Windom Allergy, Asthma, Sinus

School’s out for the summer! That usually means fun in the sun and splashing in the water but don’t forget about skin safety! Sun protection is extremely important for protecting against sunburns which increase cancer risk and cause premature skin aging. Finding the right sunscreen is important, especially for those who have known eczema or sensitive skin.  While sunscreen-related allergic reactions are rare, they are more common in those with existing eczema or allergic contact dermatitis. When they occur, reactions can include irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, phototoxic dermatitis, or contact urticaria. The main symptoms are itching, blistering, redness, and/or...

Here are a few allergy pro tips to share with your loved ones.  The most joyful time of the year is upon us, and we at Windom Allergy are choosing to keep things simple. We want to focus our time and energy on family and friends and do less. Decorate less. Worry less.  1.  For food allergy friends - If you are planning on hosting a holiday meal, please save the ingredient labels for your allergic guests.  Also, have guests be mindful of cross-contamination. Please don’t mix utensils while preparing dishes, and wipe down surface areas with soap and water.  2. ...

Congratulations to Dr. Windom for publishing "A Practical Focus on Multi-Food Oral Immunotherapy" in the Journal of Food Allergy. Thank you for furthering the field of food allergy and giving families options. >> View Article <<

Our very own Dr. Fergeson weighed in on her perspective on the impact of allergic rhinitis and allergy symptoms on academic productivity, according to a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.  >>View Article<<

If you are one of the millions of American parents whose kiddo has food allergies, you know how much extra effort goes into keeping your kiddo safe while living with this condition. Like many parents, this may cause you much anxiety, and you've wished there was a way to help keep your kiddo safe. Until recently, allergists had few therapies to offer patients with food allergies. But now oral immunotherapy (OIT) and even sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) are becoming more accessible. But what really is OIT and SLIT, and who are good candidates for these treatments? Click here to listen to the...

You might be smirking and saying to yourself that central Florida doesn’t have a Fall. If I weren’t an allergist and self-declared Lorax, I would agree with you. But fortunately for us, I am.  We don’t have a change of leaf colors, but we do have a change of pollen. It’s mid-September and a delightful patina of weed and grass pollen is on your patio. Not to mention, it’s the rainy season and the mold spore count is up.  Most of the time I have a general idea of what allergens are outside based on my patients’ symptoms plus knowledge of...

Our doctors organized and lectured at the 5th Annual Food Allergy Support Team (FAST) meeting held in Dallas, TX June 17-8, 2022. The meeting, for doctors in the US and Canada, offers the most cutting-edge information on treatment for food allergy. Our experiences at Windom Allergy were shared with the attendees and we picked up a few tips from other physicians. You may find the FAST website of interest:www.fastOIT.org.  New and Exciting! Allergy desensitization has taken many forms over the decades – subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT, or allergy shots) for environmental allergy, oral and intravenous desensitization for drug allergy, and oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food...

As seen here :  https://www.wesh.com/article/severe-allergies-treatment-oral-immunotherapy/39875473# Cole Dhoore, 5, has been forced to live differently than most kids. "They said never leave the house without an EpiPen,” said Cole’s mom, Hannah Dhorre. Cole has a severe allergy to cashews and walnuts. His mom was told Cole should never come into contact with anything that might bear even traces of tree nuts. "Once he started pre-school, that’s when we really realized how much it was going to impact him socially, and that’s when it felt more real and more scary,” said Dhoore. But a year ago, Hannah learned other kids with food allergies were...

Hello, I’m BJ and I joined the Windom Allergy family in June 2021. I was born and grew up in Southwest Florida. I have also lived in western North Carolina for a few years and recently relocated to Port Charlotte with my mom. Nursing has been my main career and I specialized and currently work in Clinical Research. I have two amazing children; my daughter Julia and my son John. I am an author and I write inspirational Christian poetry. In addition to writing, things that I enjoy doing are reading, walking, golfing, gardening, spending time at the beach, going to flea markets and...

You would think that eye allergies would be easy to treat. In the US alone, up to 40% of the population has been affected by eye allergies, AKA allergic conjunctivitis. However, the poor eyes often get overlooked in order to treat the more obvious allergic diseases like asthma, allergic runny nose, or eczema. Underdiagnosis and undertreatment can lead to chronic annoyance and, rarely, a serious eye condition.  Did you know the eyes are “privileged”? The eyes are considered an immune privileged site, and for good reason. They have evolved in a variety of ways to stop immune responses and preserve vision. Sounds...