The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) states that even if in doubt as to whether a patient is indeed suffering from an anaphylactic reaction, it is best to treat with epinephrine.  Allergist Paul Dowling, MD, ACAAI member and panelist, states, "Antihistamines and corticosteroids should not be given instead of epinephrine because they don't work fast enough."  Allergist Stanley Fineman, MD, ACAAI past president, and chair of the pane, further explains, "Because epinephrine is the first line of defense in treating anaphylaxis, the panel agreed it should be used-even if a patient's reaction may not meet all the established criteria." [1]

8/20/2015:  Nickel Allergy and Nickel in Foods

According to the American Academy of Dermatology and Stanford Hospital's Jennifer Chen, MD, FAAD, those with nickel allergies (normally found in some jewely, phones or glasses) may also have a rash from eating foods that contain nickel.  The food that cntain nickel include seeds, nuts, chocolat, wheat and rye.  Normally the amount is low enough not to cause a reaction, but can contribute to an existing condition. [2]

[1]  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150806091200.htm

[2]  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150820082134.htm

Christina Ciaccio, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Chicago Medicine and medical director of the new center of excellence, states, "We believe that in the near future we'll be able to offer patients new treatments that will decrease their likelihood of experiencing a severe allergic reaction and for some, may even offer a cure."  In addition to conducting trials for promising therapies, UChicago Medicine will collaborate with FARE and other centers to establish best practices for the care of patients with food allergies. [1]

7/15/2015:  Food Allergy Research & Education Funds Awareness

The popular associated known as FARE donated $143K to fund community initiatives to increase awareness about food allergies. Awareness is supported through group walks, reading materials for families and schools and family based conferences.  [2]

[1]  http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/2015/20150709-fare.html

[2]  http://www.foodallergy.org/2015/071515

The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Congress held in Barcelona in June 2015 presented positive results in the treatment of peanut allergy via the patch called Viaskin Peanut.  It appears the patch is more beneficial than the oral or sublingual therapies.  More studies are underway thoughout 2015.  [1]   According to CNN Money in London, the patch was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for special fast track testing. [2]  If all goes well it may be released by 2018.

[1] http://www.dbv-technologies.com/en/investor-relations/regulated-information/2043,EAACI-presentation

[2] http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/23/news/companies/peanut-allergy-drug-patch/

As May is the month of Food Allegy Awareness Week, President Obama prepared a written letter to encourage education and awareness of food allergies. 

5/11/2015:  Stanford Treatment Research for Food Allergies

Stanford's Dr. Nadeau is leading the way with desentsitization research using a drug to modify an allergic person's DNA cell to be like that of a non-allergic person.  Silicon Valley's Sean Parker donated $24 million to Stanford in support of this research.  See this 8 minute PBS video for more information about the study or this 1 minute video on the DNA.

5/18/2015:  Asthma and Peanut Allergy Have Same Symptoms

Children with asthma may not realize they are allergic to peanuts because the respiratory symptoms of peanut allergy reaction can look the same as an asthma attack. [1]

[1] http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11450424

People who have food allergies can develop seasonal allergies to pollen.  This is called oral allergy syndrome.  The protein make up in the pollen and food can be almost identical and the human body becomes confused and reacts to the food that is similar to the pollen or vice versa. 

4/15/2015:  Asthma is Linked to Allergies

Asthma can be an abnormal response to a food that is eaten.  Inflammation is a food allergy symptom.  Asthma is a condition of inflammation of the lungs.  By eliminating specific foods, asthmatic reactions have been found to be reduced.[1]

[1] https://www.patrickholford.com/advice/seven-ways-to-stop-asthma 

The Food Allergy Research and Education organization awarded $75K to $150 per year for more than one year to fund the salary of doctors to study vaccines for egg and peanut allergy; microbial and dietary exposures early in life; blood vessel flue leak leading to food allergy; pregnancy and breastfeeding impact on allergies; peanut allergies protective responses. [1]

3/19/2015:  Infant Colic and Food Allergies 

According to Switzerland’s Nutrients it appears that there may be a link between food allergies and colic in infants.  Eliminating cow’s milk from an infant’s diet or the mother’s diet, if breastfed, may show a reduction in colic.  There is no proof, only speculation at this point. [2]

3/12/2015:  ARC Finances Food Allergy Treatment

Allergen Research Corporation ('ARC'), announced the completion of an $80 million financing for a treatment for peanut, egg and milk allergies.  ARC develops treatments for food allergies using oral desensitization by combining standardized, pharmaceutical-grade food allergens with controlled up-dosing protocols to desensitize patients and increase the thresholds at which they could experience allergic reactions. [3]

1 http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-03/far-far032315.php

2 http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/7/3/2015

3 http://www.allergenresearch.com/228-2/

Some research is being done and presented by DBV Technologies on a product called Viaskin for treating food allergies through Epicutaneous Immunotherapy (EPIT®).  It appears that rather than eating tiny amounts of peanut like with sublingual immunotherapy treatment (SLIT) this method puts the food onto the skin and treats the allergic person in that way which is apparently a safer from a reaction perspective. [1]

2/23/2015:  New Study Shows Introducing Peanut Early in Life Prevents Development of Peanut Allergy

“Investigators tested the hypothesis that regularly eating foods containing peanut – if started during within the first year of life – could elicit a protective immune response rather than an allergic reaction….By the age of 5, just 3 percent of the children who ate the snack developed peanut allergy, while 17 percent in the avoidance group developed peanut allergy.” [2]

2/23/2015:  Antibiotics On Food Causing Children To Have Allergic Reactions To Fruits, Vegetables

Farmers are treating fruits and vegetables with an antibiotic called streptomycin that keeps bacteria, fungi and algae from growing on the foods.  Children are reacting to the fruits and vegetables, sometimes with anaphylaxis, even though they are not allergic to those foods.  The amount of antibiotic may vary. [3]

[1] http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/02/24/709012/10121591/en/Viaskin-r-Data-Presented-at-AAAAI-Meeting-Show-Safety-and-Efficacy-in-the-Treatment-of-Food-Allergies.html?parent=702298

[2]  http://www.foodallergy.org/2015/022315 

[3] http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/02/23/antibiotics-causing-children-to-have-allergic-reactions-to-fruits-vegetables/ 

At the very least, there has been some progress over the past ten years in dealing with the large numbers of food allergies in children that now exist.  The safest course of action is avoidance:  Simplify the foods that you give to your child and then wait a few weeks.  For example, rice is easily digested, normally, plus perhaps a few fruits or veggies that your child likes.  If you are nursing, then you have to eliminate offending foods from your diet as well.  Slowly add back foods one at a time and watch for signs of rashes or other digestive issues or changes in behavior.  When the baby is older, you can perhaps start another course of action under the guidance of doctors. 

But more importantly, don't despair.  Chances are your child is healthy and handsome or pretty.  Be happy for the new life in you life.  Worrying takes a lot of the fun out of parenthood--which is hard enough.  So try to be safe and enjoy your new baby.

Southbury, CT (PRWEB) November 05, 2014

"Benaroya Research Institute receives $2.2 million to discover biomarker that triggers allergies."  Erik Wambre, PhD states, "If we can identify the biomarkers at the beginning of the allergic chain reaction we can get ahead of the symptoms and try to find a therapy that will eliminate the allergy at the first step."1

Let's keep our fingers crossed.

1 "Benaroya Research Institute receives $2.2 million to discover biomarker that triggers allergies"