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Alabama Child Health Improvement Alliance Heersink School of Medicine

4 - Making the connection: Allergies and Asthma

Amy CaJacob, MD, Assistant Professor, Associate Program Director, UAB/Children's of Alabama, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Speaker Disclosure

Amy CaJacob, MD

  • Does not intend to discuss any commercial products or services

  • Does not intend to discuss non-FDA approved uses of products/providers of services

  • Does not have a relevant financial relationship with any commercial interests.

Speaker Disclosure

Commercial Support

This activity receives no commercial support. 

Introduction

Allergies in infants and children are common; in fact, allergy-related disorders are among the leading diagnoses of chronic diseases in children. According to one study, 4 to 6 percent of children have food allergies, 8 to 10 percent have asthma and 15 to 25 percent have allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Collectively, children with allergies miss hundreds of thousands of school days every year.

Infants and children often experience symptoms that raise suspicions of an allergic condition. Allergy testing can help determine whether the symptom of concern is caused by an allergy (for example, is that runny nose the result of an upper respiratory infection or an allergy?) and what the specific allergen might be. Conditions where allergy testing can be particularly useful include:

  • Inflamed or irritated nasal passages (rhinitis)

  • Asthma

  • Adverse reactions to food, an insect sting or medication

  • Skin rashes (eczema or contact dermatitis)

  • Cold-like symptoms that last for more than a week and occur around the same time every year may also indicate an allergy. Coughing and wheezing, especially at night, may result from allergic asthma caused by an indoor allergen.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this internet enduring material participants you will be able to:

  • Identify and reduce relevant allergens/irritants that exacerbate the asthmatic airway.

  • Restate the link between allergies and asthma

  • Discuss the different methods of allergy testing

Please review the information below and follow the instructions in order to view the training, complete the online evaluation form, and successfully pass the online post-test, which will automatically submit for CME credit(s).

Disclaimer Statement

This Internet Enduring Material activity does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies or procedures of the Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s of Alabama, or its staff or representatives.  Alabama Child Health Improvement Alliance cannot and does not assume any responsibility for the use, misuse or misapplication of any information.

Designation Statement

Children’s of Alabama designates this enduring material for a maximum of .25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Accreditation Statement 

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Children’s of Alabama and the Alabama Child Health Improvement Alliance.  Children’s of Alabama is accredited by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Please note that effective July 1, 2011, enduring materials are required to provide an assessment of the learner that measures achievement of the educational purpose and/or objectives of the activity.  Upon completion of this activity, you will be directed to the post-test.  To receive your CME certificate, you must score a minimum of 75% on the test.

Enduring Materials Information

Formats Available: Streaming*

On-Demand Release Date: 11/14/2017

On-Demand Expiration Date: 11/14/2020

Please note that effective July 1, 2011, enduring materials are required to provide an assessment of the learner that measures achievement of the educational purpose and/or objectives of the activity.  Upon completion of this activity, you will be directed to the post-test.  To receive your CME certificate, you must score a minimum of 75% on the test.

Instructions

All three steps are required:

1.  Video Training: Allergies and Asthma, Amy CaJacob, MD, Assistant Professor, Associate Program Director, UAB/Children's of Alabama, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Video Time: 14.27 min

Click HERE to access the video.  It is recommended that you access the PowerPoint presentation handout HERE to review as you watch the video.  You will be instructed to return here to access the post-test and CME activity evaluation.

2.  Post-Test

To take test, choose physician post-test or non-physician posttest (test is the same but CME certificate is different).  You must click through and complete entire test (75% pass rate) in order for your test results to be submitted for CME credit AND certification.  On the last screen you will see your test score and if passing, will be prompted to download your CME certificate.

3.  Evaluation

Click HERE to take/submit CME activity evaluation.

Making the connection: Allergies and Asthma Bibliography

Arroyave, Whitney D., et al. “Impermeable Dust Mite Covers in the Primary and Tertiary Prevention of Allergic Disease: a Meta-Analysis.” Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, vol. 112, no. 3, 2014, pp. 237–248., doi:10.1016/j.anai.2014.01.006.

Gautier, Clarisse, and Denis Charpin. “Environmental Triggers and Avoidance in the Management of Asthma.” Journal of Asthma and Allergy, vol. Volume10, 2017, pp. 47–56., doi:10.2147/jaa.s121276.

NHLBI Guidelines Asthma Care Quick Reference Guide – Revised in 2012 https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/guidelines/asthma_qrg.pdf

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.  Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (EPR-3). https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/guidelines/asthgdln.pdf