Children with Milk Allergy May be ‘Allergic to School’

Many of today’s school teachers opt for dustless chalk to keep hands and classrooms clean. But according to a study published in the May issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, this choice in chalk may cause allergy and asthma symptoms in students that have a milk allergy.
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Have Asthma? Self-Medicating During Allergy Season can Lead to Mental Impairment

Seasonal allergies and asthma may not seem like anything serious. But when these conditions are misdiagnosed and not properly treated, can lead to disrupted sleep and mental impairment. Read more

ACAAI News Releases

Ask Dr. Richard Weber, ACAAI president, and ACAAI Experts your questions on allergies and asthma!

AsktheAllergist@acaai.org

Peanut Component Testing

Q: My son was diagnosed with peanut allergy by screening blood testing when he was 18 months old (done for a family history of food allergy in first cousins) but he never had a major reaction to peanut before the diagnosis, and nothing has happened since. I recently read about a new kind of blood test for peanut allergy, and I am wondering if this test could be helpful for my son?

A: Peanut allergy seems to be on the rise in the US over the past decade. While there are some promising treatments being researched, the current standard of care is complete avoidance of peanut. Because this restriction can have such a major impact on everyone involved, it is very important that you receive an accurate diagnosis. Peanut allergy affects most areas of a person’s life, from the home setting, to play dates, to school, to dining out and beyond. Read more

Allergy to Olives or Olive Oil?

Q. If someone is allergic to olives, should olive oil also be avoided? Does the oil contain trace proteins from the olive, or just the fat?

A. Serious allergy to the olive fruit as a food has fortunately been rarely reported. Olive trees commonly cause seasonal allergy symptoms from inhaled olive tree pollen, something which typically occurs in specific growing regions. Read more.

Link to Archived Questions and Answers

Disclaimer: This advice is not intended to diagnose or treat, but concerns general recommendations; the archived questions and answers may not reflect all of the current knowledge in our field. As always, consult with your own physician.

Stepping down asthma drugs per guidelines largely successful

More than 70 percent of asthma medication step-down attempts were successful when using National Asthma Education and Prevention Program 3 guidelines, according to a study in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Scientists at Mayo Clinic retrospectively studied 5- to 18-year-old children with asthma at a U.S. integrated primary care practice, using participant data from April 1, 2009, until December 31, 2011. Of the 477 children sampled, 264 had a guideline-eligible opportunity to step down asthma medications, but only 89 of those attempted step down. In total, 166 attempted a step down, including some ineligible to step down, and of those with follow-up, 96 attempts were successful. Read More

Prebiotics: Do supplements in baby formula help prevent allergies?

Prebiotic supplements, or oligosaccharides, in infant formula may help prevent eczema, according to a study in The Cochrane Library. Researchers at University of Sydney, Australia, gathered data from four studies involving 1,428 children, who were given either formula with prebiotic supplements or standard formula. They followed the children from four months to 2 years old, recording how many developed allergies. Among children who received formula with prebiotics, significantly fewer developed eczema. Read More