Chronic Urticaria: understanding the beast within you. Chronic Urticaria (CU) is an incapacitating condition that can persist for a few months to many years. Understanding the individual presenting lesions helps with planning treatment. Chronic Urticaria affects up to 30% of the population at sometime in their lives, and women are 6 times more likely than [...]
Recent conversation with a patient alerted me to the fact that a Strawberry is technically a nut. At first I thought this was Trump “fake news”. But this is actually true as the strawberry has seeds that are on the outside of the fruit and not on the inside as in most fruits (surrounded by [...]
A 36 month multi-centre clinical trial of using prophylactic azithromycin in adults with primary antibody deficiencies with chronic respiratory pathologies such as bronchiectasis, COPD, asthma and recurrent hospital admissions found that there was significant benefit and reduced exacerbations of their respiratory infections and hospitalisations and improved quality of life. The trial azithromycin dosage was 250mg [...]
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK has put out a Drug Alert dated 11th July 2019 regarding Emerade adrenaline auto injectors failing to give a dose of adrenaline due to blockage of the syringe needle. Although the number of faulty auto injectors reported has been very low (1 in 400), [...]
The common skin bacterial germ called Staphylococcus Aureus has been recognised as a common trigger for suddenly worsening eczema in children. Children with eczema have a deficient skin barrier to common allergens and bacteria, and their skin also becomes more extensively colonised by the staphylococcus. This staphylococcus releases an endotoxin which can cause deterioration and [...]
Allergic reactions to tree nuts are becoming more common. Walnut allergy diagnosis has been on a rapid increase now becoming a very common sensitising nut in children. Now found in 4% of children and 0.5% of adults and affects 34% of all tree nut allergic individuals (data Thermofisher). The allergenic protein in the Walnut (Jug [...]
Now that Summer is getting back into full swing, allergy sufferers are going to need to be vigilant and start taking the antihistamines. Grass pollens are likely to cause hay fever and allergic rhino-conjunctivitis as the weather warms up. Wasps are going to get more active. First sun exposure is likely to cause Prickly Heat [...]
Historically, Total IgE measurement on a blood sample was used as an entry level test to identify allergy prone patients. However over the years it have become apparent that Total IgE levels can vary in both allergic and non allergic individuals. Some patients with significant nasal allergies may in fact have relatively low Total IgE, [...]
The sudden hot weather due to hit Southern England and London this Easter weekend will act as a massive stimulus to grass and trees to pollinate and erupt with a very high pollen release called a "Pollen Bomb". This will be most unpleasant for Allergic Rhinitis and Hay Fever sufferers, and they should start taking [...]
Local Pharmacies are marketing small devices that shin red light into the nose as a treatment for hay fever and rhinitis. There has been a lot of interest in the role of Rhinophototherapy using narrow band red light phototherapy and its ability to stabilise the nasal mucous membranes. Some patients report positive results with this [...]