The peanut pill, Palforzia, has been approved by the FDA, so what are food allergy patients supposed to think? Here is what we know: Palforzia is a patented capsule that contains peanut flour. It is prescribed to treat ages 4 to 17 with a confirmed diagnosis of peanut allergy through an oral desensitization process called oral immunotherapy (OIT). The goal is to be slowly desensitized to 300 mg of peanut protein or approximately one peanut . The process includes allergy office visits every 2 weeks for dose increases and observation during the initial build up phase. Because of the risk of severe allergic reactions, Palforzia will only be available through a restricted program called the Palforzia Risk Evaluation and Mitig ation Strategy (REMS) program. Allergists prescribing Palforzia as well as patient’s taking the d rug will be required to participate in the REMS program. Family Allergy & Asthma Care and the Food Allergy Institute have already started the process to become REMS certified. After completion of a buildup phase , Palforzia will help mitigate allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, that may occur with accidental exposure to peanuts . Those who take Palforzia must continue to avoid peanuts in their diet. Studies have shown than 67.2% of Palforzia desensitized patients tolerate d an oral challenge of two peanuts. The list price for Palforzia has been set at $890 per month or $11,000 per year , with the potential for a copay assistance program This will not cover office visits for administration of the product in a safe environment. Palforzia is not yet available for purchase, but it will likely be available within in the next few months. Great News The great news is that Family Allergy & Asthma Care and the Food Allergy Institute already offer peanut oral immunotherapy treatment programs! The OIT program at FAI uses real peanuts and peanut products like peanut flour and peanut butter to safely accomplish desensitization. In addition, FAI provides desensitization to multiple other foods including all tree nuts, egg, milk, wheat, and sesame in children (as young as 12 months) as well as adults....

Having a food allergy during the holiday season can be overwhelming. Here are a few tips: If you are hosting a holiday party, check with your guest. If someone is dealing with a food allergy, offer food allergy friendly options. If you are attending a holiday party, let your hostess know and bring your own food allergy safe item. Always carry your epinephrine injector. Happy Holidays! Have questions or concerns? Family Allergy & Asthma Care board-certified allergists and staff are here to help. Contact us today! Phone 972.539.0086 or email info@faaccares.com  

"I’m going to kill you with this peanut butter cracker.” As an allergist and mom of a child with food allergy, I was shocked and disturbed by this headline quote. The idea of food being used as a weapon is horrifying. School should be a safe environment for all kids, including the 8% who suffer from food allergy. Unfortunately, a food allergic child must navigate a minefield of food exposures every day: in the cafeteria, in vending machines, at school parties, used as crafts, and traded with friends.  An accidental exposure can result in severe or fatal consequences. Bullies do use food as a weapon. Why does this happen? One reason is false assumptions about food allergy. Some people think that food allergies aren’t real, minimize the seriousness, or think they are exaggerated.  Parents of children with food allergies can be perceived as over-protective. Media can portray food allergy sufferers in a negative way -often as the joke of the scene, trivializing the disease. To an uninformed child who doesn’t understand the danger of food allergy, threatening another child with food seems like an effective intimidation tactic without serious consequences. Unfortunately, 57% of bullying incidents of allergic kids involve the actual dangerous food.  Bullies may wave the food in their face, slip it into their food, or contaminate work space or craft items. The worst examples include forcible touching and force-feeding. In 2017, a boy in England died from anaphylaxis after being exposed to his food allergen at the hands of his classmates. The classmates said they were unaware of the nature of his allergy, and investigators concluded that the school had missed an opportunity to educate students about the seriousness of food allergy. This incident was a tragedy for all involved, including the children who accidentally triggered a classmate’s death. This article  is a legal analysis discussing that parents of bullies who use food allergies against victims may be liable for their child’s conduct, specifically when the parents  become aware of  their child’s bullying behavior and fail to take adequate steps to stop it. Failure to act encourages...

We can't wait to see you again this year for our FREE 4th Annual Food Allergy Friendly Trunk Or Treat hosted by Food Allergy Institute of North Texas and Family Allergy & Asthma Care on October 28, 2019 at our Flower Mound office! In addition to treats that are FREE OF THE TOP 8 ALLERGENS (egg, peanut, milk, fish, nut, soybean, shellfish, wheat), we will have fun games, a firetruck, kid-friendly prizes, and the fan-favorite Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train! Share the Facebook event to invite family and friends.

When you have an allergy, your immune system overreacts to a substance (allergen) to which you are exposed. Allergy testing can provide useful information which an allergist can then use to treat your symptoms.

Sinuses are hollow spaces in the bones of your face. The lining of the sinuses normally makes small amounts of mucus. Inflammation in the sinuses leads to swelling and extra mucus. Symptoms of sinusitis, also called rhinosinusitis, include:

Medications affect each of us in different ways, and reactions to drugs are very common. However, not all reactions are allergies. This is important because the type of reaction you are having (an allergy, a side effect, or intolerance) will determine what medications you can take in the future.

Patch tests are used to identify substances which cause a type of allergy called delayed-type hypersensitivity. A chronic or worsening skin rash is the most common reason a patch test is done.

Penicillin is one of the most commonly reported drug allergies. However, at least 80% of people who were penicillin allergic will no longer be allergic 10 years after the reaction. In fact, 95% of people labeled allergic turn out to have negative testing and can take penicillin again without problems. Simply avoiding penicillin anyway may sound simple, but there are risks:

Your immune system is constantly fighting germs that could cause infections. While everyone’s immune system loses a battle occasionally, suffering from lots of infections, or even just a few very severe infections, can be a sign of an immune system problem.