CBS New York » News: Allergy Shots Could Help Take The Sting Out Of Bee And Wasp Attacks

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Allergy Shots Could Help Take The Sting Out Of Bee And Wasp Attacks Aug 9th 2013, 23:24, by mjmontone NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) — A deadly type of allergic reaction is on the rise and more than 1 million Americans may be at risk. Bee and wasp stings could be more than a nuisance for many people who love the outdoors, CBS 2′s Vinita Nair reported Friday. A decade ago Carolyn Taylor was rock climbing with her husband when something almost killed her, but it wasn’t a tumble down a cliff face. “Someone’s dog stirred up a hornets nest and I got three or four stings. I had hives everywhere and my blood pressure really dropped,” she said. At the time, Carolyn was completely unaware that she was allergic to wasps. After the incident Taylor found out that she is one of a growing number of people allergic to insect stings. According to a new report in “Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology,” 5 percent of Americans are now affected by allergies to stings and bites. “They can have a very devastating reaction where their throat can actually close up,” explained Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Dr. Beth Eve Corn. “One can have difficulty breathing, lose consciousness, and in the worst case scenario die.” A series of blood and skin tests revealed that Carolyn is allergic to yellow jackets and yellow and white hornets. Doctors recommended a treatment known as venom immunotherapy, commonly referred to as allergy shots, to reduce her chances of another serious reaction. The shots contain protein from the insect that help the person to build up a tolerance to the insects. “It increases every week until you get up to a maintenance dose, and once you are up to maintenance dose you come in once a month for about three to five years,” Dr. Eve Corn explained. Less than 2 percent of allergic people experience life-threatening reactions after receiving immunotherapy, according to the report. Carolyn was stung again after receiving the treatment. The shots appear to have worked. “I had absolutely no reaction. Just a little bit and it really felt good to know I wasn’t going to die from this little bug,” she said. Knowing that she is protected has allowed Carolyn to enjoy the outdoors. Some patients may require more than three to five years of allergy shots, according to some research. You May Also Be Interested In These Stories Allergy Shots Could Help Take The Sting Out Of Bee And Wasp Attacks Booker Foes Attack Newark Mayor For Not Spending Time In Newark For 16 Ocean County, N.J. Workers, Winning Powerball Ticket May Be Worth $ 3.6 Million Each L.I. School Bus Driver Arrested For DWI Says He Was Sick, Not Drunk Filed under: Health, Heard On 1010 WINS, WCBS, WFAN, Lifestyle, Local, News, Seen On CBS 2HD, Syndicated Local, Syndication, Watch, Watch + Listen Tagged: Allergies, allergy shots, bug bites, bugs, Carolyn Taylor, Hornets, Immunology, Immunotherapy, Insects, Shots, treatments, Vinita Nair, WASPS Media files: bees.jpg?w=300

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Attck Asthma Before It Attacks

Picture this scenario: One day, your child is running around happily and then he started coughing and breathing heavily by bed time. He may have trouble breathing during the night or may wake up coughing periodically. After a restless night, he may be cranky in the morning. If this ever happens, it may be signs of asthma.

Dr. Wasu Kamchaisatian, a specialist in pediatric allergy and immunology at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital advised us that asthma is a type of allergy that occurs in the lower respiratory tracts which begin from the trachea all the way to the bronchioles. Children of all ages and gender can develop asthma, which although is not a contagious disease, can be hereditary. Furthermore, people who never had asthma can develop symptoms if they are in the wrong environment.

Asthma can be brought on by changes in the environment such as climate changes. The cold temperature in an air-conditioned room does not increase the risk of asthma, but if the air filter is not regularly cleaned, there may be spores or dusts that can provoke and asthma attack. Stimulants of asthma include house dusts, cockroaches, dandruffs from dogs and cats, pollens, or fungi from around the house. Because the lower respiratory tracts in people with asthma are susceptible to contraction when stimulated, exercise no matter how much or just a bit, can cause an onset.

Other than coughing, other signs of asthma include chest pain, trouble breathing, or wheezing. To be cautious, watch for these signs in both children and adults alike. If you notice that someone is coughing all night and has other signs of allergy, it may be that he/she is suffering from acute asthma attack. An inhaler can be used to relief the symptom. However, if a child has never used an inhaler before, he/she should be taken to the hospital immediately to avoid acute asthma attack, which may lead to lack of oxygen and respiratory failure.

Epidemiological studies in Thailand since 1985 have shown that the prevalence of asthma increased from 5% to 15% in the past 10 years, especially in the Bangkok area. Asthma and respiratory infection can be quite similar in symptom, although the pathology is different. To confirm the diagnosis of asthma, if there is no family history, a lung function test may be performed to measure the lung capacity. Another good indication is the effectiveness of an inhaler.

Dr. Wasu explained that because asthma is brought on by inflammation of the lung passages, the use of steroid-containing inhalers will help widenthese passages. If they are used properly, patients can safely use them without any side-effects and they are more effective than taking leukotrienes, which is an alternative choice for patients who cannot use inhalers.

Although asthma is a chronic disease, it can be controlled if treated properly. Untreated asthma can lead to decreased lung function and chronic bronchitis. Dr. Wasu recommended that children should get flu shots to prevent asthma attack as well.