Everyone with allergies has probably experienced skin-prick tests and other assessments to find out exactly what they are allergic to. Today there is a new “ology” called molecular allergology that is innovating how allergies are diagnosed and treated. A routine blood test combined with molecular diagnostics will allow physicians to identify, with great specificity, the component proteins to which a patient is allergic. This new approach will also help gauge where a patient falls on the spectrum of possible reactions, so they will know what restrictions need to be put in place.
Researchers estimate that in the US, more than 50 million adults and 26 million children suffer from allergies every year, with an estimated $18 billion annually in associated costs to the healthcare system and businesses—with no end in sight, as the number of individuals affected by allergies continues to rise.
It’s hard enough for those who have multiple food allergies to find products that are safe for them to eat, but with many grocery shelves now empty, the challenge is even greater. Read here about many families who are struggling to find the foods they know are safe due to the hoarding and stocking up by others. Please keep your fellow allergy sufferers in mind and only buy what you need. Food manufacturers are trying to keep up with the demand, and you may be able to buy directly from them if the need arises.
Like many Americans these days, Lisa M. Delmont is kept up at night by worry. But for Ms. Delmont, it’s the empty grocery store shelves that bring on dread.
Her 2-year-old son, Benjamin, is severely allergic to milk, eggs, cashews, pistachios and bananas, so she has to be judicious about the items she brings home. Exposure to the wrong food could send Benjamin into anaphylactic shock, something that has happened three times since he was born.
By Trisha Korioth, Staff Writer AAP News March 25, 2020
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that EpiPen 0.3 mg, EpiPen Jr. 0.15 mg and the authorized generic versions of the epinephrine products may have delayed injection or be prevented from proper injection.
In this helpful article, researchers report that the large majority of people who experience recurrent anaphylaxis will suffer the exact same sequence of symptoms and reactions. So if one starts to experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, they will know to seek help immediately and administer an epinephrine auto-injector (EAI) device. Medical practitioners can teach their patients to recognize their unique symptoms to allow them to earlier identify anaphylaxis and administer therapeutic interventions.
In a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers at the University of Toronto sought to determine whether people who suffered recurring anaphylaxis had a similar progression of symptoms each time.
