Top in allergy/asthma: Allergen component testing; digital asthma self-management tool

Sesame allergies have increased in recent years, meaning that more patients may seek guidance from their primary care clinicians to help determine whether they can safely consume sesame-containing foods, an expert said.

Although oral food challenges (OFCs) are the most accurate tests to identify food allergies, they can produce unclear findings, Niti Chokshi, MD, an allergist and immunologist at Complete Allergy & Asthma, Houston, as well as the co-owner of Complete Allergy and Asthma, wrote in an editorial. Sesame allergen component testing may be able to improve diagnostic accuracy and help “bridge the gap between blood testing with whole allergen and OFCs,” she added. Her review of sesame allergy testing was the top story in allergy/asthma last week.

Another top story was about a digital asthma self-management program that reduced ED visits for adults with asthma on Medicaid.

Read these and more top stories in allergy/asthma below:

Allergen component testing can help physicians better understand sesame allergy

Sesame allergies have sharply increased in recent years. With one in every 200 people in the United States now reporting a sesame allergy, it is now the ninth most common food allergy in the nation. Read more.

Digital tool reduces ED visit rates for patients with asthma, Medicaid

A digital asthma self-management program reduced ED visit rates for adults with asthma on Medicaid, according to a presentation at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting. Read more.

AI-enabled stethoscope provides reliable exacerbation information in home monitoring

Patients with asthma can use a stethoscope augmented with artificial intelligence to monitor their exacerbations at home and provide reliable data to their physicians, according to a study published in Annals of Family Medicine. Read more.

Socioeconomics may influence differences in food allergy outcomes among Asian children

Asian American children displayed unique food allergy outcomes in a study comparing them with children of other races, possibly due to socioeconomic conditions, data show. Read more.

Disparities in asthma attacks, ED visits narrow for Black patients during pandemic

There was a downward trend for asthma attacks and ED visits among Black adults and children relative to white patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a letter published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Read more.