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Published on Thursday, 16 March 2023 10:38

Written by ifrpd-foodallergy

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Only 52% of adults with severe food allergy have been prescribed an epinephrine auto injector

Epinephrine is the only medication that can stop anaphylaxis and it is critical that everyone with a food allergy has access to epinephrine to treat life threatening reactions. A new study being presented at this year's American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Louisville, KY shows that only half of food allergic adult patients have immediate access to epinephrine, and 36% of adults believe epinephrine auto injectors (EAIs) can cause negative or life-threatening effects.

"We know that not everyone who needs a pair of EAIs has easy access to one," says Jennaveve Yost, MS, lead author of the study.

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Published on Monday, 06 March 2023 09:39

Written by ifrpd-foodallergy

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Long-term consumption of food allergens may lead to behavior and mood changes

The prevalence of food allergies is increasing worldwide, approaching an epidemic level in some regions. In the U.S. alone, approximately 10% of children and adults suffer from food allergies, with allergies to cow's milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts being the most common. Some patients have mild symptoms that might not need medical attention, leaving these cases unreported.

Food allergies, or food hypersensitivities, result from the overreaction of the immune system to typically harmless proteins in food. They can manifest as a spectrum of symptoms, ranging from itching, redness and swelling for milder reactions, to vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing and other potentially life-threatening symptoms for severe reactions.

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Published on Wednesday, 22 February 2023 09:35

Written by ifrpd-foodallergy

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Study shows 86.4% of infants with anaphylaxis appropriately received epinephrine

Although many parents of infants worry about their child having a food allergy, there has not been a lot of research into the presentation of anaphylaxis in infants. A new study being presented at this year's American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Louisville, KY shows that, in infants aged 0-24 months who presented to the emergency department for anaphylaxis, few required hospitalization and most were able to go home after a few hours of observation.

"We reviewed charts for 169 patients under the age of 2 who presented with anaphylaxis and found that symptoms were reported in the skin/mucosal (97.6%), gastrointestinal (74.6%), respiratory (56.8%) and cardiovascular (34.3%) systems," said Colleen Shannon, MD, MPH, ACAAI member and lead author of the study.

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Published on Thursday, 16 February 2023 09:47

Written by ifrpd-foodallergy

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Is Cowpea Allergy Another One To Watch?

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a legume that is widely cultivated and very important for the nutrition and health of millions of people, particularly in Africa, Asia, South America, and Southern Europe. Cowpea is emerging as a low-cost alternative protein in other regions raising concerns that its use in food may potentially put some legume-allergic people at risk.

A small study in Luxemburg identified four novel allergens in cowpea, among which storage proteins were found to play an important role. The study also sought to assess the cross-reactivity of cowpea with peanut allergy in people with legume allergies. Twenty-seven children (average age 6) were recruited to the trial and IgE-cross-reactivity between cowpea, pea, and peanut was determined using ELISA inhibition assays. Basophil activation tests were performed to evaluate sensitivity and reactivity of the participants’ basophils toward legumes.

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