Latest news with #anaphylaxis
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The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Singapore Airlines flight diverted after business class passenger with severe shellfish allergy served shrimp
A transatlantic flight from Germany to New York City was forced to make an emergency landing in France when a 41-year-old pediatrician with a severe shellfish allergy claims she was served a meal containing shrimp – even after making certain to notify the cabin crew about her ailment. Manhattan resident Doreen Benary was unaware there was shrimp in the dish until it was too late, according to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday and obtained first by The Independent. The complaint says she soon 'fell violently ill,' and the Singapore Airlines 777-300ER diverted to Paris, where Benary was 'transported by ambulance and underwent emergency medical treatment at two separate medical facilities.' Benary's 'adverse reaction to shrimp and the consequential injuries suffered as a result thereof' were due to the carrier's negligence, not any fault of her own, according to the complaint. Of all food allergies, those related to shellfish are among the most dangerous. In severe instances, sufferers can go into anaphylactic shock, a potentially deadly reaction that shuts down the body's airways and can be fatal without immediate medical intervention. A Mayo Clinic case report described a 20-year-old woman with a shellfish allergy who suffered near-fatal anaphylaxis shortly after kissing her boyfriend, who had eaten shrimp earlier that evening. Attorney Abram Bohrer, who is representing Benary, told The Independent he was unable to discuss the lawsuit without her permission. Singapore Airlines did not respond on Wednesday to a request for comment. On October 8, 2024, Benary boarded Singapore Airlines flight SQ026 from Frankfurt to John F. Kennedy International Airport, and took her seat in the business class cabin, according to her complaint. Upon getting on the aircraft, it says Benary told the flight attendants that she 'suffered from a food allergy, specifically to shrimp.' 'Despite the aforesaid warnings, during the course of the subject flight's meal service, a member of [the] cabin crew served [Benary] a meal containing shrimp,' the complaint goes on. Benary was 'unaware that the meal she had been served… contained shrimp until she had ingested a portion' of it, the complaint states. 'Nearly immediately after ingesting a portion of said meal,' the complaint continues, Benary 'detected the presence of shrimp and began to feel ill, wherein she questioned the flight attendant who admitted that she had made an error and apologized.' That's when Benary took a turn for the worse, becoming 'violently ill, requiring the aircraft to perform an emergency diversion to Paris, France,' according to the complaint. There, it says Benary was rushed to the hospital, then a second facility, enduring 'painful emergency medical treatment' in both. One of the cabin crew's responsibilities was 'to be aware of the seriousness of[,] and respond appropriately[,] when advised of a passenger's food allergy,' Benary's complaint argues. 'Thus,' it contends, 'when a cabin crew member was placed on notice of a passenger's food allergy, said crew member had a duty of care to ensure that meals containing such allergens or their ingredients were not served to that particular passenger.' Benary's complaint does not say whether or not she was carrying an EpiPen, a self-administered auto-injector that delivers a life-saving dose of epinephrine in emergencies. However, current FAA regulations do not require airlines to carry easy-to-use EpiPens in their first-aid kits, but only vials of epinephrine, which require a trained medical professional to measure out, calculate the proper concentration, and administer by syringe, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Severe allergic reactions aboard aircraft are exceedingly rare, but they do occur. In 2019, a flight from Miami to Philadelphia was forced to make an emergency landing when a passenger with an acute nut allergy found herself unable to breathe as flight attendants handed out packets of mixed nuts as a snack. In 2022, a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Singapore diverted to Honolulu when another passenger with a nut allergy suffered a serious reaction over the Pacific. Last year, a Delta passenger with a life-threatening shellfish allergy claimed she was thrown off a flight to Boston after informing the cabin crew of her condition, saying the first-class meal included shellfish and that 'they couldn't not serve it.' Benary's complaint says the frightening midair incident caused her 'great pain, agony and mental anguish,' and that she subsequently suffered economic and non-economic losses. She is now demanding 'full, fair and reasonable damages' in an amount to be determined at trial.
Medscape
a day ago
- Health
- Medscape
Cashew Leads Tree Nut-Induced Anaphylaxis in Children
In over 1000 cases of physician-diagnosed episodes of tree nut-induced anaphylaxis (TIA), tree nuts accounted for 23% of all reported episodes of food-induced anaphylaxis, establishing their role as major food allergens. Cashew emerged as the most frequent elicitor of TIA in children, whereas hazelnut was the leading cause of TIA in adults. METHODOLOGY: Researchers collected data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry between 2007 and April 2024, involving 142 specialized allergy centers across Brazil and 13 countries in Europe. A total of 1389 cases of TIA were documented, with the specific elicitor confirmed in 1083 cases: 845 children (median age, 4 years; 61% boys) and 238 adults (median age, 38 years; 60% women). Phenotype-specific features characterized by age distributions, symptoms, and the severity of the reaction and the presence of potential cofactors and comorbidities were identified, and time trends and regional patterns of TIA were analyzed. TAKEAWAY: Among children, cashew elicited 40% of TIA cases, followed by hazelnut (25%) and walnut (17%). In adults, hazelnut (44%) was the leading cause, followed by walnut (20%) and almond (15%). Children reacted to smaller amounts than adults, with 76% of children and 20% of adults reacting to less than a tablespoon of cashew ( P = .015). Similar patterns were observed for hazelnut, walnut, and other tree nuts. = .015). Similar patterns were observed for hazelnut, walnut, and other tree nuts. Previous reactions to the allergen that caused TIA were reported in 25% of children and 33% of adults, yet only 23% of children and 21% of adults were aware of their tree nut allergy beforehand. Only 13% of children and 3% of adults received adrenaline during lay treatment compared with 42% of children and 39% of adults who received it during professional treatment. IN PRACTICE: 'Primary prevention to avoid tree nut allergy in general is necessary, followed by the education of patients about the potential role of cofactors, which were present in up to 50% of affected adults and which might have increased the reaction severity from otherwise mild to anaphylactic reactions,' the authors of this study wrote. SOURCE: Margitta Worm, with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany, was the corresponding author of the study, which was published online on June 13 in Allergy . LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by the under-representation of adults, missing data on fatal cases, and the prevalence of TIA in general. Additionally, the data derived from specialized allergy centers might have led to a bias toward more severe or initial reactions. DISCLOSURES: This work was supported by NORA e.V., Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Swiss Cancer Research Foundation, and the EU-H2020-MSCA-COFUND EURIdoc program. Some authors reported providing consultation and speaker/advisor services or receiving grants, research funding, honoraria or consultation fees, or payment for presentations from various pharmaceutical and other companies. One author reported holding stocks in EssilorLuxottica.
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Medications During Infancy May Shape Future Allergy Risk
Exposure to acid-suppressive medications or antimicrobials in infancy was linked to higher risks for food allergies and anaphylaxis in early childhood, with the risks increasing further with multiple antimicrobial prescriptions. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a retrospective study using the US TriNetX Network to examine whether the use of acid-suppressive medications or antimicrobials during infancy influences the risk of developing allergic diseases in childhood. They identified infants who were prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs; n = 15,375), histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs; n = 42,913), at least one antibiotic course (n = 740,121), or three or more antibiotic courses (n = 163,098) during the first year of life and compared them with 1,510,074 infants who received none of these medications during their first 2 years. Three allergic outcomes, namely anaphylaxis, food allergy, and atopic dermatitis, were assessed at 2 years of age. TAKEAWAY: Infants prescribed PPIs during their first year of life had more than a fivefold higher risk for food allergy (risk ratio [RR], 5.33; 95% CI, 4.97-5.71) and nearly a 2.5-fold higher risk for anaphylaxis (RR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.40-4.41) by 2 years of age than unexposed infants. Similarly, infants prescribed H2RAs had a 4.2-fold higher risk for food allergy (RR, 4.21; 95% CI, 4.01-4.41), a 1.4-fold higher risk for atopic dermatitis (RR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.35-1.48), and nearly a 4.5-fold higher risk for anaphylaxis (RR, 4.48; 95% CI, 3.43-5.86) than unexposed infants. Infants with at least one antimicrobial prescription during infancy showed nearly twice the risk for food allergy and more than twice the risk for both atopic dermatitis and anaphylaxis than unexposed infants. Infants who received three or more antimicrobial prescriptions in their first year faced sharply elevated 2-year risks compared with unexposed infants — nearly 2.8-fold for food allergy, 3.4-fold for atopic dermatitis, and 3.7-fold for anaphylaxis. IN PRACTICE: 'The composition of the gut microbiota is strongly associated with allergic manifestations, as the commensal bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract promote healthy development of the gut immune system with promotion of food tolerance,' the study authors wrote. 'Antibiotic exposure disrupts these microbial communities, which in turn affects individuals' immune response and likely increases their susceptibility for allergic manifestations,' they added. SOURCE: Mohamad R. Chaaban, with the Head & Neck Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, was the corresponding author of the study, which was published online on May 30 in the Journal of Clinical Medicine . LIMITATIONS: The misdiagnosis of infant food allergies as gastroesophageal reflux disease and higher acid-suppressive medication use in more severe cases may have confounded the associations between these medications and food allergy. DISCLOSURES: This project was supported in part by the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Northern Ohio, which is funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Ant no stopping us now: insect with potent bite continues march across US
Last year, Dan Suiter, a professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia, received at least three calls from people who had been stung by an Asian needle ant – or knew someone who had been – and went into anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. While there is no new evidence on the continued spread of the ants in the US – detected now in 20 US states – Suiter and his colleagues are determined to raise public awareness of the risks the species poses. Unlike fire ants, Asian needle ants aren't aggressive, and Suiter said there has not been reporting on whether there has been an increase in the number of stings. Still, Suiter said, when he heard about what seemed like more people landing in the hospital after being stung, he saw it as the 'tip of the iceberg'. 'We just thought that the bell needed to be rung again and have this brought to people's attention,' Suiter said of the decision by the University of Georgia to issue a recent press release on the threat posted by the invasive ants. It's worked. So far, ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, Newsweek, USA Today and a long list of other news organizations have reported on detection of the insects across a broad swathe of the US. The Asian needle ant, whose scientific name is brachyponera chinensis, was first detected in the United States in 1932. 'They are small, shiny, black, very sleek, almost elegant-looking,' said Joe MacGown, a semi-retired ant curator at Mississippi State University and an artist. The ants often colonize in 'undisturbed forest areas where they nest under and within logs and other debris, under stones and in leaf litter', the US Department of Agriculture reported. 'They can also occur near homes and businesses under mulch, pavers, landscape timbers and other objects.' While they are difficult to control, they are not especially dangerous, said MacGown. 'If you find them, in general, they are going to run from you,' he said. 'They are not going to actively go out of their way to sting you, like a fire ant.' But they can disrupt a natural ecosystem because they are an invasive species and 'may not have anything to control them, pest-wise', MacGown said. Like invasive trees, 'they don't immediately serve a real purpose in the ecosystem. They kind of form dead zones.' Suiter encourages people who live in states where the ant is common and have a history of anaphylaxis after an insect bite to take photos of bugs on their property that they suspect could be Asian needle ants and send them to a local extension office or entomology department at a university to have them identified. shows where they have been found. But there is not much people can do if they find the ants on their property, Suiter said. He encourages people to wear gloves and shoes when gardening and to clean up woody debris, which is where the ants would nest. People could also consider installing an ant-baiting program, which are 'food substances that the ants like and take back to their colony and they eat it, and you get a slow decline of the colony', Suiter said. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include hives, itching, low blood pressure and constriction of the airway, according to the USDA. An EpiPen can be effective in treating the allergic reaction, similar to its use after a honeybee sting, MacGown said, but people experiencing such symptoms should still seek immediate medical attention. Still, only 2.1% of people stung exhibited anaphylaxis, according to a study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 'I'm not overly concerned about this, as far as them attacking people,' MacGown said. 'Don't be alarmed if you have them, but be aware.' Stacey Vigil, an entomologist and wildlife biologist, has been stung by needle ants twice in recent years. The stings didn't happen while she was doing field work but rather when she was just hanging out at her local pool in Atlanta. The first time, she had a local reaction that led to several weeks of significant itchiness. The second time, even though she had never had such a reaction to an insect bite, she went into anaphylaxis and rushed to an urgent care center. Aside from increased fear, she has not had any lingering health effects, she said. She tried to get rid of the insects at the pool but was unsuccessful, so she no longer swims there and now carries an EpiPen. Despite her experience, she also pointed out that the ants are not aggressive. 'It's fairly easy to avoid where they are if you know' their location, Vigil said. 'They love rotting wood, so avoiding those places helps, but it's not always easy. The pool seems to be my nemesis right now.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jim Cramer on ARS Pharmaceuticals: 'It's a Great Flier'
ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPRY) is one of the 16 stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. A caller asked if it was a good time to buy the stock. Cramer replied: 'You know what? I like their model… and I think that, well, here's what I look at, it's a great flier. Someone needs that technology, someone's going to pay for it.' A laboratory technician processing a batch of medication in an industrial setting. ARS Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SPRY) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on helping patients and caregivers manage severe allergic reactions, with its product neffy, a nasal epinephrine spray approved for emergency treatment of anaphylaxis in both the U.S. and EU. In the first quarter of 2025, the company reported $8.0 million in total revenue. The net loss for the quarter was $33.9 million, or $0.35 per share. Moreover, as of March 31, ARS Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SPRY) held $275.7 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments. It maintained its outlook that current financial resources are expected to support operations for at least the next three years. While we acknowledge the potential of SPRY as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
