Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Wow Great News!

Peanut Allergy Study With Xolair: Impressive Results

A new pilot study testing “rapid” peanut desensitization has resulted in 92 percent of subjects being able to tolerate 160 to 400 times more peanut than they could at the study’s outset.
Published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the study’s aim was to test whether combining the asthma drug omalizumab – known by the brand name Xolair – with controlled peanut exposures would speed up and/or improve the process of oral immunotherapy or OIT. In OIT, the patient consumes tiny, then increasing amounts of an allergen with the aim of becoming desensitized to it.
Though the study was small, the results were impressive. The 13 participants, all highly allergic to peanut, were pre-treated with Xolair for three months. Then, after just one day of OIT treatment, all of them were able to tolerate 992 mg of peanut flour. After an average of eight weeks, 12 out of 13 patients were able to tolerate 4,000 mg of peanut flour, or roughly 10 peanuts. At this point, treatment with Xolair stopped, but the subjects continued to eat 4,000 mg of peanut per day.
Six months later, they were all able to tolerate about 20 peanuts without reacting. Depending on the patient, this represented an increase of 160 to 400 times what they could tolerate when the study began.
By using the combination of Xolair and OIT, the patients were able to become desensitized much more rapidly than previous studies have shown. For example, a previous peanut desensitization study that didn’t use Xolair found that it took an average of 30 weeks for subjects to reach doses of 500 to 2,000 mg of peanut. With Xolair incorporated into the treatment method, not only was the amount of time required cut by more than half, but the amount of peanut tolerated was more than doubled.
Xolair works by preventing IgE antibodies (the antibodies involved in allergy) from attaching to mast cells in the body, which is an important step in the process that leads to allergic reaction. Xolair is typically used for allergic asthma.
However, there were some drawbacks to the treatment: 2 percent of peanut ingestions were associated with reactions. While most of these were mild and easily controlled with antihistamines, three patients had reactions that required epinephrine. However, considering how quickly the peanut doses were increased, and that the patients were a high-risk group to begin with, the study authors note that overall the reactions were “surprisingly mild”.
The next step for this research is to conduct a much larger study. If results are similar, this could represent a giant step forward towards a food allergy treatment.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Peanut Allergy Forces Emergency Landing (Video)

As a parent of a 13 year old anaphylactic to peanuts this is my worst fear!  And we fly a lot.  You can't trust what the crew says at all.

Peanut Allergy Forces Emergency Landing (Video)


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Allergy-Friendly Pad Thai | Allergic Living

Finally I can introduce my peanut allergic child to Thai food!  This is completely peanut and tree nut free!  I can't wait to make this!

Allergy-Friendly Pad Thai | Allergic Living

Disordered Mast Cells, and the Clues to Food Allergy | Allergic Living

Interesting article about a possible connection with food allergies to autism.  Will read more about this later.




Disordered Mast Cells, and the Clues to Food Allergy | Allergic Living

Friday, August 2, 2013

Be Aware: The Dangers of Food Allergy Bullying

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sue-scheff/be-aware-the-dangers-of-f_b_3689585.html

This is terrifying to think about.  My daughter could turn her back for one instant and someone could sneak something into her food or drink and next thing you know she'll be in anaphylactic shock.  We need to bring more awareness to this life-threatening food allergy so that teens are aware that their "prank" could result in a trip to the emergency room ~~ or worse.


Monday, July 29, 2013

Heartbreaking story of 13 year girl who died from peanut allergies


This story hits so close to home because my own is 13 years old and is also anaphylactic to peanuts and tree nuts.  This could have easily been my precious daughter.  My heart goes out to this family.
CARMICHAEL, Calif. - It was supposed to be the last day of a family vacation at a popular summer camp, but it ended in tragedy for one Sacramento-area family when a loved one had a fatal allergic reaction.
Relatives says 13-year-old Natalie Giorgi died from a severe allergic reaction to peanut butter while she was attending Camp Sacramento off Highway 50 in El Dorado County.
Now, the family says it really wants to get the message out about how dangerous and deadly food allergies can be.
Giorgi was very careful about what she ate and always made sure her food did not have nuts, according to family and friends.
But she had unknowingly eaten a Rice Krispies-type snack made with peanut butter.
On Friday night, the final night of camp, there was entertainment and refreshments. A dessert tray was put out in a dark area of the camp.
Giorgi reached for a treat and took a bite out of it. She knew something wasn't right, spit it out and told her mother, who also tasted the treat.
They later realized it contained peanut butter. Natalie felt fine for about 20 minutes, but then began vomiting, had trouble breathing and went into cardiac arrest.
3 epinephrine pens were used but they could not help save the girl, according a family friend.
Giorgi was taken to the hospital by ambulance where she was pronounced dead.
Family and friends are coming to terms with Giorgi's sudden death.
"She took every care. She knew the situation, that's (connected to) the allergy she had. And they were really on it all the time," said Pastor Michael Kiernan of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Carmichael.
A special vigil was held at the church for Giorgi Sunday evening.
Some say they'll remember her smile and laughter. Others will remember how much she loved to draw and how much she loved her friends.
Her family said Giorgi wanted to become a neonatologist, to care for premature babies like her and her twin sister.
Meanwhile, family members extended their gratitude to the paramedics, firefighters and everyone who tried to help save Natalie.
They offered the following written statement:
"While our hearts are breaking over the tragic loss of our beautiful daughter Natalie, it is our hope that others can learn from this and realize that nut and food allergies are life threatening. Caution and care for those inflicted should always be supported and taken."
An allergist said food allergies and nut allergies have tripled in the past decade. He says more people need to understand the dangers of food allergies and that they can sometimes be fatal.
By Suzanne Phan, sphan@news10.net

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Friday, May 24, 2013

Interesting article about a peanut which is a legume.


This is interesting to me because my daughter is allergic to peanuts which are a legume but not to peas and beans.  What's up with that?  Why just peanuts the most deadly food allergy?

The most common legume allergy is to peanuts, but the legume family is broad and allergies can occur with other members of this family.
It’s important to know the symptoms of this allergy in case you or a member of your family is experiencing a health episode related to that food allergy.

What are legumes?

Peanuts, of course. Also peas, soy beans (tofu), beans and lentils can be the source of a legume allergy. Lupine, found in European flour products, can also provoke a reaction.

What does a mild reaction look like?

A mild reaction may present as an itchy feeling in the mouth, red blotching in the face and stomach cramping. The itching is a result of a histamine response typical of allergies. There may also be a reaction due to a missing critical enzyme necessary for proper digestion of peanuts and other legumes. This will cause the stomach distress.

How does that differ from a severe reaction?

A severe reaction might include vomiting, diarrhea and severe rash. This happens because the body is attacking the legume proteins as if they were a threat or toxin. The body is attempting to purge the offenders.
If this happens, get medical attention immediately. If the episode is extremely severe, anaphylactic shock could occur and this is a life-threatening event. Anaphylactic shock, or anaphylaxis, will include a tightening of the chest and difficulty breathing. There will be a rapid pulse, dizziness, fainting, swelling of the tongue and/or throat and a dramatic change in blood pressure.

Can legume allergies be cured or prevented?

The short answer is no. There is no cure for allergies. However, with diligence, dangerous reactions can be avoided. If you suspect an allergy, see your doctor about getting tested to find out for sure. Then you will know if you need to avoid legumes, and what type, in the future to protect your health.
For severe allergies, you may need to carry an epinephrine injector. While this may seem inconvenient, it is a life-saving device and can give you the confidence and freedom to enjoy life knowing you are prepared in case the worst happens.
Source: eHow, WebMD

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Another food item my daughter will have to cut from her diet because of cross contamination


Allergy Alert: Kellogg’s Nutri Grain Soft Bakes Contain Peanuts And Almond Flour

by ADMIN May 10, 2013
An alert reader who relies on Nutri Grain cereal bars as a safe peanut and nut free snack (as do I) recently alerted me to the fact that Nutri Grain now has a product that is not peanut or nut safe. They’re Nutri Grain Soft Bakes, and they contain peanuts and almond flour. A child was eating one in her son’s classroom, and thankfully she caught the problem before he opened it.
nutrigrain.softbakes.blueberry.muffin.box
I inquired of Kellogg’s as follows:  ”I recently noticed Nutri Grain Soft Bakes on the shelves here in Ontario, Canada, and I see that they contain peanuts and almond flour. Are they made in the same facility as the Cereal Bars? My son has a life-threatening allergy to both of those ingredients, so if there’s any risk of cross-contamination, that could be fatal. Would you please let me know?”
The first response I received from Kellogg’s Canadian customer service line was not adequate. I was told to trust them, since they label “may contain traces of peanut or nuts” when it’s appropriate. The customer service rep could not tell me under what circumstances Kellogg’s puts on that warning. I needed to know if they make the declaration when there’s a shared facility, when they’re made on different lines in the same area, or only when products are made on the same line. She had to follow up with her team leader and call me back.
When she did call back, I was told that Kellogg’s puts on a “may contain” warning when a product is made on a shared line that uses peanut or tree nuts. I was also advised that the Soft Bakes and cereal bars are made in different facilities: The soft bakes are made in London, Kentucky, and the cereal bars are made in Muncy, Pennsylvania.
Our choice is to continue to buy the cereal bars. Since products are labelled if they’re made on the same line, I’m happy with Kellogg’s allergen disclosure, and I will continue to rely on them as a brand I can trust.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

What do the legendary Vince Lombardi and author Linda Lange have in common?  Their passion for the Green Bay Packers.  Find out more in an interview at http://www.kimberlyshursen.com/#!linda-lange/c12td