Top news of August: Patient-provider relationships, mold and mildew, schizophrenia, more
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Healio compiled the most-read news in allergy, asthma and immunology posted in August.
Presentations from the Association of PAs in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (APA-AAI) Annual Allergy, Asthma & Immunology CME Conference were among our top stories, in addition to items on schizophrenia and atopic dermatitis, regulatory moves from the FDA and the State of Illinois, and the impact of the Canadian wildfires on patients with asthma in New York City.
Beware obligations in patient-provider relationships
Although physicians are not obligated to accept every patient who seeks care from them, physicians still must mind emergency, contractual and civil obligations, in addition to unintentional relationships, Kim Stanger, JD, explained during the APA-AAI Annual Allergy, Asthma & Immunology CME Conference. Read more.
Patients can be proactive in mitigating mold, mildew in their homes
Patients with allergies or asthma exacerbated by mold and mildew can be alert to potential water leaks and growing infestations if they know what to look for and then apply some elbow grease or call a professional to eliminate any threat, Andrea M. Jensen, CHES, AE-C, said during the APA-AAI Annual Allergy, Asthma & Immunology CME Conference. Read more.
Atopic dermatitis may be associated with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder
Increased odds for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder among patients with AD may be due to inflammation disrupting the blood-brain barrier, Jeffrey M. Cohen, MD, told Healio. Also, Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD, and Benjamin Ungar, MD, share their Perspectives. Read more.
Advocacy groups disappointed in FDA sesame allergen decision
Allowing companies to add sesame to products so they do not have to meet allergen reporting regulations violate the spirit of the FASTER Act, said representatives from the Center for Science in the Public Interest and Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), although the FDA said it is working with consumers and manufacturers to find alternative solutions. Read more.
Sleep, immunity share a bidirectional link
Allergic disease causes poor sleep, and poor sleep diminishes immune system responses, including poor response to flu vaccines and weakened ability to fight cancer, explained William Sanders, DMS, PA-C, during the APA-AAI Annual Allergy, Asthma & Immunology CME Conference. Read more.
ED visits for asthma increase in New York City during Canadian wildfires
Particulate matter pollution at the 2.5 µg scale and ED visits for asthma in New York City both peaked on June 7, when smoke from wildfires in Canada spread throughout the Big Apple, said George Thurston, ScD. Also, Albert Rizzo, MD, FACP, shares his Perspective. Read more.
Rural environments boost immune systems in children
Children raised in rural environments with lots of time outdoors and some exposure to animals had better regulated immune systems than children raised in urban environments, researchers from APC Microbiome Ireland reported in Allergy. Read more.
Various causes drive chronic cough in children, prompting different treatment
The most common causes of pediatric chronic cough are post-infectious, asthma and protracted bacterial bronchitis, Amanda Michaud, DMSc, PA-C, AE-C, said at the APA-AAI Annual Allergy, Asthma & Immunology CME Conference, adding that improved outcomes require greater provider awareness and better guidelines. Read more.
Illinois enacts $60 price cap on epinephrine autoinjector two-packs
The cap comes amid an ongoing injector shortage and average prices that have increased to between $500 and $700, in addition to following similar moves in other states, drawing praise from FARE. Read more.
Direct oral challenges rival standard of care in assessing low-risk penicillin allergy
Testing de-labeled 99.5% of the intervention group and 97.9% of the control group without any difference in adverse events, potentially helping to scale up the removal of false penicillin allergy labels, Elizabeth Phillips, MD, told Healio. Also, Monica Kraft, MD, and Joanna L. Stollings, MD, share their Perspectives. Read more.