatively to food allergy testing, there is no available testing for food intolerances.
Food Allergies vs. Food Intolerance
In the world of dietary concerns and health-conscious eating, terms like "food allergies" and "food intolerance" are frequently used. However, these terms represent distinct physiological reactions with varying degrees of severity and implications for individuals' diets. Understanding the key differences between food allergies and food intolerance is crucial for effective management and improved well-being.
Allergy Skin Testing for Environmental Allergies: A Window into Diagnosing Allergies
Living in a world surrounded by various environmental factors, our bodies often come into contact with allergens that can trigger allergic reactions. Among these allergens, environmental inhalants such as pollen, dust mites, mold spores, and pet dander are common culprits. Allergy skin testing is a vital diagnostic tool to identify specific allergens triggering adverse reactions in individuals. In this article, we share the process of allergy skin testing for environmental inhalants, shedding light on its significance, procedure, and implications.
Decoding the Differences: Allergies vs. the Common Cold
When the sniffles and sneezes set in, it's easy to jump to conclusions about whether you're battling seasonal allergies or a common cold. While the symptoms may seem similar, the causes, duration, and treatments for allergies and colds differ significantly. In this blog post, we'll explore the nuances between allergies and the common cold to help you navigate through the confusion and better understand your body's reactions.
Patch Testing: A Definitive Guide to Detecting Contact Dermatitis Triggers
Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash caused by your skin's reaction to an allergen or irritant in your environment. The rash is characterized by redness, itching, and inflammation of the skin, and can be an unwelcome and perplexing experience. It is often indistinguishable from eczema and may require a thorough history and exam by your physician to make a clear diagnosis. Identifying the specific substances responsible for these allergic reactions is crucial for effective management. One diagnostic method that plays a pivotal role in this process is patch testing. In this article we will explore the world of patch testing, unraveling its purpose, methodology, benefits, and how it aids in the detection of contact dermatitis triggers.
Unveiling the Triggers: What Causes Eczema to Flare?
Eczema, a chronic skin condition characterized by inflammation and itching, affects millions of people worldwide. While it is considered one of the classic allergic diseases, the nature of the relationship between specific allergens and eczema remains unclear. Researchers and healthcare professionals have identified various factors that can trigger eczema flare-ups. Understanding these triggers is crucial for individuals managing eczema, as it empowers them to make informed lifestyle choices and adopt effective preventive measures.
Navigating Cold and Flu Season: Tips for Staying Healthy
As the chilly winds start to blow and the temperatures drop, so does our immune system's resilience, making us more susceptible to colds and the flu. Cold and flu season can be a challenging time for many, but with the right precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to these seasonal maladies. In this blog post, we'll explore some practical tips to help you stay healthy during the cold and flu season.
Red Tide outbreak can be particularly bad for people with asthma or allergies
The toxic algae bloom known as Red Tide has left a trail of dead fish in its wake up the western coast of Florida. The bloom that had been wreaking havoc on our southern neighbors has now made its way to the Tampa Bay area. High concentrations of the algae have been found in water samples at several local beaches, and beachgoers are seeing and smelling the effects. Many allergy and asthma sufferers have been feeling symptoms for weeks.
Climate change is affecting our health
The year 2017 was a year of intense and impactful weather occurrences: hurricanes, earthquakes, forest fires, flooding, mudslides, avalanches. Every year seems to bring us more hurricanes, more devastating forest fires, more infectious disease outbreaks like Zika, more bomb cyclones and other severe weather events. And we must be aware of the deleterious effects that this changing climate is having on our health.
Food allergy? Food intolerance? Something else? A closer look
The holidays are filled with fun, family, friends and lots of food. With a variety of foods comes a variety of symptoms that people experience.
At the holiday dinner, Maria ate a bite of the pumpkin-shrimp bruschetta and within 10 minutes developed swollen lips and began vomiting. At the same meal, Linda devoured the creamed corn and later that evening experienced bloating and diarrhea. Paula savored the cranberry-cherry sauce and immediately felt the roof of her mouth begin to itch. All three women went to see a doctor because they thought they had a food allergy.
'Hypoallergenic dog'? Don't fall for the myth
Almost daily, I have parents tell me not to worry because even though they or their children are allergic to dogs, they have purchased a hypoallergenic dog. I hesitate sharing that the hypoallergenic dog is just a myth. To be sure, it is an incredible marketing ploy. Just who started this urban legend remains a mystery. If you type in "hypoallergenic dogs" on Google, you'll find no shortage of breed suggestions.
New treatments available for allergy season
If you are suffering with runny nose, sneezing, cough, itchy-watery-eyes and nasal congestion then you already know that allergy season is here. Allergy sufferers today have a lot of options to help control and even "cure" their symptoms.
The vast majority of allergy symptoms seen in hay fever are related to the release of histamine from immune cells in the body. That is why the mainstay of over-the-counter (OTC) treatment remains antihistamines. Antihistamine medications are great for treating runny, sneezy, itchy symptoms. The older antihistamines (such as Benadryl and Chlor-Trimeton) work well but tend to cause drowsiness.
Early start to allergy season spells more misery
It’s only mid-January, but people who suffer from seasonal allergies are already getting pounded with pollen, mostly from oak trees. Area doctors say they are seeing an early start to allergy season, likely because of unseasonably warm temperatures. They don’t expect the recent cooler weather to stop this trend.
“I started seeing patients, mostly asthmatics with allergy problems, in December,” St. Petersburg allergist Mona Mangat said. Mangat has been watching pollen counts and patient visits creep up for weeks.
The ‘Allergic March’
The ‘Allergic March’ makes me think of a parade on Memorial Day. Unfortunately, the term refers to something not so light-hearted. ‘Allergic march’ refers to the natural progression of allergic conditions from birth to adulthood. The classic allergic disorders that are seen in childhood are atopic dermatitis or eczema, food allergies, allergic rhinitis or hay fever and allergic asthma. Children that present early in life with allergic disorders like eczema & food allergies are more likely to develop other allergic conditions like allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma.
Eczema is usually the first of these disorders to present; usually within 3-12mo of life. This is followed by the onset of food allergies that peak by 2 years of age. Eczema and common food allergies to milk, egg & soy usually improve with age. Allergies to shellfish and nuts tend to persist into adulthood.
Allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma tend to develop later in childhood- during the pre-school years. Both of these conditions can improve with time but tend to persist.
Over the Counter (OTC) Remedies – Featured in St. Pete Times
QUESTION: There are so many different allergy remedies being advertised. Pills, nose sprays, and air cleaners — how do I know which one might help me?
Many of you have felt the arrival of allergy season this year. You may be feeling the runny nose, sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, congestion, and cough or wheezing. For allergy suffers in the spring, pollen is usually the culprit. And with so many over the counter remedies, one can become easily confused.
When patients suffer from allergic rhinitis (the medical term for hay fever), the vast majority of symptoms are being mediated by release of chemicals like histamine, in our bodies. Anti-histamines are great for treating runny, sneezy, itchy symptoms. The older anti-histamines (like Benadryl & ChlorTrimeton) work very well but cause a lot of sedation. The newer anti-histamines like Claritin (loratadine) & Zyrtec (cetirizine) offer similar benefits without the sedation. Both now have generic equivalents available over the counter. Decongestants are added on to address nasal congestion and sinus pressure, but must be used cautiously in people with hypertension.
The Flu Shot and Egg Allergies – What Should You Do?
Update on Flu Vaccine for Egg Allergic Patients
People with egg allergies can — and should — get the flu shot this year, according to a new report by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
New data shows there is a very small amount of egg protein in the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines and that the majority of people with egg allergy do not have an allergic reaction to the flu vaccine.
Skin testing is no longer necessary unless the person with egg allergy has had a reaction to the flu vaccine in the past. The flu vaccine can be given in two doses or as a single dose if someone has an egg allergy.
An allergy evaluation and caution is still advised in patients with a known history of anaphylaxis to egg products or to the flu vaccine.
Please free to contact Dr. Mona Mangat for any further questions regarding this issue.
Is It A Cold or Allergies? Help for Families on the Go.
Is that sniffle a cold or allergies??
So your child has a runny nose, congestion and maybe a cough. Is it a cold or allergies? The common cold is caused by viruses and our immune systems attempts to fight the infection leads to many of the symptoms we see like fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, etc. Allergies are caused by an overactive immune response to things that are harmless (like pollens, animal dander, dust mites). The symptoms can seem very similar to the common cold, but a few important distinctions are present. Allergies do not cause body aches or fever & usually the runny nose associated w/ allergies is clear. A common cold will usually resolve within 14 days whereas allergy symptoms seem to be persistent, recurrent and often follow a seasonal pattern.
Food Allergies Got You Scared?
Does watermelon make your throat itch?
Do peanuts scare you?
Would you rather swim with sharks than eat shellfish?
Food allergies have become an important part of our lives. Everyone knows someone in their child’s class that can’t have peanuts or a birthday party attendee that can’t have cake.
Food allergies affect approximately 12 million Americans & the incidence is highest in young children. Eight foods account for 90% of all food reactions in the US – milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanut, shellfish, tree nuts and fish.