Dr. Adrian Morris of Surrey Allergy Clinic Tests and Treats allergies » Airway Allergy

Christmas tree allergy, a cause for your sneeze.

Dr. Adrian Morris — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:30:28 +0000

For many years indoor Christmas trees have bee suspected to be a source of allergen induced asthma, rhinitis and respiratory problems during the period from mid December to early January. It was thought that coniferous tree pollen, incidental grass and weed pollens on the tree and oleoresins secreted by Fir trees were to blame. However a recent study in the US, has found that coniferous Christmas trees carry and sustain significant amounts of mould spores. Common allergenic moulds such as Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Alternaria and Penicillium are found in significant amounts on Christmas trees and raise indorr mould levels from 300 to 5000 spores per cubic metre of indoor air. Exposure to the spores trigger chronic respiratory conditions such as allergic asthma, rhino-sinusitis and chronic bronchitis (COPD). Spraying the tree with a mist containing household bleech such as Milton (sodium hypochlorite) kills off moulds and prevents their growth on the trees and subsequent indoor mould contamination.

Reference: Identification of mold on seasonal indoor Coniferous trees. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology 2011 106:6: 543-544

Air pollution and allergies

Dr. Adrian Morris — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:28:56 +0000

Urban air pollution is a serious public health hazard and has been associated with exacerbations of chronic respiratory illnesses due to airway mucus membrane irritation and increased oxidative stress. However no convincing link between air pollution and allergic sensitisation has been shown in the scientific literature. We know that nitrogen dioxide, ozone and diesel exhaust particulate matter in air pollution can predispose to increased respiratory infections, aggrevate asthma, bronchiectasis and chronic bronchitis (COPD), but any link to actually triggering allergic sensitisation is less clear. Certainly diesel exhaust particles have been shown to absorb grass pollen grains and increase the pollen load in the nose and lungs, thus making hay fever and hay asthma symptoms worse for city dwellers and those living near motorways.

Reference: Kelly FJ, Fussell JC. Air pollution and airway disease. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2011 (41) 1059-1071

Let the cat sleep with the baby: evidence that early exposure prevents allergies.

Dr. Adrian Morris — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:58:49 +0000

Recent medical research shows that our middle-class obsession with cleanliness and avoiding weaning until late in infancy has rebounded in a western-world epidemic of childhood wheezing, sneezing and eczema with seven fold increases in peanut, cat, dust mite and pollen allergies. We are now encouraged rather to throw the cat in the cot, smother the baby in peanut butter and get those snotty cousins around to cough on little Hector. Yes, early exposure to farmyard dirt, bacteria, furry pets and nuts seems to be good and paradoxically prevents allergies, especially if there is high allergen exposure in the first few months of life. Health warnings to avoid allergens such as peanut in pregnancy and early infancy have actually led to increased peanut allergies and allergic sensitization in childhood.

Reference Clinical and Experimental Allergy July 2011:

Wegienka G, Johnson CC, Havstad S, Ownby DR, Nicholas C, Zoretti EM, Lifetime dog and cat exposure-and cat-specific sensitization at age 18 yrs Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2011 (41) 979-986

Erwin EA, Woodfolk JA, Ronmark E, Perzanowski M, Platts-Mills TAE The long-term protective effects of domestic animals in the home. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2011 (41) 920-922

Kim JS, Jarvinen. Peanuts for preschoolers: less preposterous than previously perceived? Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2011 (41) 914-916

LEAP study (www.leapstudy.co.uk)

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/crunch-time-for-peanut-allergies-885074.html

Hay Fever remedies and gimmicks

Dr. Adrian Morris — Mon, 02 May 2011 20:31:25 +0000

Many different so-called wonder-cures for hay fever have come and gone over the years. This is particularly evident online, as one searches for a drug-free natural alternative to conventional hay fever medication. The problem is that many of these remedies, which sound attractive at face value , have no track record or clinical evidence base. Mere anecdotal reports of efficacy aren’t robust enough to allow their large-scale endorsement by the medication regulatory authorities. However many people do find them enticing and feel they do help alleviate those incapaciaiting hay fever symptoms that so badly affect our work, school and social lives during the peak pollen season when we really want to be outdoors enjoying the summer.

Nasal pollen filters have been around in various guises for over 100 years, but some recently developed nasal plug filters with effective HEPA (high efficacy particle arresting) filters seem on first impression to provide encouraging protection from pollen, although not yet readily available on the UK market.

Nasal sprays that deposit a fine protective film of particles that impede pollen deposition on the nasal membranes have reached the local market. Most have no proven efficacy in clinical trials but seen harmles enough, and these include Prevalin thixotropic and Nasaleze micro-gel barrier sprays which seem to have a soothing effect on the nose.

Portable infra-red light treatments directed into the nose using using two small probes have been purported to help symptoms, although the exact physiological basis on which they work seems unclear. A number of these products have also reached the UK market and can be bought at health stores or online. Products now available in the UK include Bionase and Medinose, Lumie Haylight Light diodes.

Modern acupauncture meridean activating devices such as Hay band and Qu-Chi acupressure bands worn on the arm are readily available on the internet, but again their effectiveness in controlling hay fever has not been proven.

Taking a daily teaspoonful of locally-produced honey, starting a few months prior to the pollen season, may or may not be effective in providing a form of pollen desensitisation. Medibee bee pollen capsules seem less likely to effect a hay fever cure especially when the sales phrase is (“bees don’t get hay fever”). As far as I can remember from my GSCE biology days, bees don’t have a nose in the first place.

www.quackwatch.com

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1378328/Is-allergy-real-just-reaction.html

Spring and April tree pollen hay fever

Dr. Adrian Morris — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:49:21 +0000

Spring has suddenly broken through the icy winter and the trees are covered in blossom this April. But this is a time of discomfort and suffering for those tree pollen allergic hay fever sufferers who will experience itching, sneezing, watering nose and irritatingly painful eyes. Silver birch pollen will be pouring from dangling catkins suspended from dormant trees coming back to life again after the long cold winter. Silver Birch pollen contains a particulary potent allergy provoking substance called Bet V 1 otherwise known as Profilin, which is curiously also contained in fresh apples, pears and stone fruit such as peaches, nectarines, cherries and plums. In addition, Profilin is found in hazelnuts and walnuts as well as vegetables such as celery, carrot, potato and tomato. Fortunately most afflicted will only experience itching of the mouth, palate and throat if they eat these foods in the raw form. Cooking these foods damages the Profilins and makes them less allergy provoking. These pollen-food cross reactions are usually irritating but rarely ever lead to more serious allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis and will respond promptly to antihistamine medication such as cetiriizine, loratadine and fexofenadine.

Visit our webpage on hay fever and oral allergies for more information

www.allergy-clinic.co.uk/airway-allergy/hayfever

http://www.allergy-clinic.co.uk/airway-allergy/oral-allergy-syndrome