SWINE FLU AND YOU

Questions & Answers: Swine Influenza Info from the Centers for Disease Control

What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.
How serious is swine flu infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

Is this swine flu virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands — with soap and warm water — that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn’t need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
* Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
* Sudden dizziness
* Confusion
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Time for Spring Allergies

Pollen Grains

From the AAAI Rhinitis Tips:
Do you have bouts of sneezing and itching, or a runny or stuffy nose that do not seem to go away? If so, you may have rhinitis.

Rhinitis is one of the most common illnesses in the United States , affecting more than 50 million people. It often coexists with other respiratory disorders, such as asthma. Rhinitis has a significant impact on the quality of life of those who suffer from it. In addition, it can contribute to other conditions such as sinus problems, ear problems, sleep problems, and learning problems. In patients with asthma, uncontrolled rhinitis seems to make asthma worse.

Allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is caused by substances that we breathe called allergens. Allergens are usually harmless substances that can cause problems only in some people. These problems are caused because the immune system of people with allergic rhinitis mistakenly identifies these substances as intruders and generates a reaction against them. During this reaction, the immune system cells release substances such as histamine and leukotrienes that cause the symptoms of allergic rhinitis; these and other substances also cause inflammation in the nasal lining that makes the nose very sensitive to irritants such as smoke and strong odors or to changes in the temperature and humidity of the air.

Causes:

1. When allergic rhinitis is caused by common outdoor allergens, such as airborne tree, grass and weed pollens or mold, it is called seasonal allergic rhinitis, or “hay fever.”
2. Allergic rhinitis is also triggered by common indoor allergens, such as animal dander (dried skin flakes and saliva), indoor mold, droppings from dust mites and cockroach particles. This is called perennial allergic rhinitis.

Symptoms

Sneezing
Stuffy nose (congestion)
Runny nose
Itching in the nose, roof of the mouth, throat, eyes and ears
Diagnosis
If you have symptoms of allergic rhinitis, an allergist/immunologist can help determine which specific allergens are triggering your illness. He or she will take a thorough health history, and then test use to determine if you have allergies. Skin tests or blood tests are the most common methods for determining your allergic rhinitis triggers.

What to Do During Pollen Season:
When outdoor pollens are high, remain indoors, particularly in the late morning. Pollen grains can cause significant allergic symptoms like asthma and allergic rhinitis, particularly during the spring and the fall. It is difficult to avoid pollen because it is windborne and can cover wide distances. Short of moving to a different location, here are some tips for avoiding pollen during the season.

1. The pollen count is usually highest in the late morning and early afternoon particularly during sunny, windy days. The pollen count measures the concentration of a specific pollen like birch tree pollen, in the area in a specific area and time. A pollen count is a useful guide for when it is advisable to stay indoors and avoid contact with pollen.
2. Keep the windows and doors closed during the allergy season.
3. Install a room air conditioner with a special filter.The special filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air or HEPA filter) traps airborne allergens. If the house does not have central air, the best spot to put the air conditioner and filter would be the bedroom. Change the filters frequently. An allergic person should also use the car air conditioner to decrease pollen exposure when commuting. Pollen allergic persons should not have a window fan blowing into their bedroom as this will maintain outdoor pollen exposure all night.
4. Avoid working outdoors, if you must wear a special face mask. The face mask is designed to filter pollen out of the air and keep it from reaching the nasal passages.
5. Consider taking a vacation at the height of the pollen season. Preferably at a location where the pollen exposure is minimal, like the seashore.

Links: Allergy Medications
Info on Allergy Shots

Q&A:Transition from CFC Propelled Albuterol Inhalers to

from the FDA Albuterol info page:
Albuterol inhalers that contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) will not be sold in the U.S. after December 31, 2008. Albuterol inhalers that contain hydrofluoroalkanes (HFAs) will take the place of albuterol CFC inhalers. Here are some questions and answers to help you understand the change.
Why are albuterol CFC inhalers being phased out?
The phase out of albuterol CFC inhalers is due to an international agreement called the “Montreal
Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer” at http://www.fda.gov/cder/mdi/albuterol.htm. CFCs are harmful to the environment because they decrease the protective ozone layer above the Earth.
When will albuterol CFC inhalers be gone?
Albuterol CFC inhalers will not be sold in the United States after December 31, 2008. The company
that makes albuterol CFC inhalers is expected to stop making albuterol CFC inhalers before then. People who are using albuterol CFC inhalers should talk with their health care professional now about switching to an albuterol HFA inhaler. There are enough albuterol HFA inhalers for everyone who needs them.
What hydrofluoroalkane inhalers (HFA) (non-CFC albuterol inhalers) are available?
There are three albuterol HFA inhalers that FDA has approved as safe and effective:
ProAir (albuterol sulfate) HFA Inhalation Aerosol•
Proventil HFA (albuterol sulfate) Inhalation Aerosol •
Ventolin (albuterol sulfate) HFA Inhalation Aerosol•
Also available is Xopenex HFA (levalbuterol tartrate) Inhalation Aerosol that contains the active form
of albuterol and does the same thing as albuterol.
Patients in the United States have been using HFA inhalers safely and effectively since 1998.
How are albuterol HFA inhalers the same as albuterol CFC inhalers?
Albuterol HFA inhalers are used in the same way as albuterol CFC inhalers and give the same dose of albuterol as the CFC inhalers. Albuterol HFA inhalers are safe and effective for the same FDA approved uses: treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in patients with reversible obstructive airway disease, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
How are albuterol HFA inhalers different from albuterol CFC inhalers?
CFCs are used as propellants (spray) to move the albuterol medicine out of the inhaler so patients
can breathe the medicine into their lungs. HFAs are a different type of propellant (spray). The albuterol and levalbuterol HFA inhalers have a different propellant called hydrofluoroalkane (HFA). Albuterol
HFA and albuterol CFC inhalers may taste and feel different. The force of the spray may feel softer
from albuterol HFA than from albuterol CFC inhalers. Each of the HFA inhalers is different (see table).
Albuterol HFA inhalers have to be cleaned and primed to work in the right way and give the right dose
of medicine. Each HFA inhaler has different instructions for cleaning and priming. The patient
information that comes with each inhaler tells you how to clean and prime your inhaler.

Albuterol and Levalbuterol HFA Inhalers
ProAir HFA
Proventil HFA
Ventolin HFA
Xopenex HFA
Active ingredient
Albuterol sulfate
Albuterol sulfate
Albuterol sulfate
Levalbuterol tartrate
Inactive ingredients
HFA propellant
alcohol
HFA propellant
alcohol
oleic acid
HFA propellant
HFA propellant
alcohol
oleic acid
Dose Counter
No
No
Yes
No
Priming required
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Cleaning required
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Why is cleaning and priming my albuterol HFA inhaler important?
Cleaning the inhaler to prevent clogging and properly priming the albuterol HFA inhaler are very important to make sure that the medicine sprays from the inhaler so you can breathe it into your lungs. Each albuterol HFA inhaler comes with directions for washing, drying the mouthpiece (part that goes in your mouth) and priming. There are some differences between brands of inhalers, so you will need to follow the directions that come with each inhaler.
What should I do if I have problems with my albuterol HFA inhaler?
First, remember that the force of the spray from the albuterol HFA may feel different. Make sure you wash, dry, and prime the inhaler as described in the directions that come in each package. If you have problems using your albuterol HFA inhaler, talk to your health care professional as a different product may be right for you.
If the spray feels different, how will I know if my HFA inhaler is working in the right way?
It is important to remember that it is the deep breath that you take with each puff that gets the medication into your lungs, not the force of the spray. The spray from an albuterol HFA inhaler may feel softer than the spray from an albuterol CFC inhaler but this will not affect the amount of drug that
you breathe into your lungs. The spray from an albuterol CFC inhaler often hits the back of the mouth. The spray from an HFA inhaler is a fine mist that may actually be easier to breathe into your lungs
compared to a CFC inhaler.
The HFA inhalers cost more than the CFC inhalers. What can I do if it’s hard for me to pay for my HFA inhaler?
Talk to your health care professional about programs to help patients get medicines they need. •
Some drug companies have patient assistance programs that make medicines available to
• patients at no cost, or at a lower cost.
Some patients may be able to get help paying for medicines from the Centers for Medicare & • Medicaid Services.
Is it safe to buy HFA inhalers over the internet?
Buying your medicine online can be easy, just make sure you do it safely. The Internet makes it possible to compare prices and buy products without leaving home. But when it comes to buying medicine online, it is important to be very careful. Some websites sell medicine that may not be safe to use and could put your health at risk. For more information please see our guide: “Buying Prescription Medicines Online: A Consumer Safety Guide” at http://www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide.DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES • USA
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration – http://www.fda.gov
Questions? Email: druginfo@fda.hhs.gov,
or call 1-888-INFOFDA

FAQ: Winter Itch/ Eczema

The chill air of winter is more than just a harbinger of the holidays and snowy days. It can also precipitate the dry, itchy skin some people get during the cold weather and often leads to flare- ups for people with concurrent skin problems like allergic eczema or psoriasis.

What Causes It?
Indoor heating dries the air. In winter people often take hotter baths and showers and stay in them longer to warm up.Many don’t drink enough fluids. When the air surrounding the skin is drier, water evaporates out more easily, drying the skin. Natural protective skin oil is dissolved and washed away by the use of strong soaps, such as antibacterial or deodorant soaps. Dry skin is more sensitive and easily irritated; it gets itchy, then scratching that itch can actually cause a rash.

What Do I Do?
It is better to wash only once every day or two in winter, and showering is preferred, as it is less drying than a tub bath. Use lukewarm, not hot water, and stay in for no longer than 10-15 minutes. After rinsing, apply a dye and fragrance free moisturizer such as Aquaphor or Vaseline all over your body while it’s still wet. Avoid moisturizers that contain alcohol, as they can actually dry the skin more. Recent studies have shown that people with eczema have less amounts of a lipid called Ceramide in their skin and replacing it in the correct proportion with a ceramide containing moisturizer helps relieve this condition.

How Can I Prevent It?
Re-apply your moisturizer repeatedly through the day to keep your skin from getting dry.Don’t overheat your environment. Use a humidifier or set out pans of water to moisten your air. Also drink extra water to humidify from the inside out. Avoid dehydration caused by drinking alcohol and by neglecting to replace fluids lost through sweating. Use a sunscreen cream on exposed areas if going out in the sun, even in winter. If your dry skin or rash isn’t better in a week or so, see your doctor.

What Else Could It Be?
What can be worse than winter itch? Having a severe skin disease. Eczema and psoriasis are severe skin conditions that get worse in the winter. Although eczema is more prevalent in children, it also affects 10 percent of the adult population. Eczema can be described as skin that is itchy, dry, scaly, red, crusty, inflamed and sometimes oozing.

There are three main forms of eczema:

1. Irritant Contact Dermatitis. People who fail to moisturize or wash their skin too frequently can easily irritate it. Skin becomes red and dry and anything including water and baby shampoo can distress it.

2. Atopic Dermatitis. This is an internal chronic inclination towards eczema and it tends to flare in the winter. This form usually starts in infancy and affects those who have a family history of allergies, asthma, or dry, sensitive skin. Many children grow out of it as they get older but it tends to flare up again when they are adults.

3. Allergic Contact Dermatitis. This form is less common and occurs after an allergic reaction to a substance such as rubber, nickel, lanolin or a fragrance. This type of allergy develops over time and your skin could develop an allergy to something that did not irritate it in the past.

Other less common forms of eczema include seborrhoeic eczema, which affects the scalp and eye-lashes as a severe form of dandruff; and discoid eczema, which causes circular patches of eczema over the body.

Allergy tests such as skin/ blood tests and/ or patch testing is available to identify possible triggers for various forms of eczema and to direct appropriate treatment.

LINK:
Atopic Dermatitis/ Eczema

Pediatric Guidelines Updated for Influenza Vaccination in 2008-2009 Season

From Medscape
News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD
CME Author: Penny Murata, MD

October 14, 2008 — The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued updated guidelines for routine use of influenza vaccine in children and adolescents in the 2008 to 2009 influenza season, according to a statement reported in the October 1 Early Release issue of Pediatrics. This update revises guidelines originally published in a comprehensive format in Pediatrics in April 2008.

The AAP recommends annual influenza immunization for all children aged 6 months through 18 years, including those who are healthy and those who have high-risk conditions; for household contacts and out-of-home care providers of children with high-risk conditions or of healthy children younger than 5 years; for any woman who will be pregnant during influenza season; and for healthcare professionals.

Since the April 2008 guidelines, the recommended age range of children for annual influenza immunization has been expanded in these updated guidelines to include all children aged 6 months through 18 years.

“This expansion targets all school-aged children, the population that bears the greatest disease burden and is at significantly higher risk of needing influenza-related medical care compared with healthy adults,” write AAP chairperson Joseph A. Bocchini, Jr, MD, and colleagues. “In addition, reducing influenza transmission among school-aged children will, in turn, reduce transmission of influenza to household contacts and community members.”

This expanded indication now means that the following groups should be vaccinated:

All children who are at greater risk for influenza complications, such as those who are immunosuppressed or who have chronic medical conditions.</li

All healthy children aged 6 through 59 months.</li

If feasible, all children aged 5 through 18 years should be vaccinated in the 2008 to 2009 influenza season. If not, these children should be routinely vaccinated no later than the 2009 to 2010 season.

Household members and out-of-home care providers of all children at high risk and adolescents and all healthy children younger than 5 years should also receive influenza vaccine annually to lower the risk for exposure to influenza for these young children, who are at serious risk for influenza infection, hospitalization, and sequelae. In healthy children younger than 24 months, the risk for influenza-associated hospitalization is at least as great as the risk in previously recognized high-risk groups. Furthermore, children aged 24 through 59 months have greater morbidity and higher rates of outpatient visits and antibiotic use related to influenza illness.

Influenza vaccine has not been approved for use in infants younger than 6 months. Clinicians should identify all children aged 6 months through 18 years, especially those at increased risk for complications related to influenza, and should inform their parents when annual influenza immunization is due.

All 3 strains in the 2008 to 2009 influenza vaccines are different from the 2007 to 2008 vaccine strains on the basis of global surveillance of circulating influenza strains.

Healthy children aged 2 through 18 years can receive either trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) or live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).

Age determines the number of influenza vaccine dose(s) to be administered, as follows:

Children aged at least 9 years who have not previously received the influenza vaccine require only 1 dose in their first season of immunization.

Any child younger than 9 years who is vaccinated against influenza for the first time should receive a second dose at least 4 weeks after the first.

Children younger than 9 years who received only 1 dose of influenza vaccine in the first season they were vaccinated should receive 2 doses of influenza vaccine the following season. This recommendation applies only to the influenza season after the first year that a child younger than 9 years is vaccinated against influenza.

For the 2008 to 2009 influenza season, oseltamivir or zanamivir are still the antiviral medications recommended for chemoprophylaxis or treatment. Because of widespread resistance among some circulating influenza A virus strains, and lack of efficacy against influenza B strains, amantadine or rimantadine should not be prescribed for treatment or chemoprophylaxis of influenza. Oseltamivir resistance has been reported but it is still very limited, so current antiviral treatment recommendations have not changed.

As soon as the influenza vaccine is available, it should be offered to all children, and immunization efforts should continue throughout the entire influenza season, even after influenza activity has been documented in a community. There may be more than 1 peak of activity during the same influenza season, which often extends into March and beyond. Immunization through May 1 can still protect vaccinees during that season and facilitates administration of a second dose of vaccine to children who require 2 doses during that season.

“Health care professionals, influenza campaign organizers, and public health agencies should cooperate to develop plans for expanding outreach and infrastructure to achieve the target immunization of all children 6 months through 18 years of age, beginning no later than the 2009-2010 influenza season,” the guidelines authors conclude. “Concerted effort among the aforementioned groups, plus vaccine manufacturers, distributors, and payers, also is necessary to appropriately prioritize administration of influenza vaccine whenever vaccine supplies are delayed or limited.”

Pediatrics. Published online October 1, 2008.

CDC reports food allergies increasing in US Kids

from the Associated Press
ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) — Food allergies in American children seem to be on the rise, now affecting about 3 million kids, according to the first federal study of the problem.

According to research, nearly 1 in 100 Americans react to peanuts, an allergy that generally persist for a lifetime.

But experts said that might be because parents are more aware and quicker to have their kids checked out by a doctor.

About 1 in 26 children had food allergies last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday. That’s up from 1 in 29 kids in 1997.

The 18 percent increase is significant enough to be considered more than a statistical blip, said Amy Branum of the CDC, the study’s lead author.

Nobody knows for sure what’s driving the increase. A doubling in peanut allergies — noted in earlier studies — is one factor, some experts said. Also, children seems to be taking longer to outgrow milk and egg allergies than they did in decades past.

But also figuring into the equation are parents and doctors who are more likely to consider food as the trigger for symptoms like vomiting, skin rashes and breathing problems. More on living with food allergies »

“A couple of decades ago, it was not uncommon to have kids sick all the time and we just said ‘They have a weak stomach’ or ‘They’re sickly,”‘ said Anne Munoz-Furlong, chief executive of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, a Virginia-based advocacy organization.

Parents today are quicker to take their kids to specialists to check out the possibility of food allergies, said Munoz-Furlong, who founded the nonprofit in 1991.

The CDC results came from an in-person, door-to-door survey in 2007 of the households of 9,500 U.S. children under age 18.

When asked if a child in the house had any kind of food allergy in the previous 12 months, about 4 percent said yes. The parents were not asked if a doctor had made the diagnosis, and no medical records were checked. Some parents may not know the difference between immune system-based food allergies and digestive disorders like lactose intolerance, so it’s possible the study’s findings are a bit off, Branum said.

However, the study’s results mirror older national estimates that were extrapolated from smaller, more intensive studies, said Dr. Hugh Sampson, a food allergy researcher at the Mount Sinai School of medicine.

“This tells us those earlier extrapolations were fairly close,” Sampson said.

The CDC study did not give a breakdown of which foods were to blame for the allergies. Other research suggests that about 1 in 40 Americans will have a milk allergy at some point in their lives, and 1 in 50 percent will be allergic to eggs. Most people outgrow these allergies in childhood.

About 1 in 50 are allergic to shellfish and nearly 1 in 100 react to peanuts, allergies that generally persist for a lifetime, according to Sampson.

Some people have more than one food allergy, he said, explaining why the overall food allergy prevalence is about 4 percent.

Children with food allergies also were more likely to have asthma, eczema and respiratory problems than kids without food allergies, the CDC study found, confirming previous research.

The study also found that the number of children hospitalized for food allergies was up. The number of hospital discharges jumped from about 2,600 a year in the late 1990s to more than 9,500 annually in recent years, the CDC results showed.

Also, Hispanic children had lower rates of food allergies than white or black children — the first such racial/ethnic breakdown in a national study.

The reason for that last finding may not be genetics, said Munoz-Furlong. She is Hispanic and said people in her own family have been unwilling to consider food allergies as the reason for children’s illnesses. “It’s a question of awareness,” she said.

LINKS:
CDC Report: Food Allergy Among US Children

PASCACK VALLEY, NJ FOOD ALLERGY SUPPORT GROUP MEETING

PASCACK VALLEY FOOD ALLERGY SUPPORT GROUP MEETING/ ALLERGY-FREE CHILDREN’S HALLOWEEN PARTY

Food Allergy is the leading cause of severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis, and up to 8% of children and 2% of adults are estimated to have food allergies in the U.S. Caring for a child with a food allergy can be overwhelming and difficult for many families. Children with food allergies often encounter problems at school and have trouble socializing with others.

Food Allergy Support Groups provide educational, emotional, and practical resources and support for these patients and their families, as well as raising community awareness. An organizational meeting of a local Pascack Valley Food Allergy Support Group combined with an Allergy Free Children’s Halloween Party will be held on October 25, 2008 (Saturday) from 2-5 PM. For further information, please call Dr. de Asis or Dr. Pistiner at Allergy and Asthma Consultants of Rockland and Bergen at (201) 666-8500.

LINKS:
Halloween: Celebrate with Food Allergies and Have Fun, Too!
Halloween, Kids, and Food Allergies

FTC Sweep Stops Peddlers of Bogus Cancer Cures

from FTC (Federal Trade Commission) Website www.ftc.gov
FTC Sweep Stops Peddlers of Bogus Cancer Cures
Public Education Campaign Counsels Consumers, “Talk to Your Doctor”

The Federal Trade Commission today announced 11 law enforcement actions challenging deceptive advertising of bogus cancer cures. The FTC charged the companies with making unsupported claims that their products cured or treated one or more types of cancer. In each case, the company is charged with violating the FTC Act, which bars deceptive claims. Some complaints allege that the companies also falsely touted clinical or scientific proof for their products.

“There is no credible scientific evidence that any of the products marketed by these companies can prevent, cure, or treat cancer of any kind,” said Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Of the 11 complaints the FTC announced today, six have been resolved by proposed settlements; the rest will be litigated. In all cases, the companies will be required to notify consumers who purchased the products challenged in the complaints that there was little or no scientific evidence demonstrating the products’ effectiveness for treating or curing cancer. They also must urge these customers to consult with their doctors about the products. In addition, the companies will be prohibited from selling or disclosing their consumer lists to others. The products the companies marketed include essiac teas and other herbal mixtures, laetrile, black salve (a corrosive ointment), and mushroom extracts.

“Many of these products are scams,” Parnes said, “and let’s face it, when you’re battling cancer, the last thing you need is a scam. The best idea is to talk to your doctor about any treatment that you are thinking about taking.”

The FTC also announced a new Web site about bogus cancer cures. The site – www.ftc.gov/curious – tells consumers how to spot and report bogus claims they see online, and urges people with cancer to talk to their treatment team about any products they’d like to try.
The site features a video and includes a list of resources on cancer treatments from a variety of agencies within the federal government. Information is provided in English and Spanish.
The cases announced today began through an Internet surf conducted by the FTC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Competition Bureau Canada in June 2007. Following the surf, the FTC sent warning letters via e-mail to 112 Web sites between August 2007 and January 2008. Of these, nearly 30 percent either closed their sites or removed the problematic cancer treatment claims. The remainder were reviewed to determine whether a law enforcement action was warranted or whether they should be referred to the FDA or the Competition Bureau.

The FDA sent warning letters to 23 U.S. companies and two foreign individuals. The warning letters stated that because the marketed products claimed to cure, treat, mitigate, or prevent cancer, and because they are not proven to be safe and effective for their labeled use, they are unapproved new drugs marketed in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The Competition Bureau sent warning letters to Canadian companies that were selling fraudulent cancer cures online. Almost all the companies have adequately corrected their marketing materials, and the bureau will take additional enforcement actions to ensure compliance by the rest.

Administrative Cases. The FTC sued five companies. The cases will be tried before an administrative law judge at the Commission. In each case, the Commission seeks an order prohibiting the respondents from representing that their products prevent, treat, or cure any type of cancer unless the representation is true, non-misleading, and supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence. The FTC also will seek orders prohibiting the respondents from making representations about any health-related products without competent and reliable scientific evidence.

Alexander Heckman d/b/a Omega Supply – Among the products this company marketed are laetrile, which can cause cyanide poisoning when taken orally at high doses; hydrazine sulphate, which is classified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a potential carcinogen; and cloracesium, which contains celsium chloride. According to the complaint, in addition to making deceptive and false claims that these products are safe and that they effectively prevent, treat, and cure cancer, the respondents also made false claims that the products are scientifically proven to work.

Native Essence Herb Company – The products marketed by this company include herbal concoctions (Rene Caisse essiac tea blend and cat’s claw), the herb chaparral, and maitake mushrooms extracts. In 1992, the FDA classified chaparral as unsafe because of its “association with acute toxic hepatitis.” According to the complaint, the respondents made deceptive and false claims that these products are effective for treating and curing a variety of cancers, eliminating or shrinking tumors, and for preventing breast cancer.

Daniel Chapter One – This company markets several herbal formulations as well as shark cartilage. According to the complaint, in addition to making deceptive and false claims that these products effectively prevent, treat, and cure cancer, the respondents also claim that one of their herbal formulations mitigates the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy. In addition to the FTC action announced today, this company received a warning letter from FDA.

Gemtronics, Inc. – This company markets a product called RAAX11, which is made of chrysobalanus icaco, a derivative from a tropical bush, and agaricus, a medicinal mushroom.
According to the complaint, in addition to making deceptive and false claims that these products effectively prevent, treat, and cure cancer, the respondents also made false claims that these products were scientifically proven to work. In addition to the FTC action announced today, this company received a warning letter from FDA.

Mary T. Spohn d/b/a Herbs for Cancer – Spohn sold Chinese herbal teas in varying formulations. According to the company’s advertisements, these teas were formulated to fight 16 different types of cancer. A seventeenth type [of blended tea] is represented as a “special formula” for “cancers not on our list.” According to the complaint, in addition to making deceptive and false claims that these formulations effectively treat and cure cancer, the respondents also claim that some of them are scientifically proven to work. In addition to the FTC action announced today, this company received a warning letter from FDA.

Proposed Settlements. The defendants and respondents in the six proposed settlement cases are barred from representing that their products prevent, treat, or cure any type of cancer unless the representation is true, non-misleading, and supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence. They also are barred from making representations about any other health-related products without competent and scientific evidence. Each proposed settlement also contains various monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting provisions to ensure compliance.

Three of the proposed settlements will be filed in federal district court:

Nu-Gen Nutrition, Inc. – The defendants marketed cantron, an electrolyte liquid, and apricot seeds containing laetrile as treatments and cures for various types of cancer. Based on the amount of sales of these products, the company and its principal have agreed to pay a judgment of $830,434, all but $246,000 of which is suspended based on the defendants’ inability to pay. If it is determined that the financial information given to the FTC was untruthful, then the full amount of the judgement will become automatically due. This case was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. This company also received a warning letter from FDA.

Westberry Enterprises, Inc. – Claiming that their products could treat and cure various types of cancer, the defendants marketed herbal tea containing burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm bark, and Turkish rhubarb root; melatonin; a woody vine found in the jungles of Latin America that is known as cat’s claw; saltwater blue-green algae; and a mixture of roots,
leaves, and barks from various plants. Based on the amount of sales of these products, the company and its principal have agreed to pay a judgment of $225,000; all but $15,000 of which is suspended based on the defendants’ inability to pay. If it is determined that the financial information given to the FTC was untruthful, then the full amount of the judgement will become automatically due. This case was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Alexandria Division. This company also received a warning letter from FDA.

Jim Clark’s All Natural Cancer Therapy – Claiming that their metabolic therapy products could prevent, treat, and cure various types of cancer, the defendants marketed laetrile, apricot seeds, digestive enzymes, okra-pepsin-E3, and coral calcium. The two individual defendants –
James Franklin Clark and Carrie Ann Hatcher – have agreed to pay separate amounts. Clark has agreed to pay $353,702, all but $25,000 of which was suspended because of his inability to pay. Hatcher has agreed to pay $207,676, all of which was suspended because of her inability to pay. If it is determined that the financial information provided to the FTC was untruthful, then the full amount of the judgments will become automatically due. This case was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

The FTC has issued administrative complaints for the remaining proposed settlement cases, which involved smaller sales volumes than the federal district court settlements. Violating an administrative order can result in a civil penalty of up to $11,000 per violation.

Bioque Technologies, Inc. – The respondents marketed an extract from the soursop or guanabana tropical fruit tree and claimed in their advertisements that it could prevent and treat melanoma. They also represented that the product, called Serum GV, was clinically proven to do these things. Under the proposed agreement, the respondents are required to pay the full amount of Serum GV sales, $9,035.85, in consumer redress.

Holly A. Bacon d/b/a Cleansing Time Pro – The respondent marketed a corrosive product called black salve, in both ointment and tablet form. Black salve has been reported to cause severe burns and permanent scarring at high concentrations. Claiming in advertisements that either formulation could prevent, treat, and cure various types of cancer, individual respondent
Holly A. Bacon represented herself as a satisfied user of the product without disclosing that she was the owner of the company. She also represented that black salve was effective at preventing, treating, and curing numerous viral infections, including HIV, SARS, and Avian Flu.

Premium-essiac-tea-4less – The respondent marketed an herbal remedy known as essiac tea. According to the complaint, the respondents’ advertisements recommended “a daily intake based on whether the consumer is well, sick with cancer or another disease, trying to prevent a relapse of cancer or another disease, or currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.” The FTC complaint challenged the respondent’s claim that its essiac tea product was an effective treatment for cancer, AIDS, ulcers, hepatitis C; and many other diseases.

The Commission vote authorizing the issuance or filing of the 11 complaints and agreed-upon final orders was 4-0. The three federal district court proposed settlements were filed on September 18, 2008.

NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest.
The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendant or respondent has actually violated the
law. The stipulated final order is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the defendants of a law violation. A stipulated final order requires approval by the court and has the force of law when signed by the judge.

The administrative consent orders will be subject to public comment for 30 days, beginning today and continuing through October 17, 2008, after which the Commission will consider whether to make them final. Comments should be sent to: FTC Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Betsy Lordan
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-3707
STAFF CONTACT:
Richard Cleland
Bureau of Consumer Protection
202-326-3088

(Cancer Cures NR.wpd)

(FTC File Nos. 0823080, 0823115, 0823123, 0823094, 0823085, 0823052, 0823127, 0823095, 0823116, 0823119, 0823102)

Chelation Study for Autism Called Off

from WebMD

Salynn Boyles

September 19, 2008 — Federal officials have abandoned a proposed study of a controversial alternative therapy for autism, leaving parents who believe in the treatment disappointed and angry about the move.

In a statement released Wednesday, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says its investigators would not go forward with a trial of chelation (pronounced kee-LAY-shun) therapy that has been discussed for the past two years.

The decision was made after the federal review board that originally approved the study reversed its position.

The study had reportedly been on hold since last year when animal trials linked a specific chelation treatment to brain damage in rats.

“The Board determined that there was no clear evidence for direct benefit to children who would participate in the chelation trial and that the study presents more than a minimal risk,” according to the NIMH statement.

Chelation for Autism

Chelation therapy involves the administration of agents to remove heavy metals from the blood, usually, but not always, by intravenous infusion.

The therapy has been approved for more than 50 years for the treatment of lead poisoning, but it is not approved for the treatment of autism.

Nevertheless, many parents who believe their children’s autism was caused by mercury exposure from a preservative once common in childhood vaccines have embraced chelation therapy.

“Our phones have been ringing off the hook since this was announced,” Rebecca Estepp of the autism support group Talk About Curing Autism tells WebMD.

“We are dumbfounded and saddened that this study of a promising autism treatment will not happen. The government has pulled the rug out from under us with no explanation.”

Estepp, whose 10-year-old son is autistic, says she knows of thousands of children who have improved and even had their autism symptoms disappear following chelation therapy.

“Do we have to have thousands more before they take us seriously?” she asks. “When does the anecdotal evidence get so large that they have to listen to us?”

A Chelation Death Reported

The use of chelation therapy as a treatment for autism has been linked to at least one death in 2005 of a 5-year-old boy who was treated with an agent that is not widely used in children.

In the statement released yesterday, NIMH officials noted that approval by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was needed to proceed with the trial. But NIMH will not ask the DHHS to review the study protocol, a process that could take as long a year.

“Given the time and resources required for this additional approval process, NIMH has decided to use its intramural program to test other interventions for autism and will not pursue the required DHHS review,” the statement reads.

Physician Paul Offit, MD, who this month published a book that is critical of alternative treatments, applauds the NIMH decision.

“None of the biological and epidemiological data support the notion that mercury from the thimerosal in vaccines causes autism,” he tells WebMD. “So you could argue that this study was unethical because there was no biological basis for doing it.”

In his book Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure, Offit examines many past and present alternative treatments for autism.

He tells WebMD that none of the treatments has held up to scientific scrutiny, but many remain popular because parents have few other places to turn.

“Classical Western medicine does not offer much for the treatment of autism,” he says. “These fringe therapies have appeal because there is not much else out there.”

Offit adds that very young children with mild symptoms of autism often get better on their own later in childhood, which may explain why many parents believe so strongly that alternative treatment work.

“There is a natural wax and wane with this disorder,” he says. “Symptoms that seem very bad between the ages of 2 and 5 may get much better between the ages of 6 and 10.”

He adds that promising, conventional research on autism gets little attention because of the focus on alternative therapies.

He cites as an example the identification of the specific genes and genetic mutations associated with autism.

“This may well lead to treatments in the future, but you never hear about this kind of study because the anti-vaccine people have taken this story hostage to the detriment of children with autism,” he says.

SOURCES:

NIMH Statement on Chelation Trial for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sept. 17, 2008.

Paul Offit, MD, chief of infectious diseases, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Rebecca Estepp, parent support & media relations manager, Talk About Curing Autism.

WebMD Health News: ” Boy Dies After Controversial Treatment for Autism.”

One Epinephrine Dose May Not Suffice for Children With Multiple Food Allergies

One Epinephrine Dose May Not Suffice for Children With Multiple Food Allergies

from Medscape
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jul 09 – Nearly one in five food-induced anaphylactic reactions that occur in children with multiple food allergies will require two or more doses of epinephrine, new research suggests.

As reported in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Dr. Kirsi M. Jarvinen, from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, and colleagues evaluated epinephrine usage in children with food allergies by surveying the families of 413 patients.

Overall, 78 children (median age = 4.5 years) were given epinephrine for a total of 95 reactions, the report indicates. Over 75% of these reactions involved peanut, tree nut, or cow’s milk allergies.

Twelve (13%) of the reactions required two doses of epinephrine and an additional 6 (6%) required three doses, the researchers found.

Asthma was identified as a predictor of receiving multiple epinephrine doses, whereas the amount of food ingested and the delay in initial epinephrine treatment seemed to have no effect.

“Our survey performed in a highly selected patient population indicates that a significant number of respondents received a second dose of epinephrine,” the authors conclude. “Prospective studies are needed to identify risk factors for severe anaphylaxis and to establish rational guidelines for prescribing multiple epinephrine autoinjectors for children with food allergy.”

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008.

Video:
How to Use an Epi-pen

LINKS:
Tips to Remember: Food Allergy
Allergy Medications