ATHLETES WITH ALLERGIES, ASTHMA CAN PLAY IT SAFE

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (June 1, 2011) – As athletes of all ages take the field this summer, the most fearsome opponents for those with asthma and allergies might be triggers that can sideline even the toughest competitors.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) and its allergist members say everyone can stay in the game and make sure it’s fun and safe by following these tips:

• Give the coach a heads up – Alert the coach to any allergic condition, as well as what to do in case of an emergency. Provide detailed instructions on where medications are kept on the field and on how to use injectable epinephrine in case of a severe allergic reaction. 
   
• Ensure safe snacking – Snacks are the highlight of the game for little ones – except for the child who is allergic to peanuts, milk or other common snack food allergens. Before putting together the snack-assignment schedule, poll parents on children’s allergies to find out if any foods should be avoided. Food allergies can be serious, so if you suspect you or your child suffer from them, see an allergist to get tested and develop a plan.
   
• Beware of unexpected opponents – Bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and fire ants are some of the different critters that may hang out on or near sports fields that can pack a powerful punch if they sting or bite.  Administer injectable epinephrine and call 911 in the case of a serious reaction, including hives, difficulty breathing and swelling of the tongue. 
   
• Stock the first-aid kit – Make room in the team first aid kit for latex-free bandages and antihistamines to treat minor allergic reactions. If you know you or your child has a life-threatening allergy, make sure injectable epinephrine is with you at all times.
   
• Find the right sport – Sports that involve a lot of running – such as soccer, basketball and field hockey – can be tough for kids and adults with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EI, commonly referred to as exercise induced asthma. In addition to using your prescribed daily asthma control medications, use a short-acting, quick relief inhaler at least 20 minutes before exercise and warm up for at least 5-10 minutes before taking the field. If the amount of running is too much, consider switching to a more asthma friendly sport, such as baseball, golf or swimming. An allergist can advise you on asthma treatment options and help you manage EIB, a condition that affects up to 10 percent of the population and 80 percent to 90 percent of those with asthma. A new online journal can help you track your symptoms, create reports and share them with your doctor.
   
• Stop the sneezing – To help head off a mid-at-bat sneezing fit due to allergies to grass, ragweed and other pollen-producing plants, take allergy medication before the game.  Wash off the pollen and keep it from spreading around the house by jumping in the shower after the game.

“Even if you have allergies and asthma, you should be able to feel good and participate in your favorite sports,” said allergist Myron Zitt, M.D., past president of ACAAI. “Finding the right treatment for your allergies and asthma can help level the playing field.”

To find out if asthma or allergies bother you or your child and come up with a plan to defeat them find an allergist and take a self-relief test.

 Mold Exposure during infancy Increases Asthma Risk

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (August 2, 2011) – Infants who live in “moldy” homes are three times more likely to develop asthma by age 7—an age that children can be accurately diagnosed with the condition. Study results are published in the August issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).  

“Early life exposure to mold seems to play a critical role in childhood asthma development,” says Tiina Reponen, PhD, lead study author and University of Cincinnati (UC) professor of environmental health. “Genetic factors are also important to consider in asthma risk, since infants whose parents have an allergy or asthma are at the greatest risk of developing asthma.”

UC and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center researchers analyzed seven years of comprehensive data for 176 children to evaluate the effects of mold exposure in early life.

The children were part of the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS), a long-term population-based study that included more than 700 children from the Greater Cincinnati area. CCAAPS looked at the effects of environmental particles on childhood respiratory health and allergy development. Participants were identified during infancy as at high risk to develop allergies based on family medical history.

Mold exposure levels were measured using a DNA-based analysis tool developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—the environmental relative moldiness index (ERMI). The tool combines results of the analysis of 36 different types of mold into one index, which describes the mold burden in the homes. This index was used to determine the impact of mold exposure on the respiratory health of study participants. 

Eighteen percent of children enrolled in CCAAPS were found to be asthmatic at age 7.

It is estimated that about 9 percent of school-age children in the United States will develop asthma; however, studies have shown that rates are often higher in children from poor, urban families. The disease cannot be accurately diagnosed until age 7 and the causes are not completely known.

”The symptoms of pediatric asthma range from a nagging cough that lingers for days or weeks to sudden  episodes of shortness of breath and wheezing that require emergency treatment,” says allergist David Bernstein, MD, study co-author,  UC professor of internal medicine and ACAAI fellow.  “If a young child’s symptoms persist and keep coming back, that’s a clue that it could be asthma.”

According to the ACAAI, common symptoms of asthma include:

• Coughing, especially at night
• Wheezing or whistling sound, especially when breathing out
• Trouble breathing or fast breathing that causes the skin around the ribs or neck to pull in tightly
• Frequent colds that settle in the chest

“This study should motivate expectant parents—especially if they have a family history of allergy or asthma—to correct water damage and reduce the mold burden in their homes to protect the respiratory health of their children,” adds Reponen.