Until this month, I only associated the word ‘bootleg’ with the era of ‘Prohibition’ (of alcohol) during the ‘Roaring Twenties’ (1920s) and with a quarterback play during football games. However, historians and those with allergies and asthma will record and remember this month for the ‘Bootleg Fire’—named for the location in...
In my experience, this month’s grass pollen counts in the Chicago area have been quite unusual. There was a two-day burst of grass pollen on April 28th and April 29th, and then nothing…………. until low levels on May 27th and moderate levels on May 28th. During 2016-2020, sustained levels over many days that included a moderate...
Last month, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology held its Annual Meeting…. virtually. Among the lectures I attended virtually was a series about eye allergies, which are reported in a 2016 article of Current Opinions Allergy Clinical Immunology to occur in 64% of those who have nasal/sinus allergic symptoms. ...
Approximately 50% of households have pets based on statistics from animal food suppliers. The dander from the pet is the major culprit that causes allergic symptoms. Dander is composed of microscopic skin cells shed by cats, dogs, rodents and birds. The American Lung Association describes pet allergens as light in weight and jagged in...
More than a few patients ask us if buying an air cleaner or air purifier helps control allergic symptoms. Running an air purifier can help to improve indoor air quality by filtering the air to remove odors and animal dander. The Air Purifier Buying Guide of March 2020 from Consumer Reports states that portable air purifiers with HEPA...
While our focus since mid-March has been on COVID-19, a new FDA-approved treatment for peanut allergy has been available. On January 31st, the product Palforzia (the generic name being ‘Peanut [Arachis hypogaea] Allergen Powder—dnfp’) was approved to use if one is between the ages 4 through 17 for the first dose with a confirmed...