Windom Allergy, Asthma, Sinus

The less hectic pace of summer could be just the right time to consider taking a definitive step to control your allergies.  If you have allergic asthma, runny nose/hay fever, or sinus problems, you probably have a medicine cabinet full of antihistamines, inhalers, and nose sprays to help you limp through the various allergy seasons.  Is there a better answer?  Yes, there is, and it’s called desensitization. Allergen desensitization has been around for over 100 years, often referred to as allergen immunotherapy or allergy shots.  This remains the most effective way to ‘turn off’ your airborne allergies.  Another option, for those...

We are VERY excited to introduce a new, amazing physician to our Windom Allergy family, Dr. Tara Saco.  Dr. Saco is finishing her Allergy/Immunology fellowship at the University of South Florida (USF), where she has been under the watchful eyes of Drs. Windom, Fergeson and Ly for the past two years in their role as clinical faculty.  Like Duke’s Zion Williamson or a Heisman Trophy winner, everyone knew Dr. Saco would be a top pick coming out of USF.  We’re thrilled we got her. Besides being an overall brilliant physician, Dr. Saco has a unique interest in mast cell disease.  She...

But also shop with a healthy dose of common sense and evidence based advice! Common Misconceptions: Risk of contamination can be stratified based on the Precautionary Allergy Labeling (PAL) terminology used, such as “made in a facility” or “shared lines”. FALSE! The exact PAL term on the food label CANNOT be used to stratify riskOnce a food with PAL is tolerated, it is always safe to eat. There may be batch-to-batch differences in the level of contamination of the same productRisk of contamination is the same for all foods. Food at the highest risk of contamination are thought to include chocolate...

Are you nervous about traveling with a food allergy? Be prepared and get educated! Common Misconceptions: There is a risk of inhaling peanut on an airplane and reacting to it. Studies have shown that peanut does not circulate in the air and this is not a likely route of exposure. Peanut dust on unwashed surfaces that becomes inadvertently ingested, or false presumption that a food is safe that actually contains peanuts are the 2 most likely sources of potential peanut exposure in flightOnly nut-free flights are safe. Use a commercial wipe to clean the seating area, in particular the tray wellOnce...

This week we will highlight on clinical pearls and evidence-based advice on what to do if a peanut allergic patient has casual exposure to peanut. Being near peanut butter can trigger a reaction. Ingestion is the primary trigger for significant reactions and peanut protein does not aerosolize in significant amounts from peanut butter or undisturbed peanut.Being touched by peanut can trigger a reaction. Again, ingestion as the primary trigger of significant reactions. Contact reactions may lead to no symptoms or localized ones such as a rash that often resolves when the area is washed off (exception may be direct eye exposure...

Recently the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology published a great article with common sense, evidence-based advice that all allergists should be discussing with their food allergy patients. This week we will highlight improving safety at restaurants/food establishments. High-risk establishments include ice cream parlors, bakeries, and Asian restaurants. Avoid these places or use additional instructions to staff to reduce risk. Have food prepared specifically for the patient, taking into consideration cross-contact and hidden ingredientsDesserts, sauces are higher risk. Avoid these unless safety can be confirmed.Restaurant personnel are often not educated about food allergy. Educate while informing. For example, instead of saying:...

One of the best parts about preparing for my OIT presentation at the University of South Florida was learning about the history of OIT. I hope you are as amazed as I was at this timeline. – Dr. Ly 500 AD- the ancient Babylonian Talmud has instructions for treating egg sensitivity with egg white.1905- Finkelstein conceptualizes OIT – He successfully desensitizes nurslings with “milk idiosyncrasy” by gradually administering increasing drops of milk.1908- Schofield treats a 13-year-old patient with egg allergy over an 8-month period by incrementally increasing small amounts of raw egg disguised in pill form.1911- Noon & Freeman start Allergy...

Spring is in the air, and so are billions of tiny pollens that trigger allergy symptoms in millions of people. Our tree pollen season has arrived with oak pollen being the most problematic this time of year! Symptoms may include runny nose, sneezing, stuffy nose, itchy watery eyes, and dark circles under the eyes. For those with asthma, symptoms may include wheezing, cough and chest tightness. There are also simple steps you can take to limit your exposure to the pollen or molds that cause your symptoms: • Keep your windows closed at night and if possible, use air conditioning, which...

So, you don’t get hives or wheezy when you eat certain foods, but you don’t feel well after eating them. What’s going on? You may have a food intolerance, which is difficulty digesting certain foods and having an unpleasant physical reaction to them. Common symptoms include bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea, skin rashes, and itching usually a few hours after eating the food. Is there a food intolerance test? Unfortunately, there are no validated tests for food intolerances.  And please don’t be fooled into paying the low, low price of $500-1000 for ANY test that claims otherwise. Seeking advice from your doctor...

There is a down side to living in the beautiful subtropics of Sarasota. We rarely get freezing temperatures that stop the grasses, trees, and weeds from pollinating. In fact, our grass pollen season is about ten months long! But if you're still sneezing and blowing your nose when we get some frost, you might have indoor allergies. Common causes of winter, indoor allergies are dust mites, pets and molds. The Sarasota humidity allows dust mites and mold to flourish. If you have allergy symptoms that are severe enough to require medical treatment, it’s likely time to see an allergist. Once you...