Hershey bars, Snickers and Reese’s may be trick-or-treat night staples, but for children who have food allergies, these type of treats can be dangerous.

Candy may be trick-or-treat staples, but it can be dangerous for children with food allergies. (Photo: Nutritious Eats)

As professionals debate why more children have food allergies these days compared to decades ago, sensitivity to the issue has spread to classrooms and cafeterias nationwide. Now awareness has arrived for Halloween.

Dr. Tracy Fausnight, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, said the most common food allergies for young children are milk, egg and peanut.

Children with milk allergies cannot eat most types of chocolate, while those who are allergic to peanuts must steer clear of candy bars that contain the nuts. Kids with egg allergies need to avoid nougats in candy bars such as Milky Way or Three Musketeers. Even chewy SweeTARTS and Laffy Taffy candies have egg in them.

While some families of children with food allergies choose not to go trick-or-treating, many have come up with strategies to let the kids have fun while still staying safe. Older children who understand their condition can dump out their collection and swap unsafe candies for safe ones. Parents of younger kids may allow their child to have the experience of dressing up to go door-to-door, but then they trade the collection for treats their child can eat.

Because most of the candy given out during trick-or-treat events is individually wrapped, there is little risk of cross-contamination from sitting next to other wrapped candy. “Hopefully parents are looking at the Halloween candy anyway to make sure anything their child is going to eat is sealed and intact,” Fausnight said.

Labels warning that an item was manufactured in a facility that also processes items that may contain allergens are not a good indicator of whether an item is safe or not.

“They have no real meaning and are not supported by the FDA,” Fausnight said. “One item may have something in it and another may not – it’s sort of random. The companies put it on mostly to protect themselves, but you just don’t know. The most conservative approach for children with food allergies is to avoid foods marked with cross-contamination labeling.”

Those who enjoy having little ghosts and goblins visit them may want to consider changing up their cache of goodies to include items that are safe for children with most food allergies. Those include Skittles, Smarties, Starburst, Dum Dums and Haribo gummy bears. Plain potato chips are also usually OK.

A teal pumpkin on your porch on Halloween means you have alternate treats for candy. (Photo: The Inspired Home)

Last fall, the Food Allergy Research & Education nonprofit group launched a national campaign called The Teal Pumpkin Project to raise awareness of food allergies and promote the inclusion of all children in the trick-or-treat tradition of Halloween.

The organization invites people to take a pledge to offer non-food treats for trick-or-treaters, and to place a teal pumpkin or free printable sign in front of their home to indicate it is a safe location for children with allergies.

The project suggests either offering non-candy treats or a choice of candy and non-candy treats so trick-or-treaters with allergies or other food diseases such as celiac disease, diabetes, food intolerances and other special diets can choose a treat that is safe for them.

Some suggestions for non-candy treats include glow sticks, bracelets or necklaces; pencils, pens, crayons or markers; bubbles, Halloween erasers or pencil toppers; whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers; bouncy balls; spider rings; vampire fangs; mini notepads; bookmarks; stickers; or stencils.

Aricle by Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Ah, springtime. Sunny days, fresh breezes and everything is in bloom – including seasonal allergies.

This year’s harsh winter staved off an early arrival of springtime allergies, but the wet weather that has gardens looking lush and green also means tree pollen – especially oak – has made things worse than usual for those who suffer.

Allergies this year are worse than ever this year with a late spring. (Photo: Penn State Hershey Medical Center)

Dr. Randy Young, director of the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, says allergy season typically starts within a few weeks of the last frost. In the DMV, that usually means early- to mid-April. “The tree growth is really exuberant this year, which is wonderful to look at, but it’s wreaking havoc,” he says.

So, how do you know if you have a cold or allergies? If congestion and other allergy-type symptoms come with fever and body aches, but disappear after a few days, it’s likely nothing more than a viral infection. If symptoms last longer and occur at the same time of year – and others in your family suffer from allergies – it’s more likely seasonal allergies.

Some people are genetically more inclined to suffer from allergies than others, but environment also seems to play a role. “There are a lot of exciting theories about why some people get allergies and others don’t,” Young said. “Some say it depends how much dust and dirt you were exposed to as a kid. Those who live in a rural or farm environment – or with pets – seem to be much less likely to have allergies.”

It’s not a very scientific explanation, but the theory is that when the body’s immune system is preoccupied protecting against more threatening infections, it doesn’t have time or energy to fret over silly annoyances such as allergens. “We live in such hyper-clean environments now that our immune system has time on its hands to do other things,” Young said.

There are even some who believe that giving allergy sufferers a limited, mild, worm infection may redirect the immune system to focus on eliminating the parasites and alleviate allergy symptoms. Young says if that seems a bit much, those who get the springtime sniffles can try less invasive means first.

Avoiding triggers is the key. In the spring, that might mean not going outdoors on days when the pollen count is high, using air conditioning to cool indoors rather than opening windows, and making sure the filter on the unit is clean. Showering and changing clothes after outdoor activities or yard work can also help control symptoms, since the pollen that accumulates on cars and outdoor furniture also collects on clothing and can hitch a ride indoors that way.

Over-the-counter antihistamines such as Zyrtec, Allegra and Claritin do the job for many, while others add nasal sprays or eye drops to their allergy-season treatment routine. Those who still can’t find relief may need to have an allergy evaluation and consider a regimen of allergy shots.

After Memorial Day, the tree pollen will give way to grass allergies before a summer lull that precedes the late-summer and early-fall weed and mold allergies.

Article by Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

If you find yourself sneezing and rubbing your eyes as you air out your home, turn on the heat for the first time or head outside to rake leaves, you’re not alone. Although many think of seasonal allergies as something that surges each spring, summer and fall also bring their share of allergens to the air. The budding of trees causes most of the springtime suffering, pollinating grass can stir up trouble in summer and in fall, ragweed and mold spores can bring on bouts of misery.

Ragweed, mold spores, dust mites and other bugs can cause fall allergies. (Photo: N.J. Allergy Doctors)

In addition to ragweed, mold spores and dust mites, the stink bugs that have infiltrated the area in recent years can also bring on allergies for some people. “As the temperatures drop, they tend to come indoors,” says Dr. Faoud Ishmael, an allergy and immunology physician at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. “If they get inside, their feces and the particles they leave behind can get into the dust and air and be inhaled, especially when you’re cleaning the house.”

Symptoms

Classic allergy symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, congestion, post-nasal drip, sore throat, cough and red, itchy and watery eyes. The tricky thing in the fall is that many of these symptoms can also be indicators of a virus or infection. Ishmael says a fever that comes alongside typical allergy symptoms – or symptoms that abate after a few days – can often mean it was a virus, not allergies. More chronic symptoms with an unproductive cough that persists for more than a few days are more often a sign of allergies.

Remedies

Although some people are genetically more prone to develop allergies than others, there are steps anyone who experiences allergy symptoms can take to prevent feeling crummy as the cool weather sets in:

• Limit your exposure. Don’t open windows to air out the house. Wear a mask when raking leaves or doing yard work.
• Put your clothing in the laundry and take a shower – or at the very least, wash your hands and face – when you come inside after spending time outdoors.
• Change or clean the filters in your home heating system before you turn it on for the first time.
• When such efforts fail and allergy symptoms take hold, over-the-counter remedies such as Benadryl or non-prescription versions of Claritin, Allegra or Zyrtec can provide relief. Some people find it helpful to use a sinus rinse or Neti pot to rinse allergens out of the nose.

 
If those strategies don’t work, Ishmael recommends visiting your doctor for stronger prescription medications or a referral to an allergist who can do skin or blood testing to determine exactly which allergens provoke your symptoms. For the most serious cases, and those where specific allergens have been identified, a specialist may recommend regular allergy shots.

For those who suffer each autumn, relief usually comes with the first frost and colder temperatures, which kill lingering allergens.

Article by Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

With spring here, many of us with a known history of seasonal pollen allergies end up with significant related symptoms. Sometimes, the symptoms come on slowly and people do not act on them until they incur headaches, nasal congestion and potentially sinusitis.

Being proactive helps eliminate the need to visit a doctor and take unnecessary antibiotics. (TomszaShutterstock)

“Being more proactive helps eliminate the need to visit a doctor and take unnecessary antibiotics,” said Dr. Madhavi Singh, family physician and hospitalist with Penn State Hershey in State College, Pa. “Some antibiotics can be deleterious for our health in the long run due to causing C diff. infections.”

To be vigilant, start taking daily antihistamines or other medications prescribed by your physician right away. Keeping a watch on the pollen count also is very helpful. On days when the pollen count is very high, it may be best to stay indoors while keeping the windows closed.

“Many people who have seasonal pollen allergies also are allergic to dust mites, molds and animal dander,” said Singh. “Be sure to check on such exposures to help alleviate flare-ups.”

One way to differentiate whether you are having nasal congestion, post-nasal drip and a cough from a cold or flu or reaction to seasonal allergies is that allergy symptoms last much longer.

Simply applying these tips during beautiful spring weather will help you enjoy it to the fullest.

Article by Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

There are three products in my purse at the moment. All of which I cannot leave home without!

1. Nivea Soft Face/Body/Hand Creme: $6- $7

NIVEA Soft is a surprisingly light textured moisturizing creme that gives your skin a revitalizing refreshing feeling. Enriched with Vitamin E and Jojoba extract, it spreads easily and is quickly absorbed for refreshingly soft and supple skin all day long. The light, fresh scent adds to the invigorating effect.

I have been using this on my face for the past two months and never break out. I use it on my legs for a soft, silky feel and on my roughest parts like my feet and elbows. The scent is light and the jar fits in even my smallest handbag.

2.  Bath & Body Works C.O. Bigelow Mentha Shimmer Tint: $7.50

This mint-infused lip treatment, now refreshed with shimmery color options!

The pearl white color gives a subtle shimmer and delivers a high-shine, a hint-of-tint and a super cooling sensation with the same great moisturizing formula you will love!

3. Similasan Allergy Relief Eye Drops: $12.95

Similasan Healthy Relief products have provided safe, effective relief to millions of people for over 25 years.

Okay, this is a must have for me. Since I moved to the DMV, my allergies got ridiculous! I have not figured out what kicks them up, but I make sure to have a bottle of this sting-free formula handy. It relieves itching, burning and watering associated with allergies. The product stimulates the eyes natural ability to fight symptoms of allergies due to pollen, pet dander, mold spores and more. Goodbye red eyes. Hello sparkly brights.

Hope you love these as much as I do!

XOXO Besos,

Anna Castillo

Beauty Editor/Owner of www.shopinkcosmetics.com