‘Preparation is the most important thing’ for allergy, asthma patients during the holidays

The holidays may be festive for many people, but families with allergies and asthma struggle with potential triggers as they visit with loved ones. Their doctors, however, can help them prepare for these risks.

This preparation begins with communication about where and when these patients can expect these increased risks, Mark Corbett, MD, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, told Healio.

“Our food allergy patients need to be prepared, knowing they’re going to other people’s houses and big family get-togethers, where people are bringing food and there isn’t really good control over what they’re being served,” said Corbett, who also is an allergist with Family Allergy & Asthma in Louisville, Kentucky. “Parents have to be very cognizant of that and very cautious of what their kids get exposed to.”

Nut and dairy dishes, for example, may be more widely available.

Mark Corbett

“There’s more desserts and cakes and cookies and things that kids could get,” Corbett said.

Doctors should remind their patients and their families to bring their epinephrine auto injectors with them along with their own treats when they attend gatherings outside of the home, Corbett said.

But it is not just about the snacks. Parents cannot control the environments they visit either, which may include potential allergy and asthma triggers alike.

“There may be pets those patients aren’t used to. Or Christmas trees are up and they may have mold in them. There also could be dust when the house they go to isn’t as clean as what they’re used to,” Corbett said.

Each patient should have an emergency plan for their allergies or asthma, Corbett said, and doctors should review these plans with them. Patients should be reminded to bring their medications and take them appropriately, including rescue medications and devices such as inhalers or nebulizers for smaller children.

“I have some patients start their nose spray or antihistamine before they go to their holiday parties because they will be around things they don’t have at home,” Corbett said.

Patients need to be reminded of the risks for catching colds, influenza and even COVID-19 at holiday parties, too.

“It’s viral season, and there are more likely to be viruses with any big group of people, whether that’s COVID-19 or a cold or flu virus,” Corbett said. “All these things can trigger asthma.”

In fact, ACAAI includes recommendations for social distancing as well as influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations on its website. Doctors are encouraged to share these recommendations with their patients, along with the site’s frequently asked questions, allergy management resources and other tools.

Corbett also recommended the ACAAI website as a resource that doctors could share with patients to better help them navigate the holiday season.

“You want to prepare for the worst and hope you get the best, and have a good, happy holiday season without any flares of allergies or asthma,” Corbett said. “Preparation is the most important thing.”