Asthma refers to inflammation of the airways in the lungs that leads to wheezing. Think of asthma as a disease with two processes. One process is the inflammation of the airways which is the “silent” part of the disease. This inflammation is continously ongoing. The other process is the constriction of the airways which is the “loud” […]
Understanding Allergen Specific Immunotherapy Allergic Rhinitis can be managed by medications. Use of antihistamines and nasal sprays can be effective in managing the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. However, there are patients that are not responding well to these treatments and perhaps they are looking for a long term solution. As an Allergist/Immunologist, I often discuss
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Shrimp/Prawn are crustaceans belonging to the shellfish family. Shrimp allergy is found to be more common in adults than children. This is probably due to increased consumption in adults. The major symptoms of shrimp allergy are itching and swelling of the mouth, however urticaria(hives) and anaphylaxis(shock) have also been reported. If you are shrimp allergic, you
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The King Cake is believed to have originated in France around the 12th century. It was made to celebrate the three wise men bearing gifts twelve days after Christmas calling it the feast of the Ephiphany or Twelfth Night. In Louisiana, Twelfth Night also signifies the begining of carnival season which ends on Mardi Gras Day/Fat
Ragweed Patients who have allergy to ragweed pollen can experience itching of the lips , mouth and throat when they eat fruits such as melons. Sometimes, itchy bumps can develop in the mouth within minutes after eating such fruits. This condition is described as oral allergy syndrome. In this condition, when a person develops allergy to
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Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease that affects up to 10% of children. The rash has a typical distribution as seen above. Many children with atopic dermatitis go on to develop other allergic diseases such as food allergy, asthma or allergic rhinitis. Food allergy has been demonstrated to provoke atopic dermatitis in ~35%
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When in San Franciso, one must head over to Boudin at the Fisherman’s Wharf to try their signature sourdough bread. Sourdough is created when yeast settles into the bread dough and covert the carbohydrates into lactic acid and other acids that gives it the sour flavor. The uniqueness of this sourdough bread is due to the original “Mother
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Dermographism means “write on skin” and it is the most common form of physical urticaria in the population. It is estimated that 4-5% of the population are affected. This condition is quite benign, and the patient should be reassured upon diagnosis. It is not known what exactly causes this condition, and it may last several months to years
This condition can affect up to 20% asthmatics and up to 40% of asthmatics with nasal polyps. It should be considered when there is a history of worsened asthma or asthma attack after taking aspirin. Despite the name Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD), it can also occur if the person take NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
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‘Rhinitis Medicamentosa’ also known as rebound rhinitis occurs upon overuse of over-the-counter nasal decongestants. Examples of such sprays include Afrin, Vicks Sinex and Oxynase. These sprays work by constricting the blood vessels in your nose by acting on the vessel constricting receptors in the nose. When these blood vessels constrict, nasal congestion is reduced and
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