Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is an allergic reaction that occurs in the mouth commonly to fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts. The symptoms include rapid onset (within minutes) of itching or burning sensation in the lips, mouth, and ear canal, swelling of the lips and tongue, and a sensation of tightness in the throat. OAS is…
Asthma is a disease that makes breathing difficult for 2.4 million Canadians. It is caused by excessive inflammation and abnormally thick airway walls. There are numerous known risk factors for asthma including genetics but much is still unknown about the development of the disease. Asthma is part of the atopic march, a phenomenon that often…
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is required for the body to absorb minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron) from your diet. While some foods contain vitamin D humans get most of their vitamin D from exposure to the sun and UVB. Without enough vitamin D a person can develop Rickett’s, a disease that causes…
It wasn’t that long ago that having a family history of allergies meant that the family dog or cat must go. The thought was that their presence would aggravate allergies and that a clean house free of dust and allergens could prevent children from developing allergies. How the times have changed, there is now plenty…
Allergic diseases like asthma, eczema, and food allergies are on the rise and many parents are keen to find ways to prevent at risk children from developing them. Studies have shown that exposure to farm animals and pets early in life can reduce the risk of developing asthma and that exposure to peanuts during pregnancy…
Every winter flu season descends upon us making our lives miserable for a couple weeks. The flu, or influenza, is a lung infection that causes symptoms of fever, cough, sneezing, body aches, fatigue, and headaches. Contrary to popular belief, the flu has nothing to do with your gut and does not make you throw up.…
Current rates of food allergies are 3-4% for adults and 5% for children and they have been steadily rising for that past 10-15 years. Common allergens include peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, and shellfish. There is surely a genetic component to food allergies as demonstrated by the fact that children are up to 7 times more…
Seasonal allergies are the bane of many people’s summer plans. Your eyes are red and itchy, your nose doesn’t stop running, and you are afraid you will sneeze yourself unconscious. Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, affect around 10% to 30% of the world’s population. Seasonal allergies occur when your body…
Sensitization to food allergens often occurs early in the preschool years. While not all kids who develop food sensitivities end up with full-blown allergies, it is often considered the precursor to the development of allergies and asthma. These conditions are typically grouped together under the term atopic disease because of their tendency to be caused by…
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergy to common food products that causes patients who come in contact with an allergen to be affected across multiple organ systems. The symptoms can include: hives, swelling, itching of the skin, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, weak pulse, pale colour, and potentially death. Anaphylactic allergies to peanuts…
