'Food Challenges' Provide Best Allergy Diagnoses: Study
But too few U.S. doctors use them, researcher says
 SATURDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Too few American doctors use oral food challenges to diagnose food allergies even though this type of test is considered the gold standard, according to a new study. In an oral food challenge, a patient consumes foods to see if it causes an allergic reaction. This is done under close medical supervision. Researchers surveyed about 40,000 children and identified 3,339 cases of food allergy. However, only 61.5 percent of the cases were formally diagnosed by a doctor and only about 15 percent of those children underwent an oral food challenge. Children with severe symptoms such as anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction), wheezing, breathing difficulties and low blood pressure were most likely to be diagnosed by a doctor and most likely to undergo an oral food challenge. The findings that many children with food allergy are not diagnosed by a doctor and not given a food challenge suggest that food allergy may be underdiagnosed in the United States, the researchers concluded. The study was scheduled to be presented at this week's annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Boston. "Oral food challenge provides a definitive diagnosis which is critical to providing proper disease management and prevents unnecessary avoidance of certain foods," Dr. Ruchi Gupta of Children's Memorial Hospital, in Chicago, said in an ACAAI news release. "Physicians may not be conducting the test due to the length of time it takes, three to six hours, and the low reimbursement for a food challenge." Because this study was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. In suspected cases of food allergy, patients should be referred to an allergist, according to the ACAAI. More information The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has more about food allergy. 
|
Alcohol, Asthma and Allergies Don't Mix
Alcohol can trigger or worsen existing allergies, experts say
 SUNDAY, Nov. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Alcoholic beverages can trigger allergic reactions or exacerbate existing allergies, experts warn. Though rare, some people have allergies to the alcohol itself, while others are allergic to various substances in alcoholic drinks such as beer and wine, Dr. Sami Bahna, past president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) and chief of Allergy and Immunology at Louisiana State University Medical School in Shreveport, La., said in an ACAAI news release. Symptoms may include red, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, upset stomach and difficulty breathing. Triggers can include various ingredients in beer and wine, including barley, ethanol, grapes, malt, hops, wheat and yeast. Other potential allergens are sometimes added during processing, including egg whites, which may be used during the filtering process, and sulfites, which occur naturally in wine but also may be added as a preservative. Allergic reactions to an alcoholic beverage can range in severity from a minor rash to a life threatening asthma attack and anaphylaxis. The researchers pointed out alcohol could also aggravate existing allergies. "Individuals can be allergic to the alcohol itself or an added ingredient, but even when people are not allergic, they may not realize that alcohol can worsen existing allergy symptoms, particularly food allergies," noted Bahna. "In these cases, the study pointed out, avoiding alcoholic beverages is the best way to avoid potential reactions." Wine contains chemicals called tyramines, which can cause headaches, he added. Bahna is slated to discuss case studies of alcohol-related allergic reactions Sunday at the annual meeting of ACAAI in Boston. He also pointed out that exposure to tobacco smoke can worsen asthma and allergies by making smokers more sensitive to airborne substances, like pollen and mold spores. "People with allergies and asthma should be especially careful to avoid any exposure to tobacco smoke," Bahna said. Anyone who suspects they had a reaction to alcohol, food or tobacco should see an allergist, Bahna recommended. "In most cases, simply understanding what triggers the allergic reaction will help the person find an alternative drink to enjoy," Bahna said. More information The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology provides more information on food allergies.
|
