Seasonal Allergies

Another new COVID-19 vaccine, the first and only once-daily amphetamine transdermal patch approved for the treatment of ADHD, and 5 more.

Spring has sprung! Click here for the latest research about some of the more common diseases of the season.

Poor agreement between caregiver and children for report of symptoms and relief presents a challenge in clinical trials.

The emerging therapy may help overcome drawbacks of existing immunotherapies, such as treatment duration and poor adherence.

Hay fever is common in adults age 65 years and older but there is little research on the efficacy of customary immunotherapy in this group.

The once-daily Oralair tablet may considerably change the experience of seasonal allergy sufferers.

Current and emerging treatment options for ragweed-induced rhinoconjunctivitis are the topic of a comprehensive review paper--a good read for all primary care providers.

The discovery of decreased bioavailability of the anithistamine fexofenadine after ingestion of grapefruit juice broadened understanding of mechanisms underlying these sometimes deadly drug-juice interactions.

Allergic rhinitis and the “allergic triad,” allergy tests for children, allergic asthma, acute urticaria, a lipstick allergy, allergic contact dermatitis of the scalp-these images show a range of common allergic conditions.

Spring is here and brings with it the peak allergy season. Patients will present with a variety of allergic diseases, both seasonal and otherwise. This week’s photo quiz tests your knowledge of these disorders.

Diabetes progress; folic acid and autism; acupuncture and allergic rhinitis; depression and shingles vaccine; HMP virus alert.

Acupuncture for patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis was found to be more effective than antihistamine use or a sham intervention.

To allay children's fears about immunizations or allergy shots, keep a pocket-sized, battery-operated radio in the office.

Physical clues to allergic rhinitis include the allergic crease on the dorsum of the nose and allergic "shiners" or periorbital ecchymosis.

For my patients who use nasal spray, I advise them to use the right hand to spray into the left nostril and the left hand to spray into the right nostril.

Many pharmacological options exist for allergic rhinitis. Intranasal corticosteroids are the most effective medication class for patients with moderate to severe symptoms; those with milder intermittent symptoms can be treated with a second-generation oral or intranasal antihistamine.

A 14-year-old girl is seen because of long-standing nasal itch, intermittent nasal congestion, and clear nasal discharge. Allergies to house dust mites and to cats shown on prior skin testing. Often has marked eye swelling when exposed to cats. Receives antihistamines when in flare-up and prior to cat exposure. The consumption of dairy products exacerbates all of the above.

While avoidance measures are a key component of the treatment of allergic rhinitis, pharmacological therapies are often needed to adequately control symptoms. Intranasal corticosteroids are highly effective and are particularly useful in patients with moderate to severe disease.

Advise patients who are receiving continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and who use a corticosteroid nasal spray for allergies to spray in the morning rather than at bedtime. If the spray is used in the evening, CPAP may dry it out, making it less effective.

Allergic rhinitis is highly prevalent; about 20% of adults in the United States and 25% of children worldwide are affected. It is a major societal expense, with direct costs, attributable to physician visits and medications, of up to $5 billion per year, and indirect costs, mainly stemming from lost productivity, of up to $9.7 billion per year. In the United States, allergic rhinitis results in 3.5 million lost workdays and 2 million lost schooldays each year.

Progressively worsening nasal congestion and headaches with diplopia and left proptosis for 2 months prompted an ophthalmology consultation for a 67-year-old woman. She had been evaluated multiple times for allergic rhinitis and recurrent sinusitis.

For the past year, a 15-year-old boy has had a pruritic eruption on his shins. His mother suspects that his soccer shin guards are the cause; however, he wears them over his socks. Topical corticosteroids have not been effective.

A 10-year-old girl with seasonal allergies has had this pruritic patch on her arm for a few days. She denies any exposure history.

For several months, a 45-year-old woman had ocular irritation, tearing, blurred vision, and swelling of the eyelids in both eyes. During that time, she had been treated for allergic conjunctivitis and blepharitis by several physicians, including an ophthalmologist. Her medical history included lupus and seasonal allergies, for which she was taking hydroxychloroquine and loratadine.

An 18-year-old woman with a history of allergic rhinitis and moderate persistent asthma presented with right-sided nasal congestion of 6 months’ duration. Her symptoms persisted despite her usual allergy medications, allergen immunotherapy, and 2 courses of antibiotics. A sinus CT scan showed complete opacification of the right maxillary sinus with increased attenuation of the mucin. Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis was suspected, and an otolaryngologist was contacted.

After a family argument, an 83-year-old woman experienced chest pain, a "racing heart," and a choking sensation and was brought to the emergency department. The chest pain lasted 10 to 15 minutes; was sharp, substernal, and nonradiating; and was associated with dyspnea and a bout of emesis. A sublingual nitroglycerin tablet partially alleviated the pain, but the patient felt syncopal. Her symptoms persisted despite the administration of supplemental oxygen and a second sublingual nitroglycerin tablet. The patient had a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease, allergic rhinitis, and osteoarthritis. Her oral medications included esomeprazole (40 mg/d), aspirin (81 mg/d), and fluticasone nasal spray. She had discontinued valdecoxib 3 weeks earlier.

abstract: Common causes of poorly controlled asthma include nonadherence to long-term inhaler therapy; environmental exposures; and uncontrolled comorbidities, such as allergic rhinitis. Adherence can be limited by many factors, including inadequate patient education, medication cost, prior failed treatment, poor physician-patient relationship, unrealistic expectations for therapy, and depression. For patients who have a poor perception of their symptoms, emphasizing the "disconnect" between symptoms and pulmonary function can help motivate them to monitor themselves with a peak flow meter and to adjust their medication accordingly. For patients with allergic triggers, instituting allergen-specific environmental controls can decrease symptoms and urgent care visits for asthma. Chronic rhinosinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease can also contribute to difficult-to-control asthma, and treatment of these comorbidities can help reduce asthma symptoms. (J Respir Dis. 2007;28(9):365-369)

abstract: In the treatment of certain allergies, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) may represent an attractive alternative to subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) because of its lower risk of systemic reactions. The most common adverse reactions are local symptoms, such as oral "itchiness." GI complaints, rhinoconjunctivitis, urticaria, and asthma are uncommon reactions to this therapy, and no fatalities have been reported. In contrast to SCIT, accelerated induction schedules for SLIT do not appear to be associated with an increased risk of systemic reactions. SLIT may present an opportunity for broadening the use of immunotherapy by extending it to patients who are not candidates for SCIT because they dislike injections, find the frequent visits to the physician's office inconvenient, or are concerned with the safety of SCIT. The optimal effective dose and dosing schedule need to be established before a cost-benefit analysis can be performed. (J Respir Dis. 2007;28(6):237-243)

abstract: Subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy is clearly beneficial in the treatment of select patients with allergic rhinitis or asthma. However, this therapy is underused, partly because it requires administration in a medical facility. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) may be a promising alternative; it appears to be associated with fewer adverse effects, which suggests that it might be administered at home. Currently, there is no FDA-approved formulation for SLIT in the United States. However, allergists are showing increased interest in this therapy, and an approved formulation may be available in the near future. A number of studies have shown the clinical efficacy of SLIT, but many questions remain unanswered, including the effective dose, optimal treatment schedules, and overall duration of treatment. (J Respir Dis. 2007;28(4):162-168)

LONDON -- On the eastern Mediterranean island of Crete, where olive oil is the primary source of fat, children with allergic rhinitis are uncommon, found a British team.