Allergy & Asthma Specialists of Kansas City

If you or a family member has food allergies, it's important to know what to look for in food labels and avoid exposure. Here is a good read to bring you up to speed! https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/how-read-food-label

Now that the spring has sprung, you may be seeing stinging insects hovering around your house or in the yard. If you have been stung by one of more of these insects and have had an allergic reaction, you may be allergic to their venom and future exposures may be life threatening. There is testing and specific therapy for stinging insect venom allergy. If that is you, please call our office for a consultation and further evaluation

Please note that we will be not be administering allergy shots on Wednesday April, 7th. If you come in on Wednesdays for your shots, you can still receive them a day before or after so that you don't miss the dose. Thank you!

All symptoms induced by food ingestion are not food allergies. High FODMAP diet is one category of foods that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and cause perception of food allergies. Here is a helpful read! Call us if you need evaluation for FOOD allergies and intolerance

Here Are A Few Tasty Peanut Butter Alternatives for Peanut Allergy Patients: 1. Wow Butter (Soy based spread, made in nut free facility) 2. Sun Butter (Sunflower based spread, Free from top 8 food allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, fish, shellfish and soy) 3. Barney Butter (Almond based spread, Peanut-Free, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free)

If you have allergies and lately have been feeling that spring has arrived; you are not mistaken. Tree pollen levels have started to rise in the air with maple pollen leading the pack. Please call us at 816-453-7771 to get the relief you need so you can enjoy the outdoors this spring season!

We will be closed on Dec 31st in the afternoon, office will still be open in the morning. Last shot will be given at 12:30 pm. Happy New Year everyone!!

Cow's milk allergy is the most common food allergy in infants and young children. Did you know that successful introduction of baked milk to milk allergic patients is associated with accelerated resolution of milk allergy? If you or a family member has cow's milk allergy, please reach out to your allergist to see if you are a candidate for baked milk challenge!

House dust mites (HDM) never go out of season, but fall and winter are the times to focus on HDM allergy: 1. HDM are the most common cause of allergic rhinitis in the US 2. Four out of five US households contain detectable levels of HDM 3. Five out of 10 patients with allergic rhinitis are sensitized to HDM allergens ... 4. HDM like warm and humid environment 5. Symptoms caused by HDM worsen during cooler months because heating systems stir dust into the air that contains remains of dead HDM's Besides environmental modifications, oral or injectable immunotherapy is the most effective treatment options for HDM allergy. Please consult with your Allergist to discuss which treatment option is best for you!

ACAAI Guidance on Risk of Allergic Reactions to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine December 14, 2020 Reactions to vaccines, in general, are rare with the incidence of anaphylaxis estimated at 1.31 in 1 million doses given. With the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by the FDA on December 11, 2020, the ACAAI COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force recommends the following guidance for physicians and other providers related to risk of an allergic reaction on... vaccination. These recommendations are based on best knowledge to date but could change at any time, pending new information and further guidance from the FDA or CDC. 1. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine should be administered in a health care setting where anaphylaxis can be treated. All individuals must be observed for at least 20-30 minutes after injection to monitor for any adverse reaction. All anaphylactic reactions should be managed immediately with IM epinephrine as the first line treatment. 2. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine should not be administered to individuals with a known history of a severe allergic reaction to polyethylene glycol as it is a component of this vaccine known to cause anaphylaxis. 3. Data related to risk in individuals with a history of allergic reactions to previous vaccinations and/or mast cell activation syndrome/idiopathic anaphylaxis is very limited and evolving. A clinical decision to administer the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine should be undertaken by the physician or other provider administering the vaccine using their professional judgment and in consultation with the patient, balancing the benefits and risks associated with taking the vaccine. 4. Individuals with common allergies to medications, foods, inhalants, insects and latex are no more likely than the general public to have an allergic reaction to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Those patients should be informed of the benefits of the vaccine versus its risks. 5. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is not a live vaccine and can be administered to immunocompromised patients. Physicians and other providers should inform such immunocompromised patients of the possibility of a diminished immune response to the vaccine. 6. Anyone with questions related to the risk of an allergic reaction to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine should contact their local board-certified allergist/immunologist.

Get Your Flu Shot! It's not too late to get a flu shot. This season, getting vaccinated for the flu is more important than ever. A flu shot can prevent illness, medical office visits and hospitalizations that can put additional strain on health care resources and workers. A flu vaccine is the greatest protection available for those at higher risk for developing serious flu complications: pregnant women, people with a chronic health condition, young children, and adul...ts 65 years and older. While some people who get vaccinated still get sick, flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce the severity of illness. See more

With all the rain we have had this summer in combination with elevated temperatures, mold spore counts have been consistently high; either right next to grass pollen counts or even higher. We are just starting to see ragweed and other weed pollen counts to rise. Looks like fall is upon us!!

****We're Moving**** Starting Thursday Dec 24th, we will be at our new location: 200 NE 54th Street, Suite 120 Kansas City, MO 64118 (just 1 mile south of of our current location)... We look forward to seeing you there!! See more

COVID-19 and children: As you all are hearing some sources stating children either don't catch COVID-19 or are unable to transmit it to other people. This could not be farther from the truth and is misleading. Any human being who can cough or sneeze and harbors COVID-19 can transmit the virus regardless of their age. Immune system is also weaker at extremes of age so children and elderly are in fact vulnerable population when it comes to COVID-19. Currently the best treatment is actually not to get the virus and only prevention is wearing masks, hand hygiene and social distancing.

CDC updates, expands list of people at risk of severe COVID-19 illness: https://www.cdc.gov//20/p0625-update-expands-covid-19.html

Saharan Dust Storm; guidance for allergy & asthma patients: https://acaai.org//%E2%80%9Csaharan-plume%E2%80%9D-brings-

We now require all patients to wear face masks in our office. Patients will be bringing their own masks and cloth masks are acceptable. We will re-schedule appointments for patients who are not wearing masks and this is applicable to allergy shot patients as well. Thank you for your cooperation!

An estimated 7.2% of adults and 10.7% of children in the US have Atopic Dermatitis commonly known as Eczema. 46% of patients report uncontrolled symptoms. Moderate to severe Atopic Dermatitis has significant social, emotional and occupational impact, greatly affecting quality of life for these patients and their families. If you are 6 years of age or above and have moderate to severe uncontrolled Atopic Dermatitis, you may be a candidate for DUPIXENT. Please call our office to inquire further.

We now offer Immunotherapy for peanut allergy!! "PALFORZIA" is the first and only FDA approved immunotherapy for peanut allergy. Call and schedule an appointment to see if you are a candidate!

CLOTH MASKS & COVID-19 TRANSMISSION (Please wear mask to show that you CARE!!) https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/931253

https://thehill.com//491498-human-testing-beginning-on-sec

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org//mayo-clinic-named-nat/

https://www.allergyasthmanetwork.org/albuterol-inhalers-s/

Know COVID-19 symptoms from allergy symptoms https://www.aaaai.org//Ima/Promos/Coronavirus-Symptoms.pdf