Adventures of an Allergist Mommy

Setting: Son #2's Room, changing table (potty-training hasn't quite happened yet) Allergist Mommy: Whoa! You stink, kiddo! Son #2: I apologize. Dear Husband: What?!?! You're just copying your brother. Do you even know what that means? Son #2: I sorry. We stand corrected, smartypants.

Dear Members of the Illinois State Board of Education, As a parent of a child attending Illinois Public Schools, a taxpayer, and a Board-Certified Pediatric Allergist & Immunologist, I was distressed to hear of the irresponsible comments made by Illinois State Board of Education Members Catherine Campbell and Lawrence Gregorash regarding the requirement for Illinois schools to have a food allergy policy in place by 2011. When the parents of children with severe food allergies send their children to school, they place immense trust in our school system - not only to educate their children, but to keep them safe while in its care.  The safety of our children in the school setting is of tantamount importance, and the assertion by school board members that protecting children with life-threatening food allergies is "the most ridiculous thing" or “This isn’t the dumbest thing I’ve seen in my 64 years…but it sure ranks in the top 10” is worse than offensive - it is dangero...

I have been asked recently if there are plans for a Child #3. This video should help explain why any family expansion should be very thoughtfully considered in advance.

I am pleased to be a part of what I consider a very important educational initiative- the Anaphylaxis Community Experts (ACE) program.   Co-sponsored by the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) and the Allergy & Asthma Network - Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) , the ACE program's mission is to prevent anaphylaxis deaths and reduce anxieties through education, advocacy and outreach.   In light of the tragic death of a peanut-allergic girl at a Chicago school in December, our mission is even more timely. Who are the ACE team members? ACE Teams consist of one board-certified allergist and one community member who each share this mission. Goal : To understand and improve the care of people at risk for anaphylaxis by providing an evidence-based approach to the identification, diagnosis, assessment and management of anaphylaxis in order to prevent deaths from severe allergic reactions. Objectives: To help patients, families, and healthc...

December 6, 2010 — The first food allergy guidelines were issued today by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). These guidelines have been a long time coming... the emphasis is on: 1. Appropriate diagnosis based on correlation with the clinical history and not simply a positive blood or skin test- food allergy is often overcalled on the basis of testing without proper interpretation 2. Not summarily restricting vaccines such as MMR and influenza in egg-allergic patients 3. Not unnecessarily restricting the maternal diet in an attempt to prevent food allergies in the fetus and infant 4. Prompt use of intramuscular epinephrine in the event of anaphylaxis The full report (58 pages): http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0091-6749/PIIS0091674910015666.pdf The summary report (44 pages): http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodAllergy/clinical/Documents/FAGuidelinesExecSummary.pdf A synopsis of the ...

It's here- cold season. All over town, boogery kids are wiping snot on their sleeves, their hands, and us.  One of the most important things you can teach your child is how to properly blow his/her nose.  It's one of the "skills" I check for whenever a young child comes to my office with symptoms of an upper respiratory infection.  I'm always amused by the number of kids blowing air out of their mouth! Here are my tips for getting the "highest yield", so to speak, from a nose blow. 1. Get some saline nasal spray.  If you're doing this in the morning, we have crust to loosen before we get this party started. (If you have a pressurized can of saline with a gentle spray nozzle, all the better.  There are multiple brands- they all work pretty well.)  Instill the saline into each nostril- enough so that it starts dripping out. 2. Dab the drips with a tissue. 3. Have your child take a deep breath. 4. With your finger on the tissue, apply enough...

The setting- breakfast table on Saturday morning The cast of characters- the Allergistmommy and Son #1 Me: I have a surprise for you! We're going somewhere special today! Son #1 (eyes lighting up): Are we going to Hawaii!?!!? Me: Umm... no.  We're going to the pumpkin patch. Son #1: Oh, okay. (He loved it anyway, even if it wasn't paradise on earth.)