My condolences to the family of the journalist (Anthony Shadid) who died from asthma covering Syria. Several “learning points” for those with asthma:
1. It appears he was exposed to horses and was very allergic to this animal. Unfortunately, allergic asthma can strike at any time, depending on exposure to the allergen. Many children are exposed to a cat or dog at grandma’s house during the holidays and have to go to the emergency department because of sudden asthma.
2. Even if you have your inhalers with you, asthma can be fatal. This is why you take “controller” medication as prevention. Sometimes the immediate rescue inhalers just aren’t enough.
3. Asthma isn’t the same disease in all patients. Sudden death from asthma occurs in two forms–>the type WITH warning and the type WITHOUT warning. If you review asthma death registries, some asthma patients have died from an exacerbation WHILE IN the hospital already.
For the full article, click on the following link. Please call or reply if you have any additional questions.
Feb 20, 2012 @ 10:31:30
Normally I do not read post on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to take a look at and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, quite nice article.
Feb 20, 2012 @ 14:24:27
Thank-you for your comments. Asthma is not a disease to ignore, even with “modern medicine”.
Mar 01, 2012 @ 17:36:30
I’m cuuiors if the non-toxic kids blogger actually had a food challenge for all those nuts and confirmed that her daughter is actually very allergic to some of the things they food challenged? I ask because I keep telling my son’s allergist that I want him food challenged for nuts but they won’t do it – because they say his skin prick and blood tests show he could have a big reaction. But how will we ever know if they don’t try? Is it that unsafe to try a small amount in a medical environment?
Mar 06, 2012 @ 21:30:04
Skin testing alone is nothing more than evidence of sensitization, not true allergy. Oral challenge as you have suggested is underutilized for the true diagnosis of food allergy. Thanks for your comments.
Mar 08, 2012 @ 03:52:07
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog? My website is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my visitors would certainly benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this okay with you. Thank you!
Mar 08, 2012 @ 17:12:31
Yes, that would be fine…thank-you for asking.