Anaphylactic reactions to Hymenoptera venom are relatively uncommon but can be life-threatening: venom immunotherapy is the treatment of choice. The primary allergen in honeybee venom is phospholipase A2 (Api m 1) and that of the vespid venoms (yellow jacket, hornet, wasp) is antigen 5 (Ves v 5). Another clinically important insect is the imported fire ant (also a member of the Hymenoptera family). Allergy to the imported fire ant is being reported increasingly often from the USA, Australia and South East Asia. (more…)

The most important aspect of managing food allergies in children and babies is to be sure that the developing child has each and every nutrient that is essential for its optimum growth and development. Deficiency in a critical nutrient in the early days can have enormous negative consequences that can, in some instances, last a lifetime. The words of a British group of practitioners eloquently express this most important aspect of infant feeding: (more…)

Oral allergy syndrome has been most often reported in people who have respiratory allergy (such as hay fever) to specific plant pollens. The pollens most often implicated are produced by :

• Birch and alder trees
• Ragweed (more…)

It is now almost a century since the pioneering work of Noon and Freeman was used to successfully treat hay fever symptoms using a low-dose incremental schedule of pollen injections. Noon based his doses of pollen extract on a pollen weight unit that remained in use for over 70 years; (more…)

Innate immune responses are seen in a very broad range of tissues. Indeed, the Toll-like receptors (TLRs, one of the most important series of innate immune response proteins, described in detail below) are probably represented at some level in every cell in the body. Even before such systems are engaged, however, other levels of defense have important roles in mediating successful immunity. (more…)

After long-term avoidance of the offending foods, many children outgrow their food allergies. Subsequent periodic challenge with asthma foods to avoid, the offending food should therefore be undertaken to determine whether your child remains allergic to it. The results of skin and blood tests tend to remain positive long after symptoms have resolved, so direct challenge with the offending food is usually necessary. (more…)

The allergen extracts used for diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases. In the process of fabricating of allergen extracts, it is important to apply the standards to address the variability nature of the materials. Other important consideration is to look for the way to reproduce and control the optimum safety and efficaciousness when used in clinics. (more…)

Nerve fibers containing a variety of neuropeptides, including substance P and CGRP, have been demonstrated in human skin. Intradermal injection of substance P results in an immediate wheal-and-flare reaction , whereas the main effect of CGRP is a long-lasting (4–6 hours) intense erythema. Additionally, CGRP potentiates edema formation evoked by mediators such as substance P. (more…)

While our primary concern is the impact that the innate immune system has on allergic disease, it is essential to recognize that allergic disease also impacts on the function- ing of the innate immune system. In part this is through treatment, since immunosuppressive therapies inevitably contribute to impairment of immunity at the levels of the innate and adaptive systems. (more…)

After nasal allergen challenge, substance P and CGRP are released into nasal secretions of atopic patients . In allergic rhinitis patients, but not in normal control subjects, exogenous substance P induces nasal obstruction. (more…)