Management Of The Allergic Patient

This new reference provides up-to-date, disease-specific diagnostic and treatment protocols in a new, full-color, heavily illustrated reference. Provides quick access to key anatomy, tests, and management protocols in the clinical setting. Allows the user to compare common presentations and quickly reference the latest in diagnosis and treatment options with over 300 clinical and diagnostic algorithms, photographs, charts, and tables.

Over the past 20 years, public concerns have grown in response to the apparent rising prevalence of food allergy and related atopic conditions, such as eczema. Although evidence on the true prevalence of food allergy is complicated by insufficient or inconsistent data and studies with variable methodologies, many health care experts who care for patients agree that a real increase in food allergy has occurred and that it is unlikely to be due simply to an increase in awareness and better tools for diagnosis. Many stakeholders are concerned about these increases, including the general public, policy makers, regulatory agencies, the food industry, scientists, clinicians, and especially families of children and young people suffering from food allergy. At the present time, however, despite a mounting body of data on the prevalence, health consequences, and associated costs of food allergy, this chronic disease has not garnered the level of societal attention that it warrants. Moreover, for patients and families at risk, recommendations and guidelines have not been clear about preventing exposure or the onset of reactions or for managing this disease. Finding a Path to Safety in Food Allergy examines critical issues related to food allergy, including the prevalence and severity of food allergy and its impact on affected individuals, families, and communities; and current understanding of food allergy as a disease, and in diagnostics, treatments, prevention, and public policy. This report seeks to: clarify the nature of the disease, its causes, and its current management; highlight gaps in knowledge; encourage the implementation of management tools at many levels and among many stakeholders; and delineate a roadmap to safety for those who have, or are at risk of developing, food allergy, as well as for others in society who are responsible for public health.

It hardly seems that three years have passed since the publication of the first edition of Allergic Diseases: Diagnosis and Treatment. We are gratified that it was enough of a success to warrant the second edition. As with the first, this edition is intended for the "front-line" physician who cares for the allergic patient. We have tried, once again, to make it as "user friendly" and clinically oriented as possible. Our approach to the principles of pathophysiology is intended to allow them to be easily applied to the rationale for therapy. The major intent therefore is still to help the primary care physician deal with the day-to-day management of the allergic patient. The arrangement of this text is similar to that of the first edition, with the major emphasis being on common allergic diseases and the pharmacologic tools we use to control them. To this end two new chapters have been added, one on antihistamines and the other on antileukotrienes. In addition, a new chapter has been added to help the physician deal with the child who experiences recurrent respiratory tract infections. Many of the authors, because of the superb job they did with their first contributions, have been asked for an encore. However, to keep our approach fresh, some of these authors have been asked to write different chapters, and new contributors have been solicited.

More than 50 million Americans, one out of five, suffer from hay fever, asthma, and other allergic diseases. Many of these conditions are caused by exposure to allergens in indoor environments such as the house, work, and schoolâ€"where we spend as much as 98 percent of our time. Developed by medical, public health, and engineering professionals working together, this unique volume summarizes what is known about indoor allergens, how they affect human health, the magnitude of their effect on various populations, and how they can be controlled. The book addresses controversies, recommends research directions, and suggests how to assist and educate allergy patients, as well as professionals. Indoor Allergens presents a wealth of information about common indoor allergens and their varying effects, from significant hay fever to life-threatening asthma. The volume discusses sources of allergens, from fungi and dust mites to allergenic chemicals, plants, and animals, and examines practical measures for their control. Indoor Allergens discusses how the human airway and immune system respond to inhaled allergens and assesses patient testing methods, covering the importance of the patient's medical history and outlining procedures and approaches to interpretation for skin tests, in vitro diagnostic tests, and tests of patients' pulmonary function. This comprehensive and practical volume will be important to allergists and other health care providers; public health professionals; specialists in building design, construction, and maintenance; faculty and students in public health; and interested allergy patients.

Allergic diseases affect nearly one-fourth of the population and cause or contribute to significant chronic illness. Allergic diseases are common and are seen by a wide variety of health care providers. In Clinical Allergy: Diagnosis and Management, the author provides a practical clinical overview for the common disorders encountered in the specialty of Allergy. Designed to be easily readable and to provide clinically applicable information for both the nonallergist and allergist, the intent is to unravel the mystery of allergy. The introductory chapters focus on the human immune response, environmental allergens, and the different types of allergy testing. The subsequent chapters focus on the common allergic conditions seen in the office or clinic, including rhinitis and rhinosinusitis, allergic eye disease, asthma, urticaria and angioedema, atopic and contact dermatitis, drug allergy, food allergy, anaphylaxis, and stinging insect allergy. "Cross-talk" between chapters helps show the interrelationships among the various allergic disorders. The chapters begin with a review of pathophysiologic mechanisms and then consider a clinically structured approach to diagnosis and management of the disorders. In addition to pharmacologic treatment, the importance of nonpharmacologic management and patient education is emphasized. At the end of each chapter, clinical vignettes highlight the daily management of the allergic patient. Clinical Allergy: Diagnosis and Management, provides a logical framework for the evaluation and management of allergic disorders in patients.

This volume provides allergy and dermatology specialists with a practical guide to the correct patch test methodology for their day-to-day clinical practice: it includes the latest available hapten series (standard series and integrative series), the golden rules for concentration and conservation of the haptens themselves, and the indispensable test equipment. The book, coming in a handy softcover format, is also nicely illustrated with over 100 full color pictures and tables. The contents focus on the interpretation of the epicutaneous test reading as well, relating to clinical relevance of the reactions and granting a correct management of the allergic patient. Practical Guide to Patch Testing will be of great value to all practicing allergists or dermatologists and professionals related.