New Eczema App Helps Track and Record Flare-Ups

Help for Eczema Sufferers

People with food allergies often deal with other allergic conditions such as eczema. There is a new app available for Apple and Android users to help track and record symptom. the app also provides the latest news on eczema. This tool is especially helpful for parents of kids with eczema as well as adults with the condition who are trying to determine the cause of skin flare-ups. 

Eczema affects up to 20% of infants and 3% of children and adults. This itchy skin condition can flare-up for a variety of reasons including certain foods, certain materials or fabrics, household products such as soap, animal dander and even temperature changes. By tracking symptoms, people with eczema can more effectively manage and treat this condition.

The Eczema App is sponsored by Bayer Health Care, maker of Desonate, a topical steroid to treat eczema. While the app does promote Desonate as a treatment, users of the app should talk to their doctor about the best treatment for their condition.

New Flu Vaccine is not Cultured on Eggs

Egg Allergy and Flu Shots

The FDA has finally approved a flu vaccine that is not cultured in egg protein. Flucelvax is produced using cultured animal cells. While the vaccine has not been tested on egg allergic people, the idea is that this would be a safe vaccine for those with egg allergy. It is currently only approved for people 18 and older. 

For kids with egg allergy, the regular flu vaccine is typically safe. Talk to your allergist or doctor about the benefits and risks of your egg allergic child being given the vaccine. Allergists can often administer the flu vaccine under controlled conditions in their office.

Annual Meeting of ACAAI Always Delivers

Spice Allergy

While I don't attend the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), I always look forward to the information that comes out of it. This year we learned more about food allergies. Did you see these headlines from the conference?

• Living with Spice Allergies
• Higher Family Income Linked to Higher Peanut Allergy Rates
• Baked Egg Tolerance
• Epinephrine Use Under-Utilized by Paramedics
• More Allergists are Using Twitter

You can catch up on all the tweets from the annual meeting that wrapped up on November 13. Check out the program guide for a complete listing of all events and sessions. From "Getting Comfortable With Off-the-Beaten-Track Food Allergies" to "Food Allergy: Controversies in Diagnosis" the field of food allergy got a lot of attention at this year's conference.

FARE is a Great Name for the Recently United Food Allergy Organizations

The Wedding of FARE

DJ Announcer: ..."Now, may I please have your attention as we welcome the new couple, F.A.R.E.! Please join me in congratulating the happy reunion!"

Vigorous applause erupts from the crowd.

A sniffle or two can be heard from the crowd as guest realize that things will never be the same again.

We will know longer refer to FAAN, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, or to FAI, Food Allergy Initiative. They are no longer single, but have joined together to form a bond to transcend what either was before.

I really like the new name, although I'm sure I'll slip a time or two and use the maiden name of one of the organizations. F.A.R.E. stands for Food Allergy Research and Education. I am pleased with the emphasis on research and education. As the rate of food allergies continues to increase, there are more people, restaurants, food manufacturers, schools, hospitals and other organizations requiring education and support. Those of us closely connected to food allergy need better answers about treatment and cures, so I hope to see that in the near future.

You can read all the details of the merger here. The new logo will be revealed in early 2013 and the new website will reside at www.foodallergy.org.

I just want to know who got to wear the beautiful gown...



 

New Package and Label on Wegman's Chocolate Chips

Dairy Free Chocolate Chips

 Wegmans traded in it's old brown chocolate chip bag for a spiffy red and white striped package that reminds me of a circus tent. That's not all they changed, though. Their allergen label is different too. The old label said: 

"Contains Soy. Manufactured in a plant that processes products that contain milk."

The new label is simpler: "Contains Soy"

Hmmmm...did they just drop off the sentence about milk or did they change manufacturing plants? I did what any good food allergy detective does and called Wegmans to find out.

"Good question," I was told. "Someone else called and asked the same thing (there must be a bunch of food allergy detectives out there!), so I have the answer from our Quality Control Director."

"There has been a change in manufacturing practices so the chocolate chips are no longer made in a plant that processes products containing milk."

So, there you have it. The label is correct and if you've been loking for a truly dairy-free chocolate chip, Wegmans fits the bill!

Updated Info on Auvi-Q Epinephrine Injectors

I have been informed that Auvi-Q will not be distributing their epinephrine injectors until the first quarter of 2013.

From the company's PR rep:

"Sanofi has been working hard the past two months to build ample supply of the device to meet the anticipated demand for the product and to help ensure nationwide distribution...manufacturing is occurring following FDA approval to help ensure that when a patient or caregiver does fill a prescription for Auvi-Q, he or she receives a product with an adequate expiration date."

For additional information on this new product, check out the Auvi-Q site. From there you can watch a demo and sign up to be informed when the product becomes available.

There will soon be an alternative to the familiar EpiPen...and this new one talks you through the injection process. Stay tuned.