Call hotline with allergy questions

As those who are allergic to peanuts or shellfish know, eating the wrong thing can be a matter of life and death.

And while many people automatically associate allergies with outdoor exposure to pollen, those who treat allergy patients say indoor exposures often include common foods, dust mites and pet dander.

Two specialists from LDS Hospital — Dr. Saurabh Shah, chief of the division of otolaryngology, and Dr. Joshua Bradley, an ear, nose and throat specialist — will answer questions about all types of allergies, causes and treatment from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday during the free monthly Deseret News/Intermountain Healthcare Hotline. Call 800-925-8177 to ask a question.

Shah said he was acquainted with a nurse during his medical training whose son died after he was accidentally exposed to a broth that contained shellfish. People with severe food allergies or sensitivity to bee or insect stings can experience anaphylactic shock with even a small amount of exposure, he said.

Life-threatening symptoms can develop almost immediately, including swelling inside the airway, difficulty breathing and a drop in blood pressure as the body floods itself with histamines to attack the allergen. People who have both asthma and a food allergy are at greater risk for such a severe reaction, and without intervention, death can occur within a short time.

"The first time it happens, it almost primes your immune system so the next time you're exposed it's even more severe," Shah said. "Sometimes just shelling peanuts can set someone off. I have patients carry an EpiPen (auto-injector)" filled with epinephrine so they can self-inject the medication to counteract the body's allergic response.

Patients who carry the devices need to heed the expiration date and keep an updated pen handy, Shah said. While desensitization therapy is available at select academic medical centers for those with severe allergic reactions, it is expensive, time-consuming and not always effective, he said.

Fortunately, most exposure to lethal allergens can be controlled by avoiding the foods or insects that cause the reaction.

While common allergens like dust mites can't always be avoided, Bradley said people can reduce their exposure by keeping their homes very clean, with regular vacuuming, sweeping and dusting. Air filters are available for most home heating and cooling systems, and hypo-allergenic pillow covers are available if exposure seems to happen during sleep.

"If you know you're allergic to mold, take care of old mold problems," which can originate in any areas exposed to moisture over long periods, Bradley said.

Some people who had never had allergies in the past move into a new home or apartment and begin experiencing symptoms, he said.