Just like clockwork, flu season comes every year. The worst months are usually from December through March, although cases can occur both before and after those months.

The flu can affect people of any age, but kids, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk and more likely to have serious complications from the flu. Up until now, it was mainly kids considered to be “high risk” who were recommended to get a flu shot each year. But the Centers for Disease Control (CDC for short) has now changed that recommendation.

The CDC now urges parents to get kids of any age vaccinated, because of the recent dramatic rise in cases of influenza that have emptied classrooms and day care facilities. You might be reluctant to subject your child to yet another vaccine, but think about this — kids who get the flu are at high risk as well for flu complications, such as pneumonia and brain infections.

The flu vaccine is safe, even for kids, but any possible risk of mild side effects that does exist is greatly offset by the benefits of staying healthy throughout the upcoming flu season.

More on Flu Shots: Flu & Asthma | Quick Facts on Flu Shots

Photo: Centers for Disease Control (PD)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Years of hard trainingmay be to blame for the higher-than-average rates of asthma thatare seen in elite swimmers, the results of a new study suggest.

The study, which compared teenage competitive swimmers withother adolescents, found that the young swimmers were no morelikely than their peers to have airway hypersensitivity andrespiratory symptoms suggestive of asthma.

The implication is that these problems in adult elite swimmersprobably arise after years of training, the researchers report inthe Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

High-level competitive swimming puts a high oxygen demand on thebody, leading to hyperpnea, or abnormally deep and rapid breathing.This, along with chronic exposure to environmental irritants aroundthe pool, such as chlorine, may lead to airway hyperresponsiveness– a hallmark of asthma in which the airways excessively constrictin response to an environmental trigger.

A little over a year ago, I reported on a European study that had identified a specific asthma gene that was linked to a 60 to 70% increase in the risk for developing asthma among British and German children. Although the size of the study group was significant (over 2000), the findings were very preliminary and needed to be corroborated by further study.

Now, it appears that has been started, as results of a new United States study have been published in a recent issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. This study found that the same ORMDL3 gene, located on chromosome 17, identified by the European team played a role in asthma development in their study group too. Interestingly, this held true only for the white children in the study, not the African-American children. Researchers emphasized that this association could also not be extended to include risk of developing asthma in adulthood.

Here are some highlights of the study:

• Conducted at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia by scientists from that hospital as well as the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
• Study team analyzed DNA from 807 white children with asthma, compared to 2,583 white children without the disease
• Team also analyzed DNA from 1,456 African-American children who had asthma and 1,973 who did not

There were a couple of notable differences in this newer study. First, this study found the ORMDL3 gene link existed in relation to asthma of any level of severity. In the European study, only families having 2 or 3 members with severe asthma were examined. Secondly, the U.S. researchers found evidence that the ORMDL3 gene may not be the only gene involved in raising susceptibility to asthma. By looking at other markers, they found that there may be genes outside the region occupied by ORMDL3. Further study may further illuminate this issue.

Researchers emphasize that gene research such as this can help refine treatment for asthma down the line. Treatment may even be customized for genetic factors at times. We live in interesting times for asthma, don’t you think? Have you ever been involved in asthma research? If so, share your experiences at our Asthma Forum, won’t you?

The End of Summer “Allergy” Blues

As fall begins and the new school year starts, many children may complain that they are allergic to school. While I certainly had my share of allergic attacks because of homework, there is a chance that your child is not far off the mark. If going to school makes your child feel ill, do not simply discount the symptoms as the back-to-school blues. Each new classroom (or new school if you moved over the summer) is a new environment with distinct allergens and irritants. These unfamiliar allergens can cause new symptoms – or familiar ones – such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, eye irritation, and headaches. These symptoms lead to irritability and exhaustion. Your child will not be able to concentrate because of their allergy symptoms.

A newly constructed school is a point of pride in any community, but new construction is a source for multiple allergy triggers. These irritants include dirt, dust, and chemicals. Chemicals and odors from the installation of new carpeting and flooring are harmful. Other seemingly innocuous odors from air fresheners, colognes, perfumes, and other artificial scents can also cause allergy symptoms. Other allergens commonly found at schools include: chalk powder, dust mites, and animal dander from classroom pets.

You do your best to make your home clean and allergen-free, but you have very little control over the school environment. What can you do? First, you have to think and act like a detective. Ask your child questions and pay attention to the details of the answers. Ask your child about classroom pets. Even cute hamsters and gerbils can cause allergy symptoms. Carefully, evaluate what is causing your child’s symptoms. Secondly, make a plan. You must anticipate the presence of new allergens, and you have to talk with your child about ways to avoid those allergens.

What steps can parents and children take to avoid school allergy symptoms? If you suspect your child is allergic to something at school, take a tour of the school and class room. The offending allergen might be easier to spot in person. If you have not done so already, schedule a visit with an allergist or immunologist. These doctors will advise you on appropriate medications, immunotherapy, and prevention techniques. If your child comes home from school with nasal congestion, make sure their symptoms are alleviated before bedtime. A stuffy nose keeps your child from sleeping properly. Lack of sleep can severely hinder their performance in school. When playing outside at school, children must avoid fields which can harbor large amounts of weeds and pollen. During the fall ragweed season, this is critical. Talk to teachers about what the teachers can do to help. Communicating your concerns and ideas while being supportive of a more allergy-free classroom will help your child and their classmates.

To avoid school allergens, teachers can do a variety of things. Make sure that dust does not accumulate in the classroom. Keep classroom windows closed to keep pollen from coming inside. If you use a chalkboard, allergic children should not sit in the front row, because chalk dust may trigger allergies. If you have a chemically sensitive child in the class, choose craft projects that do not use known irritants. If your class has a nap time, any pillows provided should have allergy-proof dust mite encasings. Cleaning with harsh chemical solutions should be done after hours or at night when no children are present. Depending on your school’s financial situation, speak to your school administrator about purchasing a classroom air purifier. Air purifiers clean the air and help everyone breathe better.

Together, school administrators and parents can do a great deal to reduce the effect of allergens at school. Hopefully, the only thing that will cause an allergic reaction is that backpack full of homework.

1. People will astound you and touch you with their kindness. I’ve gone to birthday parties where the frazzled hosts have made an extra unbidden trip to the only gluten-free bakery in the area for a single cupcake so I wouldn’t be left out when it came time to cut the cake. I’ve gone to Super Bowl parties where I found a prelabeled cup and plate and safe food set aside for me. I’ve fielded calls from friends who invited me to Thanksgiving and revamped a complicated menu to include me. People will astound you and make you feel welcome and happy.
2. People will stun you with their ignorance. Not malice (usually); just ignorance. You would not believe how many people, even (especially?) in the food service industry, will tell you, “This bread doesn’t have any wheat; it’s white bread.” I can only imagine these are the same people who have no conception there are eggs or dairy in baked goods (and everything else), or that yes, nuts are in things beyond peanuts in the shell, or yes, there’s corn and soy in absolutely everything. And just try explaining cross-contamination to someone who’s never spent any time in a kitchen!
3. Food is everywhere. Chasing my daughter around on a playground, at a bench on a city street, when I take my computer somewhere to work, when I meet my husband outside the library on his lunch hour to catch up and listen to some music in the park — food wrappers, food residue, and people eating are everywhere. We as a people are, um, messy. I get a little antsy when I see crumbs and I know I won’t get sick unless I actually touch my hands to my mouth; I can only imagine how a parent of a kid in that mouthy phase feels.
4. Fruit is a godsend. Not everyone can eat all fruit or any fruit, of course — what’s safe for everyone? — but for me it’s the one thing I can count on finding in convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores in the middle of nowhere, you name it, without having to worry about reading labels or whether a manufacturer has suddenly switched to an unsafe ingredient. And it’s both good and healthful.
5. Advance planning is a must. I have a three-year-old and my food takes more planning than hers do, especially if we’re going to be out all day.

Do you have wisdom to pass along? Share what you’ve learned (or a link to your own bloggy things you’ve learned) in the comments or the Food Allergy Forum!

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Women with inadequatelytreated asthma during pregnancy are at increased risk for prematuredelivery, according to a new study.

Medications to treat asthma are often restricted duringpregnancy out of concern for potential harm to the developingchild, even though there is evidence that severe asthma may have aharmful impact on mom and baby.

Dr. Ludmila N. Bakhireva, from the University of New Mexico inAlbuquerque, and her associates studied the potential adverseeffects of poorly controlled asthma in 719 pregnant women enrolledin their “Asthma Medication in Pregnancy Study” between 1998 and2003.

Dark Circles Under Your Eyes? Could Be Allergies…

Are you waking up every morning with dark circles under your eyes? On Monday mornings, do your co-workers wonder if you have taken up boxing or mixed martial arts? Or maybe, you think your child is not getting enough sleep, because they often have dark circles under their eyes? You or your child could be experiencing a fairly common condition called “allergy shiners.”

Our eyes swell when rubbed with fingers that have been in contact with specific allergens, but these dark rings will appear even when you think you are allergy free. Although a specific allergen is often the culprit, anything that affects your breathing and sinuses or that causes severe congestion may be the source of the shiners.

Allergy shiners are the result of an increase in blood flow near the sinuses. The swelling and skin discoloration are caused by blocked sinus cavities. When the nasal passages are congested, there is an increased amount of pressure in the nose. This pressure prevents the blood that supplies the superficial part of the face from circulating back into your bloodstream. The tiny veins around the eyes are close to the skin and when they swell a blue, bruise-like color shows through the skin. Your blood pools in the veins and capillaries underneath the eyes and causes a dark appearance, similar to that of a black eye. Some of the fluid from inside the veins slowly seeps into the tissue under the eyes causing a puffy appearance>

Many people think that the problem can be solved with medication to treat nasal congestion. I even saw one web site that advocated using makeup and concealing techniques as a solution! These will not solve your problem. Our recommendation is to reduce exposure to allergens. By controlling your environment and exposure to allergens you eliminate the cause of the nasal congestion. The best place to start controlling your environment is the bedroom. Reduce dust mite, pet dander, and dust exposure by covering your pillows and mattresses with Allergy Armor encasings. An air purifier will reduce allergens throughout your house. To specifically address nasal congestion without medication, try a netipot. By controlling your environment and allergen avoidance, you can eliminate those dark circles, feel better, and look great!

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Among infants andchildren with cow’s milk allergy, skin prick test results canpredict which of them are likely to have persistent problems ratherthan spontaneous resolution, according to a report in the Annals ofAllergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Allergic symptoms induced by cow’s milk disappear before thefirst birthday in about half the infants who develop them, theauthors explain, but the natural history of tolerance remainsunclear.

Dr. Alessandro Fiocchi from the University of Milan MedicalSchool, and colleagues determined the prognostic predictors oftolerance in 112 children enrolled in the Milan Cow’s Milk AllergyCohort study.

Tired of waiting for your allergy shots to start working? Rapid build-up schedules for allergy shots, including rush and cluster immunotherapy, provide ways to get your dosage to a therapuetic range quickly. Unfortunately, both forms of rapid build-up involve a bigger time commitment up front, as well as a higher chance of allergic reactions. However, many allergists are experienced with these forms of immunotherapy, which provide people quicker benefit for their allergy symptoms.

Getting The Word Out About Food Allergy Alerts

For adults and children who suffer from food allergies, knowing the contents of the food you consume is of the utmost importance. When dining out, food allergy cards are a great way to help those who prepare your food avoid problems, but in your own home the responsibility lies with you. Knowing the exact ingredients of what you purchase is vital in preventing an allergic reaction and possibly anaphylactic shock. Food allergy sufferers must rely heavily upon food manufacturers to accurately label the ingredients contained in their products. That is a great deal of trust to place in the hands someone/something you will likely never meet or interact with beyond purchasing their products at the supermarket. While manufacturers do work to ensure their labels are accurate, mistakes do sometimes occur.

To help consumers remain aware of possible label errors or omissions, The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network has created an alert page on their website. On this page they list products that have been incorrectly labeled. To more specifically address each issue, alerts contain as much information as possible including the dates the products were distributed, UPC’s, distribution areas, and how to contact the manufacturer. For manufacturers there is a contact number they can use to report mislabeled or undeclared ingredients.

The site promotes two way communication. Not only can manufacturers help get the word out about possible problems, but consumers can also do their part by utilizing this site’s information on what to do should someone use a product and it cause an allergic reaction. Additionally, by signing up here, consumers can receive the same alerts listed on site, via email.

Though unfortunate for anyone in this situation, getting the word out by alerting manufacturers and consumers alike is crucial in preventing further complications for others. Using resources like these in conjunction with regular preventative measures can help to ensure that those with food allergies remain reaction free.