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December 26, 2023
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Top 10 asthma, allergy stories of 2023

Fact checked byShenaz Bagha
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Innovation in asthma and allergy care continued in 2023. Healio’s most popular stories this year covered breakthroughs in immunotherapy treatments for food allergy and revised looks at common treatments for congestion and allergy.

Readers also checked in for practice management advice and to learn about vaccine disinformation, dog ownership in infancy, socioeconomics in food allergy and tick bites leading to alpha-gal syndrome.

baby and puppy
Patients with the rs2305480 variant of the GSDMB gene who had a pet dog as a baby did not have an increased risk for persistent wheeze or asthma. Source: Adobe Stock

FDA panel deems ingredient in over-the-counter nasal decongestant ineffective

The Nonprescription Drug Advisory Committee called oral phenylephrine no more effective than placebo, with low bioavailability, limited pharmacodynamic changes and safety concerns with testing higher doses. Read more.

Beware obligations in patient-provider relationships

Kim Stanger

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 Association of PAs in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (APA-AAI) Annual Allergy, Asthma & Immunology CME Conference. Read 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 APEX Award-winning column, Food Allergy: Fact vs. Fiction. Read more.

Q&A: Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, DSc, addresses vaccine disinformation in AAAAI keynote

As co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, among other positions, Hotez discussed “Global vaccines and vaccinations: The science vs. the antiscience” at the 2023 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting in San Antonio. Read more.

FDA grants fast track designation to multi-food oral immunotherapy

ADP101 (Alladapt Immunotherapeutics) targets multiple food allergies in patients by including almond, cashew, chicken egg, codfish, cow’s milk, hazelnut, peanut, pecan, pistachio, salmon, sesame seed, shrimp, soy, walnut and wheat. Read more.

Dog ownership in infancy may overcome genetic predisposition for wheeze, asthma

Patients with the rs2305480 variant of the GSDMB gene who had a pet dog as a baby did not have an increased risk for persistent wheeze or asthma, according to a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Read more.

Breakups with problem patients require communication, documentation

Physicians need to discuss patients’ responsibilities with them early in care and carefully note when they fail to meet these expectations before severing these relationships, Kim Stanger, JD, also said at the APA-AAI Annual Allergy, Asthma & Immunology CME Conference. Read more.

Tree nut oral immunotherapy deemed safe, tolerable for preschoolers

Matthew Greenhawt

OIT for tree nut allergies was safe and tolerable among a preschool population with results comparable to OIT for peanut allergy, according to a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. Also, Matthew Greenhawt, MD, MBA, MSc, FACAAI, of Children’s Hospital Colorado, shares his Perspective. 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.

Tick bites linked to alpha-gal syndrome

Tick bite history was a risk factor for alpha-gal syndrome and elevated alpha-gal-specific IgE levels, according to a study from Gilbert J. Kersh, PhD, chief of the rickettsial zoonoses branch in the division of vector-borne diseases at the CDC, and colleagues. Read more.