Questions and Answers in Allergy and Immunology

Editor: V. Dimov, M.D.

Most of the Questions and Answers have been selected from the Ask the Expert section of the AAAAI website.

Food Allergy

Anaphylaxis caused by inhalation of allergen. AAAAI, 05/2010.

Possible allergic reaction to rennet in cheese. AAAAI, 04/2010.

Avoidance of peanuts in a cashew-sensitive patient. AAAAI, 05/2010.
Educational posters for allergy to foods. AAAAI, 06/2010.

Urticaria

Treatment of difficult case of chronic idiopathic urticaria. AAAAI, 05/2010.

Treatment of chronic urticaria and abnormal thyroid function tests with levothyroxine. AAAAI, 06/2010.

Angioedema

Safety data on ecallantide, icatibant and C1 inhibitor use during pregnancy: category C. AAAAI, 07/2010.

Drug allergy

Sensitivity to Advil and perhaps other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. AAAA, 04/2010.
Skin testing for penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics. AAAAI, 04/2010.

Possible adverse reaction to HFA albuterol inhaler. AAAAI, 04/2010.

Desensitization to 5-aminosalicylic acid. AAAAI, 05/2010.

Possible anaphylaxis to oseltamivir (Tamiflu). AAAAI, 05/2010.

Possible allergy to trimethoprim. AAAAI, 05/2010.

Adverse reactions to HAART drugs used to treat HIV and AIDS. AAAAI, 05/2010.

Anaphylaxis to Cidex (ortho-phthalaldehyde) used to disinfect cystoscopy equipment. AAAAI, 06/2010.

History of allergic reaction to a sulfonamide antibiotic does not increase the specific risk of reacting to hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). AAAAI, 06/2010.

Possible reaction to ingestion of high dose ergocalciferol (vitamin D). AAAAI, 07/2010.

Allergic reactions to intravenous iron preparations. AAAAI, 08/2010.

Pregnant patient with a history of a local anesthetic reaction who must receive epidural. AAAAI, 08/2010.

Insect stings

Timing of skin testing after hymenoptera sting anaphylaxis. AAAAI, 05/2010.

Doses of venom utilized in venom immunotherapy. AAAAI, 05/2010.

Anaphylaxis to black ant, also called Chinese needle ant or giant needle ant. AAAAI, 07/2010.

Duration of venom immunotherapy to fire ant. AAAAI, 08/2010.

Skin prick test

Serotonin uptake inhibitors, for example, sertraline (Zoloft), do not affect the immediate hypersensitivity skin tests. AAAAI, 05/2010.

Omalizumab decreases skin test reactivity and specific IgEs. AAAAI, 06/2010.

Mucosal versus connective tissue mast cells. AAAAI, 06/2010.

What is the duration of effect of antihistamines on allergy skin tests? AAAAI, 07/2010.

Sensitivity of epicutaneous skin testing for foods. AAAAI, 08/2010.

Specific IgE or ImmunoCAP test

Omalizumab decreases skin test reactivity and specific IgEs. AAAAI, 06/2010.

Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT)

Reactions to allergy injections. AAAAI, 04/2010.

Patients on ACE inhibitors receiving immunotherapy. AAAAI, 05/2010.

Increased incidence of immunotherapy reactions to aeroallergen immunotherapy administered by the rush technique. AAAAI, 05/2010.

Any side effects from inadvertent allergy injection containing an allergen to which the patient was not sensitive? AAAAI, 07/2010.

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis to anti-aging moisturizer. AAAAI, 04/2010.

Contact dermatitis to tape adhesive. AAAAI, 05/2010.

Eosinophilic esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis treatment with fluticasone - for how long?

Immunodeficiency

Antibody response (tieters) to pneumococcal vaccine. AAAAI, 05/2010.

What is an adequate response to pneumococcal immunization? AAAAI, 07/2010.

Is fever a contraindication to giving intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)? AAAAI, 06/2010.

Immunology

Workup of systemic mastocytosis. AAAAI, 06/2010.

Is Raynaud's Syndrome a Contraindication to Immunotherapy? AAAAI, 06/2010.

Vaccines and immunization

Antibody response (tieters) to pneumococcal vaccine. AAAAI, 05/2010.

What is an adequate response to pneumococcal immunization? AAAAI, 07/2010.

Anaphylaxis to human papillomavirus vaccine. AAAAI, 06/2010.

Urticaria angioedema after hapatitis B vaccination. AAAAI, 07/2010.

Medicolegal questions

Medical authorization consent forms for minors. AAAAI, 04/2010.

Ineffective or unapproved methods

Controversial techniques in allergy: the neutralization/provocation test. AAAAI, 04/2010.

Published: 04/22/2010
Updated: 08/10/2010