Allergy & Asthma Soluitons
June2015 Issue
In This Issue
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Camp Worries

 

Summer camps are time for children to enjoy. For parents of a child with allergies or asthma, there is constant concern that canoeing, swimming, horseback riding and toasting s'mores might be interrupted by an allergic reaction or an asthma attack.  With extra precautions and additional planning, day camp, and even sleep-away camp, can be a safe, healthy reality for kids with allergies and asthma, as well as kids with food allergies. graphic-summer-park.jpg

 

"Going to summer camp is a wonderful experience - something every kid who has asthma or allergies should be able to experience without worrying they might be in harm's way," said allergist Myron Zitt, MD, past president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). "The key to enjoyment is advance planning, and making sure systems are in place to deal with an allergic response to an activity or a food trigger."


 

ACAAI offers these tips for sending your child off to summer camp, and ensuring you all breathe easy while he or she is away.


 

Even in summer, do your homework  - There are plenty of sleep-away camps just for kids with allergies and asthma - particularly kids who have food allergies. The camps are designed to keep campers who have food allergies safe - and help build their sense of independence while reinforcing self-esteem regarding their ability to spend time away from home. These camps remove certain allergens from their sites, have set procedures for life-threatening emergencies, and have medical personnel on location who are trained in administering epinephrine.


 

Belting out camp songs is more fun without asthma symptoms - When planning for sleep-away camp or day camp, knowing your child's triggers for asthma is vital. Schedule a meeting with the person responsible for medical care and your child's counselor well before the first day of camp to make them aware of your child's medical needs. Have your child attend the meeting as well, so they are empowered to keep track of symptoms and triggers. Camps geared towards those with asthma and allergies know that smoke, for example, can be an asthma trigger, and that it's best for kids with asthma to sing around something other than a campfire. 

 

Summer fun closer to home - Even if it's not a specialty sleep-away camp, most day camps have provisions in place to keep kids with allergies and asthma safe. They welcome discussions about what your child can and cannot eat, and what they need to have on hand in case of a severe allergic reaction, or an asthma attack. Make sure the camp you choose has dealt with allergies and asthma before, knows where the nearest hospital is and how to get there, and is aware of the specific needs of your child. 


 

Whatever kind of camp you choose for your child, putting some precautions in place well before camp starts can help you can ensure a healthy, happy summer. Meet with your child's allergist before your child goes to camp to make sure you've thought of all contingencies, and that a personalized plan has been created that you can share with camp personnel.

 

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Test Your Knowledge

 

Allergy Quiz


 

1.  Which of the following statements is true about Nickel allergy?

 

a.    It is the commonest metal to cause a contact skin rash

 

b.    It is more common in women than men   

  

c.    Body piercing is the single most common cause of nickel   allergy

 

d.    There is no cure for nickel allergye.  

  

e.     All of the above


 

2.  Which of the following are characteristics of stinging insects?

 

a.    Yellow jackets' nests are made of a paper-mach� material and are usually located underground, but can sometimes be found in the walls of frame buildings, cracks in masonry or woodpiles.

 

b.    Honeybees and bumble bees are non-aggressive and will only sting when provoked. 

 

c.     Paper wasps' nests are often located under eaves, behind shutters, or in shrubs or woodpiles.

 

d.    Hornets are usually larger than yellow jackets. Their nests are gray or brown, football-shaped and made of a paper material similar to that of yellow jackets' nests. Hornets' nests are usually found high above ground on branches of trees, in shrubbery, on gables or in tree hollows

 

e.    Fire ants build nests preferring indoor areas where it is cool and away from sunlight

 

 

 

Click Here for answers

News from the Allergy World
 

 

New insights in the effects of breastfeeding on allergy-related diseases

 

In a new study recently published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI), Jelding-Dannemand and colleagues present results showing no protective effect of breastfeeding against allergic sensitization and allergy-related diseases such as asthma, eczema, and seasonal allergies. The study confidently showed that duration of breastfeeding was without any effect on the development of allergic sensitization and allergy-related diseases in the first 6 years of life. Breastfeeding is the optimal means of feeding babies; however, recommendations of breastfeeding at-risk babies may need to be moderated in order to prevent distress and guilt in in those mothers with breastfeeding difficulties.


 

In a study recently published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI), B�nnelykke and colleagues studied the relationship between viral respiratory tract infections in the first three years of life and occurrences of asthma by age seven. The authors found that the number of respiratory episodes, irrespective of the particular virus detected during the episode, was associated with later asthma.
This suggests that future research should focus on patients' susceptibility to lower respiratory infections rather than a specific viral trigger.


 

E-Cigarettes: Hot Puffs of Carcinogens?

This eye-opening study reports that formaldehyde-containing hemiacetals can be formed during the e-cigarette "vaping" process. The behavior of formaldehyde-releasing agents in the respiratory tract is unknown. However, if it is assumed that inhaling these agents. carries the same risk as inhaling gaseous formaldehyde (a group 1 carcinogen), then long-term vaping can be associated with an incremental lifetime cancer risk 5 to 15 times higher than long-term smoking. N Engl J Med. 2015;372:392-394.



 

 

Allergy and Asthma Solutions is accepting new patients.  If you or a family member or friend need to make an appointment please call our office and we will schedule you immediately.


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A Message from Dr. Chinoy 
Dr. Chinoy

  

Summer is a time  for children to enjoy finishing up another school year and spending time with family or friends.  In this months newsletter we focus on camps and children with allergy and asthma.  If you have any questions about the contents of the article or concerns about your child's symptoms or condition, please feel free to contact our office.  I wish each of you a fantastic summer.

 

Kind Regards, 


Dr. Birjis Chinoy


 

Visit our website at www.simplybreathe.com 

 

 

 

AnswersAnswers to the Test Your Knowledge Section: 

 

1.  Answer =  e. You guessed it. All of the above are true. In addition, only wear nickel-free jewelry, including earrings, necklaces and watches. Keep a barrier, such as an undershirt, between your skin and metal snaps and zippers on clothing

 

 

2.  Answer = . e.  In contrary Fire ants build nests of dirt in the ground that may be quite tall (18 inches) in the right kinds of soil.