VIDEO: Two key takeaways for pediatricians from ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In this Healio exclusive, Douglas H. Jones, MD, discusses two concepts discussed at the American Colleague of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting that are key for practicing pediatricians.

One takeaway from the meeting is to make sure to control eczema and restore the skin barrier among infants, as uncontrolled eczema flairs is a strong risk factor for developing food allergy.

“If you need help with that, call your local allergist because we’re always willing to help and would love that rapport,” said Jones, who is cofounder of Global Food Therapy, cofounder and president of Food Allergy Support Team, director of Rocky Mountain Allergy at Tanner Clinic and a Healio Allergy/Asthma Peer Perspective Board Member.

Also, pediatricians should encourage breastfeeding for at least 6 months, Jones said, as this can influence the infant’s gut microbiome, which can affect their overall health and food allergy risk.

Watch the video for more.