New Device May Give Epi-Pen Some Competition

Epi-Pen is a device that is used when a child or adult experiences anaphylaxis after encountering something that he or she is extremely allergic to. It is about the size of a large magic marker. Two brothers, who have food allergies, have created a device that could be competition for the makers of the Epi-Pen. An Epi-Pen is a device that can be used to auto-inject a specific amount of epinephrine into a person who is having a severe allergic reaction to something, and who is experiencing anaphylaxis as a result. Left untreated, a person could die from anaphylaxis in … Continue reading →

Study Indicates Some Children Might Outgrow Autism

Have you heard about the study that appears to indicate that some children who have an autism spectrum disorder might outgrow it? I’ve been reading up on it. It appears that this is more likely to happen with kids who have high functioning autism and who have had years of intensive therapy and support. Even under those circumstances, there is no guarantee that a child will outgrow the disorder. When I hear news articles that say that children might outgrow autism, it makes me fearful. I worry that some parents will hear that news and presume that their child will … Continue reading →

Biogen Idec Discontinues Work on ALS Drug

A company called Biogen Idec has decided to discontinue work on an experimental drug that was designed to treat Lou Gehrig’s disease (which is also called A.L.S.). The drug failed to work in a late stage clinical trial. There is another company that is continuing to work on a different drug for the disease. Lou Gehrig’s disease is also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This long, multi-syllabic, name is often shortened to A. L. S. when it is discussed. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and in the spinal cord. According to the ALS … Continue reading →

A Pill for Celiac Disease?

It appears that some researchers are working on a pill for celiac disease. The idea is that, someday, this medication would help adults and children who have celiac disease to tolerate foods that contain gluten. Could this really work, or is it “too good to be true”? Before you get too excited, please realize that this amazing sounding pill is not yet on the market. It is currently being worked on by two different groups of researchers. You cannot, at the time I am writing this blog, go to your child’s doctor and request the pill for celiac disease. One … Continue reading →

Study Says Flu Shot is Safe for People With Egg Allergies

Flu season is upon us. Are you going to get a flu shot this year? There has been some concern in the past that adults and children who are allergic to eggs will have problems if they get a flu shot because it contains eggs. A Canadian study found that flu shots are safe for people with egg allergies. The flu vaccine is designed to prevent people from catching influenza, (commonly called “the flu”). There have been concerns about giving flu shots to adults or children who have an allergy to eggs because the flu vaccine is grown in chicken … Continue reading →

Hypafix

Even though my daughter Lily no longer has her feeding tube, I would be remiss if I did not tell you all about one of the greatest products ever. It’s called Hypafix, and it’s an adhesive tape used to hold dressings in place. However we used it to hold Lily’s tube in. When we first learned that Lily would need a feeding tube, adhesive tape was the least of our worries. However, once we got her home, it slowly crept to the top of our list, because that tape is pretty much the only thing keeping you from another trip … Continue reading →

The Great BPA Debate

B… P… A… they are the three letters every mom knows and fears. Manufacturers of baby products were slow to catch on to the harmful effects of Bisphenol A, but there is now an entire industry devoted to BPA free bottles and pacifiers–anything a kid is likely to stick in his month. The “BPA free” moniker is so prevalent in the baby aisle these days, it’s a wonder any business is crazy enough to still be making products containing BPA. The new toxic buzzword du jour, though, is Phthalates. According to Wikipedia, it is a substance “added to plastics to … Continue reading →

Part II: Managing Childhood Asthma

If your child has asthma, developing a care plan is one of the most important things you can do towards maintaining his or her health and reducing asthmatic episodes. Eliminate or control triggers in your child’s environment. Keep your home clean and vacuum as often as possible. In bedrooms, use allergen-proof casings on pillows, mattresses, and box springs, and wash linens weekly. Don’t smoke or take your child into an environment where other people do. Even if you don’t smoke in front of your child, smoke clings to your hair, skin, and clothing, and will be exhaled through your breath … Continue reading →

Part I: Recognizing Asthma in Children

Did you know that asthma,a chronic inflammatory condition of the bronchial airways, affects nearly five million children in the United States? Asthma is now so widespread, it is the most common of all childhood illnesses. Common, however, doesn’t mean it isn’t serious. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, asthma-related illnesses are responsible for an estimated 860,000 emergency treatments and 170,000 hospitalizations of children each year. Since 80 percent of children first exhibit asthma symptoms before the age of five, it’s important for parents of young children to be aware of the early signs. Because babies and … Continue reading →

Do You Have BOTH Juvenile Diabetes and Autism in Your Family?

A few days ago, I received an email from a mother in Florida who was responding to my blog entitled, Autism, Juvenile Diabetes, and Autoimmune Factors. She explained that like me, she has both of these diagnoses in her family. She has one child on the autism spectrum and another with juvenile diabetes. She also has a child who is considered “high risk” for contracting juvenile diabetes, but so far is free of the disease. She told me that she is aware of four other families living in her general vicinity who have children with autism and diabetes. However in … Continue reading →