American Academy of Pediatrics Allergy Recommendations

Posted by Dr Martha Howard  |  Tagged: antigen antibody, child, irritable bowel syndrome, nasal  |  1 Comment

I just looked over the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for allergy prevention and treatment in children.  I have to explain a little about two of the common types of allergic reaction to food in order to tell you why I am so happy with their current list.

Getting Ready for Fall Allergy Season

Posted by Dr Martha Howard  |  Tagged: fall allergy season, nasal, natural antihistamines, Singulair  |  No Comments

The season of the sneeze (and itchy eyes, running nose, etc. etc.) is now about to land on us full force.  It usually starts around the second or third week in August.

First, shut your windows and turn on the AC!!  The fall weed pollens can come in your windows and circulate in your indoor air.  You can make your home a safe haven–make sure your air conditioner’s filter is clean.  You can also add more filter power by getting an additional indoor air filter.  A good inexpensive one that I have used is made by Surround Air.

Chronic sinusitis and mold allergy

Posted by Dr Martha Howard  |  Tagged: childhood ear infections, infection, mold, mold allergy  |  4 Comments

Many of my patients come in with allergy problems that have been either not noticed, not treated, wrongly treated, or all of the above.  We have already talked about dairy allergy and its role as a major cause of childhood ear infections and constipation.   Now, it’s about mold allergy and growth of mold in the sinuses as a cause of “chronic sinusitis.” This can’t be treated by antibiotics.  They do not kill molds.  As a matter of fact antibiotics can often make the molds or other fungi grow.

Fabulous Babycakes: Gluten-dairy-egg-sugar-corn free cupcakes!

Posted by Dr Martha Howard  |  Tagged: Babycakes, cupcake, gluten free recipes, hostess cupcake recipe  |  4 Comments

With my many food allergies–gluten, dairy, eggs, corn and sugar–a focus change from “Don’t” to “Do” can be lifesaving! Lucky for me, (and my patients) I have Babycakes.

Study: 39% of chronic constipation in children caused by dairy!

Posted by Dr. Martha Howard  |  Tagged: chronic constipation in children, constipation, constipation in children, removal  |  4 Comments

After my first two blogs about dairy, I was going to give it a rest and talk about reactions to gluten.  But then, an email from Journal Watch, a doctor’s service from the publishers of New England Journal of Medicine showed up in my inbox.  It was about chronic constipation in children, and its relationship to dairy.  It reported a study from Spain with astonishing results.  All of the children in the study had chronic constipation.  When dairy was removed from their diets, the constipation stopped for 39% (yes, thirty-nine percent) of them.  The study was designed so that dairy was reintroduced–and when the children consumed it again, their constipation came back.  And when it was removed again, the constipation went away again.  So for today’s blog, I am going to let Journal Watch have the floor, and present their summary of the study.