Sometimes at school, you don’t want other kids to see you with your inhaler. But you need your medication. What to do? We asked certified asthma educators Ingrid Baerg and Angela Alexander for some tips. First tip: The great thing about asthma is that if you learn to control it, asthma  won’t control you. Some [...]

Q. My husband has controlled moderate-to-severe asthma. We now have a four-month-old, and I’m concerned that he may develop asthma, too. Should we take any special precautions with the baby during spring allergy season? Dr. Watson: There are many factors that contribute to the development of asthma in children. Having a mother or father with [...]

Q. Last year while volunteering for the Cancer Society, my teenage daughter had a reaction to the daffodils she was handing out. She went completely red in the face, got itchy hives on her hands and arms and her throat felt tight. (The latter may have been anxiety.) As it seems she’s allergic to daffodils, [...]

Q. I have long wondered: Is eczema directly linked to cow’s milk allergy? Dr. Sicherer: The allergic form of eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is related to other allergic illnesses including asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and food allergies. These illnesses are inherited and often occur together in the same person. Infants and children [...]

Q. After months of misery, I’ve finally been diagnosed with dyshidrotic eczema on my hands. My doctor says it’s genetic, but since I have asthma and environmental allergies, I wonder could this be caused or worsened by an allergy? Dr. Skotnicki-Grant: Dyshidrotic eczema, also known as pompholyx, is indeed a genetic skin disease, characterized by [...]

Q. I have peanut and soy allergies and my husband gets hay fever, so I’ve been putting off introducing our son (no known allergies) to peanuts and nuts. He’s 2 ½ and going to daycare soon, so we have to start the process. My allergist is willing to skin test, but if there haven’t been [...]

Q. My 5-year-old daughter has several food allergies (eggs, peanuts, sesame, peas), and recently tested allergic to fish and shellfish. In past, sometimes the only safe thing she could eat at a restaurant was French fries. But now with the fish allergy, I’m wondering: is it OK for the French fries to be fried in [...]

Q. My 12-year-old son is one of the kids whose asthma peaks on the return to school. He’s fine in the summer, then back to school – and, wham, he’s got colds, and wheezing or coughing at night. Any recommendations on how to prevent a sequel this fall? Dr. Waserman: What you are describing is [...]

Q. My 8-year-old daughter gets eczema and finds breakouts during the school year most embarrassing (not to mention itchy). Any suggestions? Dr. Skotnicki-Grant: At the age of 8, your daughter likely has a genetic form of eczema which is referred to as atopic eczema. This is a chronic and recurrent condition that usually flares in [...]

Q.  My husband has food allergies and I have pollen allergies. My concern is for our 9-month-old son. I’m breastfeeding but am aware that most people introduce cow’s milk at one year. Would you suggest we do the same for our son? Also, is there any “safer” way to introduce it? Dr. Waserman: Having allergic [...]