Welcome to OKAllergy.com
Home of the Oklahoma Institute of Allergy & Asthma and Amy L. Darter, M.D. Below you will find informative articles about allergies, asthma, immunology and OIAA. Enjoy our new site, and have a wonderful day!
May
22
May
21
Medications To Discontinue Prior To Skin Testing
Prescription/Must stop for a FULL 5 days
Ah-Chew
Astelin and Astepro
Atarax
Clarinex & Clarinex D
Dylan & Dytan D
Exterdryl SR&JR
Histinex
Meclizine
Palgic
Patanase
Phenergan
Rescon Sleep Aids
Tussionex
Vasobid
Vasotan
Xyzal
Zyrtec & Zyrtec D
Tylenol PM
Unisom Read more »
May
21
Reducing Summer Asthma Attacks
Summer means being outside, enjoying the warm weather, and hanging out with family and friends. However, along with the Summer come several environmental hazards that have an effect on people with Asthma.
Asthma affects more than 20 million people. It is a chronic lung disease that can occur when the air passages of the lungs or the bronchial tubes become inflamed and tighten causing the airways to narrow.
Symptoms of Asthma are wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing or severe difficulty in breathing, which in some cases may become life threatening. Just as many patients with mild Asthma succumb to the disease as patients with severe Asthma each year (about 5000). Read more »
May
4
Diet Questions Answered
It can be difficult to find answers to questions about less common foods such as Sesame Seed.
Sesame protein, which is what causes the allergic reaction, is found in Sesame seeds, Sesame flour, Sesame paste (Tahini), and Sesame oil. Sesame oil, because it is not highly refined, contains significant amounts of Sesame protein and should be avoided.
Some prepared foods that commonly contain Sesame protein include: Read more »
Nov
24
Sesame Allergy
It can be difficult to find answers to questions about less common foods such as Sesame Seed.
Sesame protein, which is what causes the allergic reaction, is found in Sesame seeds, Sesame flour, Sesame paste (Tahini), and Sesame oil. Sesame oil, because it is not highly refined, contains significant amounts of Sesame protein and should be avoided.
Some prepared foods that commonly contain Sesame protein include: Read more »
Aug
28
Peanut-allergic patients being identified at younger ages
Peanut allergies are being identified more often then before in younger children. Public awareness of this health issue has increased as well. Clinicians have observed that they are evaluating patients with peanut allergies at younger ages.
An analysis report was done by a referral center which reviewed its experience to assess the age of children with first exposure reactions for peanut allergy. Assessments of 140 children diagnosed with peanut allergy were performed at a university clinic between 2000 and 2006. Most of these patients also had other allergic diagnoses as well, including atopic dermatitis in 82%, asthma in 62%, and allergic rhinitis in 57%. The median age of first peanut exposure was 14 months while age at first reaction was 18 months. Compared to a comparable study group seen between 1995 and 1997, 22 and 24 months respectively, the 2000-2006 study patients were significantly younger in age. Read more »
Aug
1
Tips to avoiding allergies and asthma in the classroom
There are several details that children with allergies and asthma should consider when returning to the classroom, beyond what to wear or bring. Are there peanuts in the snacks that are provided? Will running at recess or gym class trigger an exercise-induced asthma attack? Could a sting from a bee during recess cause anaphylactic shock? It is reported that more than 9 million children under the age of 18 suffer from allergies and asthma and must face questions similar to these, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
Allergies and asthma account for over 14 million missed school days, millions of dollars in medical bills and even lost work days for parents of children who suffer from allergic disease. according to Amy L. Darter, M.D., FAAAAI, FACAAI of the Oklahoma Institute of Allergy & Asthma. The best way to avoid these missed work/school days is to properly prepare for the back-to-school season by learning how to prevent these allergies & asthma in the classroom. Devising a plan of action for avoiding triggers will keep students focused on their school work and not on their symptoms and will allow for fewer absences from school.
Jan
1
New Technology at OIAA
We now perform Bone Density Scans in our office to meet the needs of our patients. Current use of inhaled or intranasal corticosteroids in women who are post menopausal, who have had a hysterectomy at an early age, or have a family history of osteoporosis should have a bone density evaluation. Also men with low testosterone levels or a family history of osteoporosis should also have a bone density evaluation. It only takes about 30 minutes. Ask a member of our staff to schedule your appointment today!
Computerized Tomography scanning is an integral component of proper diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the sinuses. We now perform sinus CT scans in our office for adults and children. Our new CT scanner offers immediate, on-site, diagnosis and treatment planning. Our scanner only produces 1/10th of the radiation that a conventional hospital CT scanner does. The scan takes less than 40 seconds for an adult and 20 seconds for a child. This state of the art equipment offers comfortable seating that minimizes claustrophobia and requires no sedation. even in small children.
Dr. Darter’s office is one of the few allergy offices in the nation with this type of technology readily available. this cutting-edge technology allows us to view over 300 images in 20 seconds for a child and over 500 images in 40 seconds for an adult. The Mini-CAT also allows us to evaluate the size of adenoids in small children. For more details ask a member of our team.