Q. I’m 32 and just had my first anaphylaxis experience to shrimp. It was scary: I was wheezing and could hardly breathe. How can a grown woman suddenly develop a food allergy? Dr. Scott Sicherer: You are not alone in developing shrimp allergy as an adult. In our U.S. prevalence studies and studies in Canada [...]

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. 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 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 [...]

Q.  I just moved to Toronto from Italy. I was considered “peach allergic” there, but here, my GP says the symptoms are oral allergy syndrome and to avoid raw peaches. But I’m not convinced; I did get hives and throat tightness after toast with a jam (that turned out to be peach). How do I [...]

Q.  I have a soy allergy, and find that many personal care products, such as shampoos and body wash, contain soy. How concerned do I need to be about soy in these types of products? Dr. Pistiner: Although oral ingestion is the most common and concerning form of exposure to an allergen, such as soy, [...]