During the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), nearly 900 abstracts were presented from researchers located throughout the world. Some of the latest allergy/immunology research covering topics like food allergy and respiratory disorders includes:
Purposeful Exposure of Food Allergic Children to Known Allergens
Kim E. Mudd, RN, MSN, CCRP, and colleagues surveyed families participating in an observational study about the circumstances surrounding the purposeful exposure of food allergic children to known food allergens which led to a reaction. For instance, 42% of the families who responded indicated that they believed small exposures would not cause symptoms and 38% said the child had tolerated food in baked or processed form. These misconceptions about food allergy among parents and other caregivers identify a need for further education and guidance from healthcare providers. (Abstract 451)
Evidence of Meat Allergy in Children
Research continues to look further at those who have immunoglobulin E (IgE) to alpha-gal, a carbohydrate in meat. Alpha-gal appears to be an under recognized cause of anaphylaxis or hives three to six hours after eating mammalian meat in adults living in the southeastern United States. Hayley James and colleagues investigated a population of children in that same region who had similar delayed symptoms after eating meat to see if they may also have igE to alpha-gal. After testing, 45 children with IgE for alpha-gal and a history of previously unexplained recurring hives or anaphylaxis were identified. (Abstract 774)
Alcohol-Induced Symptoms in People with Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease
Clinical observations suggest that patients with Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD) may more frequently develop respiratory reactions induced by drinking alcohol. Juan Carlos Cardet, MD, and colleagues recruited patients into four different groups: those diagnosed with AERD through an aspirin challenge, asthmatics who can tolerate aspirin, aspirin-tolerant patients with rhinitis and healthy controls. A questionnaire to record self-reported respiratory reactions to alcohol like nasal congestion and wheezing was given to the participants. After comparing the groups, both upper and lower respiratory reactions after ingesting alcohol appeared more common in the AERD patients. (Abstract L7)
Antibiotic Exposure and Risk of Food Allergy in Children
Bryan L. Love, PharmD, BCPS, and colleagues hypothesized that changing the natural microorganism content in the gut through antibiotic use in infants might play in role in the rising prevalence of childhood food allergy. To test this, they examined South Carolina Medicaid billing data to identify children born with a food allergy diagnosis between 2007 and 2009. They were then matched one to four by age, sex and race to controls without food allergy. Statistical analysis appeared to show that antibiotic exposure in the first year was linked to an increased risk of food allergy with multiple courses of antibiotics presenting a greater risk. (Abstract L14)
SOURCE: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
