The Florida Allergy Asthma and immunology Society held their annual meeting in Orlando on July 16-18, 2021 (www.faais.org) . Dr. Jean Ly of Windom Allergy https://www.windomallergy.com/meet-us/physicians/jean-ly-m-d presented a poster on her groundbreaking work with oral immunotherapy (OIT) in food allergic children under the age of five. She compared the outcome of children going through peanut OIT to those doing multi-food OIT (e.g. peanut, cashew and walnut). Both groups did equally well in this desensitization process that allows patients to tolerate a food they were previously highly allergic to. In addition to this educational presentation to fellow Allergist/Immunologists from across the state, Dr....

We may be able to help you out if you have asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema), atopic dermatitis (eczema in people with an allergic background), hives (chronic urticaria for > 6 itchy months), or dust induced hay fever in 5-11 year-olds. If you qualify for one of the trials, you’ll receive medication free of charge and be compensated for your time and travel. We’ve been conducting clinical research trials as part of the Sarasota Clinical Research center here in Sarasota, FL since 1994 (https://www.windomallergy.com/clinical-trials). Sally Kastes is our Clinical Research Coordinator and can be reached at 941-927-4888, or...

Have you ever felt your mouth and throat itch and tingle after taking a bite into a delicious apple? Or maybe a banana? But then when you have apple pie, you have no problems? Don’t worry, you’re not crazy, and thankfully not truly allergic! These symptoms are due to a phenomenon called Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) or Pollen-Food Syndrome (PFS). Basically, if you are allergic to certain outdoor pollens, the proteins in those pollens look similar to certain fruits, vegetables, and even nuts. When you eat these foods, your body gets confused and annoyed, and asks you “why are you eating...

Congratulations to Dr. Windom! He recently published an article on "An Approach to the Office-Based Practice of Food Oral Immunotherapy" in the prestigious Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in Practice. Windom Allergy is helping make food oral immunotherapy accessible to families and other allergy offices across the world.  We are so proud of you Dr. Windom! An Approach to the Office-Based Practice of Food Oral Immunotherapy

The holidays have come and gone,the coronavirus is still here, and it’s time to work on our health and fitness goals for 2021.Plus, there is no better time than Spring to be socially distanced outdoors in Florida. Stay the course – Keep doing all the good things you’ve been doing. It’s exhausting for sure. But if you’ve been wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer, social distancing, keep doing those things to prevent yourself and family members from getting COVID-19. Please also consider getting the COVID vaccine when it’s available for you.Up your exercise if possible – For those uncomfortable returning to the gym, there are plenty of Zoom classes, apps, and other ways to...

We can’t wait to see you in-person or via a telemedicine visit! If you’re planning to visit Windom Allergythis spring, make sure you get the most from your appointment by writing down your questions and concerns ahead of time. Let us know if: You have any new symptoms or symptoms that are worse than in previous years. Be sure to mention if you experience coughing, difficulty breathing or loss of sleep, as these can be signs of asthma.You have missed school or work due to allergy or asthma symptoms. It’s very important that you report any related hospitalizations or visits to the emergency department. We can help you gain better control...

Your nose is running, you feel tired, and you’re checking your temperature every hour wondering if you caught coronavirus. We have all been there, even your doctors. And here is a secret, sometimes even we have a tough time in the first day or two telling whether the patient has a cold virus or allergies.  Here are a few key differences between infections and allergies: Fever- is a sign of infection (>100.4 F) and definitely not allergiesSwollen lymph nodes- in the neck, are common with respiratory infections, and rarely with allergiesNasal secretions- Sometimes pus during an infection can be green or yellowish. Allergies cause clear and watery mucusItching- of the eyes and nose are usually allergies. Rarely does this occur with infectionsThroat...

As an allergist, I love hearing this question and guiding patients on TRUEevidence-based medicine. There is a widespread and FALSE belief that eating local, rawhoney can help allergies by regularly exposing you to pollen - not unlike the concept of how allergy shots work. Allergy shots help desensitize allergic people by exposing them topollen injected at regular intervals. An important difference here is that the amount of pollen in allergy shotsis known, and slowly increased to a certain level, for best results. Studies have shown allergy shots are very effective for decreasing seasonal and year-round allergy symptoms.  Local, unprocessed honey does contain small amounts of pollen from the environment. The pollen in honey is mostly from...

Wendy is our Food Therapy CoordinatorHi, I'm Wendy and I am the Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) nurse. I feel so lucky that my path led me to Windom Allergy! The best part of my job is the opportunity to help families through their journey to food safety and also making new friends from around the globe! I am a true Floridian and grew up in South Florida. By way of Northern California then Houston, I ended up in Sarasota six years ago. About 5 years ago, I rescued Gabe. If you've seen me at the office, you've probably seen pictures or heard...

Chronic cough is one of the most common, and for patients annoying, issues we at Windom Allergy treat. A chronic cough can be debilitating if it interferes with sleep and, especially during COVID times, make patients feel isolated or afraid to go out into public if they are constantly viewed as being sick. The big question always is, “where is my cough coming from and why can’t I stop?”                 The two main areas cough can arise from are the lungs and from the throat. Often, it is very difficult for patients to know where the cough is coming from since the...