What Is an Oral Food Challenge? An oral food challenge (OFC) is a definitive, medical procedure to determine whether a person can tolerate a specific food. An OFC is done to either confirm or rule out a food allergy. During the food challenge, the allergist will start with very small...
Utah is a strikingly beautiful place to live and offers much for those who love the outdoors. However, if you’ve spent much time in Utah, you’ve probably experienced the periodic weather inversions occurring during the winter that causes trapping of emissions and small particulates into the valley. During these times,...
What is anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. This can happen within minutes of exposure to an allergen and can affect multiple parts of the body at the same time. Common triggers include medications, food, insect venom, and latex. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include: Difficulty breathing, cough, wheezing...
We are approaching a beautiful time of year in Salt Lake Valley and Utah. However, winter time is also a time when it can seem like you just can’t stay healthy. So, what is a normal number of infections during the year? Because children have a maturing immune system, they...
Among the many skin conditions that people suffer from are various types of allergic dermatitis, or inflammation of the dermis, or skin, caused by allergens, chemicals or irritants. These include eczema, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis from irritants or allergens. Xerosis, or dry skin, is common here in the Salt Lake Valley....
What are nasal polyps? Nasal polyps are small growths of tissue in your nose or sinuses. They are not painful, but they can often cause intrusive symptoms in many patients. Approximately 12% of the population is affected by chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) or inflammation of the nose and sinuses. Nearly 20%...
Flu season is just around the corner not only here in the Salt Lake Valley, but nationally as well. An annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months of older, with few exceptions. Every year, the flu vaccine composition is updated and 2022-2023 is no different. As allergists, we...
What is EIB? Exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), also known as exercise induced asthma, is a temporary narrowing of your airways during or after exercise. This is common here in the Salt Lake Valley in people diagnosed with asthma, but can also occur in people that do not have asthma. If...
What is an adverse drug reaction? Is it the same as a drug allergy? An adverse drug reaction includes side effects, intolerances, and hypersensitivity reactions to a medication or group of medications. A side effect is a known reaction to a drug based on how it works in the body....
Allergy Associates of Utah is excited to introduce one of our new providers, Chanise Frandsen, PA-C! Chanise was born and raised in Utah where she graduated from Brigham Young University in Exercise Science and Wellness with a focus in functional medicine. She moved to Texas for her Physician Assistant...
Allergy Associates of Utah is excited to introduce one of our new providers, Daniel J Rawlings, PA-C! Daniel is a board-certified physician assistant practicing with Allergy Associates of Utah, working with an expert team of physicians and advanced practice providers, specializing in the field of asthma and allergy. He is...
Have you noticed that more children have food allergies these days than in the past? You are not alone with that thought, and is not just a problem here in the Utah. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, about 8% of children have a food allergy....
The COVID-19 pandemic has now been here for over 2 years. The CDC has recommended increasing handwashing to reduce the spread of infection, not only of COVID-19, but other viral infections as well. The increased handwashing has led to dry, irritated skin that affect many people. This is a problem...
Have you noticed an itchy mouth when you eat a banana? A melon? Any fruit or vegetable? You may have a relatively common food reaction called Pollen-Food Syndrome (PFAS) or Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS). The proteins found in plant-based products such as fruits, vegetables, or uncooked tree nuts are very...
Are you tired of taking endless medications to control your allergy symptoms? Are the medications not working as well as you want them to here in the Salt Lake Valley? You might want to consider doing allergy shots. What are Allergy Shots? Allergy shots or subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) contain...
Is your stomach upset after you eat ice cream? Do you have to run to the bathroom after you drink milk? Patients often wonder if they have a new onset milk allergy. What is the difference between milk allergy and lactose intolerance? Dairy is a common allergy in the United...
Have you noticed sneezing or worsening runny nose when you are around flowers? Patients often ask if they are allergic to flowers here in the Salt Lake Valley. The answer is more complicated than just a pollen allergy. Allergic symptoms occur when pollen lands and irritates a person’s mucous membranes...
Have you noticed an increase in runny nose or nasal congestion while pregnant? Is your sleep being affected? The number one cause of these symptoms is still allergic rhinitis, meaning symptoms are caused by an allergen (see Allergic vs Non-Allergic Rhinitis blog from September 14, 2021). Allergic symptoms can worsen...
We get asked frequently what the rules are for kissing if you or your significant other has a peanut allergy. There are no specific guidelines defined regarding this, but we do have some general safety recommendations for our patients here in the Salt Lake Valley. Make sure your partner is...
Do you have small bumps on your arms and/or legs? Some people call this their eczema, but it actually may be another skin condition called keratosis pilaris. Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common, harmless skin condition. These bumps feel rough, almost sandpaper-like. KP is not contagious. These rough-feeling bumps are...
Have you noticed an increase in allergy or asthma symptoms after putting up your Christmas tree? This is sometimes called Christmas Tree Syndrome or Christmas Tree Dermatitis and there can be several different reasons for these reactions here in the Salt Lake Valley. Additionally, both real and artificial trees can...
A problem here in the greater Salt Lake area has been the increase in smoke exposure secondary to wildfires. The Salt Lake Valley already has fluctuations in air quality during periods of inversions. However, this summer as wildfires occurred both locally and in the west, Utah witnessed worsening air quality...
One of our very own allergists, Dr. Tara Sarin, was featured on The Lisa Show to discuss fall allergies and allergen avoidance measures. Click on the link below to hear the segment. https://www.byuradio.org/ Allergy Associates of Utah is an allergy, asthma, and immunology specialty clinic serving...
Do you have a runny nose or nasal congestion that does not seem to have an identifiable trigger? Do allergy medications not seem to improve your symptoms? You may have a form of rhinitis, called non-allergic rhinitis, which can often mimic symptoms of allergies (see post from August 7th). Non-allergic...
Hay fever or allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common condition, here in the greater Salt Lake area, the United States, and globally. People may also have other conditions including allergic eye symptoms, asthma, eczema, food allergies, and chronic sinusitis. Common Salt Lake Valley/Utah allergens include: Trees: Maple, Ash, Cedar, Cottonwood,...