Top news of March: Diphenhydramine, socioeconomics, alpha-gal syndrome, epinephrine, more
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Our Food Allergy: Fact vs. Fiction column and research presented at the 2023 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting in San Antonio dominated our list of the most read stories in allergy and asthma for March.
Highlights included the best choices for treating allergic reactions, socioeconomic disparities in food allergies, triggers beyond consumption in alpha-gal syndrome, modes of epinephrine delivery, urticaria and COVID-19 vaccination, and more.
Diphenhydramine is not the answer during allergic reactions
When patients experience an allergic reaction, they should use oral fexofenadine or epinephrine if it is particularly severe and acute instead of Benadryl, Healio Allergy/Asthma Peer Perspective Board Member Douglas H. Jones, MD, wrote in his latest edition of Food Allergy: Fact vs. Fiction. Read more.
Socioeconomic disparities affect prevalence of specific food allergies
Patients from families with higher incomes are more likely to develop peanut allergies, while those from families with lower incomes experience more shellfish, soy and wheat allergies, according to a study presented at the AAAAI Annual Meeting. Also, Andrea Pappalardo, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI, shares her Perspective. Read more.
Video: Alpha-gal syndrome involves more than mammalian meat consumption
Scott P. Commins, MD, PhD, discusses how patients with alpha-gal syndrome may experience reactions triggered by cow and pig products in vaccines, gelatin and surgical apparatuses as well as by inhaling fumes from cooking meat in this Healio exclusive video filmed during the AAAAI Annual Meeting. Read more.
Sublingual epinephrine film beats syringes, autoinjectors in time to maximum concentration
The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic performance of sublingual epinephrine was comparable to other delivery methods, with shorter time to maximum concentration, Matthew Greenhawt, MD, MBA, MSc, said during his presentation at the AAAAI Annual Meeting. Read more.
Delayed urticaria cases attributed to COVID-19 vaccination
Twenty patients at University of Washington allergy clinics developed urticaria between 8 hours and 2 weeks after receiving the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, according to Stacey R. Chu, MD, and her presentation at the AAAAI Annual Meeting. Read more.
Immunotherapy feasible for adults with food allergy
The retrospective chart review of 97 adults presented by Nofar Kimchi, MD, at the AAAAI Annual Meeting indicated that specific and total IgE measurements can predict the success of oral immunotherapy. Also, Scott H. Sicherer, MD, FAAP, shares his Perspective. Read more.
Survey illuminates challenges families with food allergies face in air travel
Patients frequently reported airlines’ failures to accommodate their requests and cited rude and insensitive behavior among flight crews and ground staff impacting how they fly, Christopher M. Warren, PhD, explained during his presentation at the AAAAI Annual Meeting. Read more.
Age, epinephrine use, anaphylaxis impact quality of life in patients with food allergy
Stephanie A. Kubala, MD, described how older patients with food allergy who have had anaphylaxis or needed epinephrine have had lower quality of life than other patients during her presentation at the AAAAI Annual Meeting. Read more.
Patients with multiple food allergies experience greater mental health burdens
According to another study presented by Christopher M. Warren, PhD, at the AAAAI Annual Meeting, 46% of patients with one food allergy and 57% of those with multiple food allergies reported anxiety, but only 8.7% of patients were screened for mental health during food allergy appointments. Also, Tamara Hubbard, LCPC, shares her opinion with a Perspective. Read more.
Garlic allergies more common, dangerous than suspected
Analysis found 132 patients with garlic allergy among approximately 13,000 entries in the Food Allergy Research & Education Patient Registry, with 56% of them experiencing a reaction that sent them to the ED, Thomas B. Casale, MD, and Walaa Hamadi, MD, said during the AAAAI Annual Meeting. Read more.