Peanut allergy protection just got easier: peanut vaccine in a patch

Peanut allergy protection just got easier: peanut vaccine in a patch

A peanut patch vaccine is the newest option being studied for children with severe allergy to peanuts. The two types of “vaccine” that have received the greatest study are oral immunotherapy (OIT), and sublingual immune therapy (SLIT). Both approaches are flawed and thus have not been approved by the FDA. Oral therapy provides the best results in terms of vaccine protection against peanut exposure, but it has an intolerably high frequency of side effects. Sublingual therapy is less prone to…

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COPD treatment guidelines offered

COPD treatment guidelines offered

The Medical Letter recently published guidelines for treating COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease): For all COPD patients – Stop smoking. Patients with mild disease should use a short-acting bronchodilator inhaler as needed: either albuterol (beta agent), or ipatropium (muscarinic agent), or a combination of both (combivent). Patients with moderate disease should use regular inhaler treatments of a long-acting broncho-dilator – either a beta, muscarinic or combination agent. Patients with severe disease should add a daily inhaled steroid to step 3…

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Q – Tips: Chlorhexidine

Q – Tips: Chlorhexidine

The FDA has mandated that over-the-counter products containing chlorhexidine gluconate be labeled citing the risks of allergic reactions, including the rare anaphylaxis. Chlorhexidine is used as a topical antiseptic wash but is also found in prescription oral rinses. In medical settings, chlorhexidine is often used as a pre-op scrub or as a cleanser prior to IV or central line placement.

Q – Tips: Fresh Air

Q – Tips: Fresh Air

If you must open windows for “fresh air,” a useful trick to avoid allowing pollen into the house is to insert and air-conditioning filter(s) into the opening. Fresh air comes in, but free of mischievous pollen.

True food allergy or not, baby tummies still hurt

True food allergy or not, baby tummies still hurt

　Uppercase terms for longer names of ailments are very common. The ones mentioned here are the two most common mimics of true food allergy in infants. Symptoms of FPIES (food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome) are vomiting/reflux with diarrhea, and of FPIAP (food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis), colic and diarrhea. Blood (either visible or microscopic) in the stool is common with both. FPIAP tends to occur at younger ages, often in the first two weeks of life, and occurs in infants who are…

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Possible swelling misery relief from hereditary angioedema

Possible swelling misery relief from hereditary angioedema

Many people among us contend with unknown-to-us dreadful conditions. Periodically in this newsletter, we highlight new research that could lead to a truly better life for some of our neighbors. One such challenge is hereditary angioedema (HAE) – a genetically inherited disorder that leads to severe, and sometimes life-threatening, swelling throughout the body. Often-affected areas are the extremities, gut, face and airway. A deficiency of the protein C-1-esterase inhibitor is the culprit. Lack of this protein allows a build-up of…

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This genetic deficiency often brings long-term threat of lung damage

This genetic deficiency often brings long-term threat of lung damage

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is an uncommon – but not rare – genetic disease that seriously affects the lungs, occurring in about one of every 3,000 people. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) is an enzyme that protects our lungs from protein damage and neutrophil elastase. Neutrophils are one of the white blood cells in our blood stream that migrate into our lungs to help kill microbial viruses and bacteria. In the normal state of affairs the neutrophils release elastase and other chemicals…

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Hand sanitizer: Easy, but too much of a good thing?

Hand sanitizer: Easy, but too much of a good thing?

Dear Dr. K: I have red, itchy, peeling eyelids and my dermatologist said it’s most likely due to using hand sanitizers. But I don’t use the sanitizers on my face, so how can that be true? Your dermatologist is probably right. The hand/face connection is an interesting dichotomy. The skin on our hands is some of the thickest and toughest on our bodies; while the skin on our faces – especially on the eyelids – is among the thinnest and…

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