Recent medical interest in the role of Low Dose Naltrexone (a drug previously used to treat Alcohol and Opiate dependence) has filtered down to the management of chronic immune-modulated diseases such as Mast Cell Activation and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Naltrexone has been used for many years to treat addiction to Alcohol, Morphine and Opiate analgesics, [...]
A recent article by Lawrence Afrin (international expert on Mast Cell Activation), has suggested that Mast Cell Activation may be a mediator of Long COVID syndrome (multiple persistent and debilitating symptoms following a COVID-19 infection) and many Long COVID symptoms mimic those of Mast Cell Activation (including unexplained rashes and swelling, confusion with fatigue, palpitations, [...]
New Immunotherapy products are to be launched in UK this month. The great news is that ALK -Abello (UK) have been awarded license to sell two novel immunotherapy products in the UK and these will be available at Community Pharmacy's on prescription from Allergists at the end of this month. They will be joining the [...]
There has been a lot of confusion and misinformation about risks of anaphylaxis to the COVID -19 coronavirus vaccines available. Many healthy individuals are being declined the vaccine and told to be allergy tested if they have a history of food or medication allergy or any form of anaphylaxis. The COVID-19 vaccines contain no food [...]
ALK Abello will be launching their new House Dust Mite (Acarizax) and Silver Birch tree pollen (Itulazax) sublingual desensitisation immunotherapy vaccines (SLIT) in the UK in late 2021. This follows the highly successful Grass pollen vaccine SLIT called Grazax which was launched about 10 years ago and has greatly improved quality of life for thousands [...]
COVID-19 infections manifest in a multitude of different ways and after the initial viral illness, there seem to be a number of debilitating long-term effects that may develop. The skin manifestations are related to the COVID-19 virus damaging small skin blood vessels and very often mimic and be confused with skin allergies. 1) COVID Toes [...]
A number of highly allergic individuals have had acute allergic reactions to the COVID-19 Vaccine available in the UK from Pfizer/BioNTech pharmaceuticals. It appears to be an excipient in the vaccine called Polyethylene Glycol that causes these reactions. It is therefore advised to avoid this Covid-19 vaccine if allergic to polyethylene glycol, or if you have [...]
Allergology has come a long way since Johansson and Ishizaka discovered IgE in 1967 to be the antibody that mediated acute serious allergic reactions. Phadia, and then Thermo Fisher developed multiple specific allergy tests using individual IgE antigens that revolutionised allergy diagnosis and treatment. More recent developments include testing sensitivity to the various component allergenic [...]
The devastating Cytokine Storm that has such a catastrophic effect on the airways and vital organs during the COVID-19 illness behaves very much like a severe allergic reaction. Thankfully COVID deaths related to this cytokine storm are starting to fall. In an attempt to neutralise the Corona virus and kill it off, the immune system [...]
A lot of products on the market claim to boost the immune system. No time is more pertinent than now with COVID-19. This is a very controversial topic as taking additional vitamins and minerals are unlikely to add any protection to viral infections. The mass media contains a lot of pseudoscience and unnecessary supplements. There [...]