Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia in Castle Hill, New South Wales, Australia | Non-profit organisation

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia

Locality: Castle Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 1300 728 000

Address: 15/10 Gladstone Road 2154 Castle Hill, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.allergyfacts.org.au/

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24.01.2022 Are you less than 23 weeks pregnant? Do you know someone who is less than 23 weeks pregnant? Child Health Researchers at the Telethon Kids Institute are now recruiting for the PrEggNut Study. The national study (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne & Sydney) is testing whether the amount of eggs and peanuts a mother eats during pregnancy influences the development of food allergy in her baby.... For more information, or to register for the study visit the Telethon Kids website today.

24.01.2022 Bulla Family Dairy has asked us to share the following update in regard to their nut free and gluten free ice cream. "Unfortunately due to sales of Bulla’s nut free ice cream not meeting their expectations, Woolworths have advised that they will not longer be selling the product in their stores. The product is still available through IGA and other independent supermarkets nationally. It's really unfortunate that this product has not had the traction we wanted in the marketp...lace to date. Hopefully the sales through IGA increase on the back of this so we can keep it in the market as long as possible." A&AA would like to thank Bulla for it's commitment in working with us to produce this specialised product for families with nut allergies. Please look for it in IGA and other independent supermarkets.

24.01.2022 Did you know poorly controlled allergic rhinitis (hay fever) can make your asthma worse? Allergic rhinitis that is not well controlled can increase the risk of a person developing asthma. If you already have asthma, having better control of your allergic rhinitis can assist with having better control of your asthma. This mean if your allergic rhinitis is not under control your asthma will also be more severe. If your allergic rhinitis affects your daily life speak with your G...P. You may need a referral to a clinical immunologist/allergy specialist who will discuss further treatments available for you such as allergen immunotherapy. Allergen immunotherapy is also known as desensitisation and can be given by tablets, drops, sprays or injections. Read our brochure for more information: http://ow.ly/CgwY50B5bXf

24.01.2022 In recognition of World Atopic Eczema Day, the 250K Youth Project team have developed a new animation which explains what causes eczema and how it can be managed day-to-day as well as during eczema flares. Share the animation with your friends, family, school or childcare to help educate the community about eczema. View below and visit the 250K Website for other helpful resources : https://ya.250k.org.au/eczema

23.01.2022 Do you have an allergy to crustacea (shellfish such as prawns, crab and lobster) or to house dust mite (HDM)? One of our followers has alerted us to the fact that some Victorian schools are learning about crickets as an alternative food source during Science Week. We have also been told that it is part of the VCE Food Trends curriculum. Because of this, we wanted to remind people with crustacea allergy and/or HDM allergy that they need to consider avoiding these products ...as there is cross reactivity between crustaceans, HDMs and arthropods such as crickets; they share common proteins including tropomyosin that can cause an allergic response. If you are allergic to crustacea or HDM you MAY also be allergic to crickets and other arthropods. Speak with your clinical immunology/allergy specialist, as people with both house dust mite allergy and/or shellfish allergy have had allergic reactions including anaphylaxis when eating crickets and other insects. IMPORTANTLY not all people with house dust mite allergy and/or crustacean allergy will be allergic to crickets, but it is important to be aware that it is a possibility and speak with your clinical immunology/allergy specialist about it.

23.01.2022 Happy Fathers Day Special call out to all Dads and Grand-Dads who help manage allergy! Huge thanks to the Dads and Grand-Dads who share the load by making medical appointments, taking the kids to those medical appointments, filling in the forms for school, being super creative in the kitchen, being a cool head in an emergency and a shoulder to cry on when things dont go to plan. ... Tell us about the fabulous Allergy Dads and Grand-Dads in your life. THANK YOU

23.01.2022 Allergic conditions such as life-threatening allergies, severe eczema and allergic rhinitis are on the rise, and they do not just affect those diagnosed; they impact their families, friends, teachers and colleagues. Donate $10 this #GivingTuesday to help improve the lives all Australians living with allergic conditions: http://ow.ly/L1wx50Cxzlx

22.01.2022 Its a tricky time for people living with hay fever and the risk of COVID-19 with a number of the symptoms of both conditions being the same. Best practise is to be sure that your hay fever symptoms are well managed, by seeing your GP or immunologist and regularly taking the medications prescribed such as nasal sprays and antihistamines. It is also a good time to discuss immunotherapy with your allergy specialist/clinical immunologist in readiness for the 2021 hay fever sea...son. Take a look at our website for further information: https://allergyfacts.org.au/alle/allergic-rhinitis-hayfever

22.01.2022 Looking forward to the LiveChat for Food Safety Week tomorrow! Great to share information on food allergy with health officers that investigate allergic reactions to packaged foods that might be incorrectly labelled and allergic reactions to food purchased from restaurants and other food service facilities when people disclose their food allergy. Thanks to Environmental Health Australia Ltd. for the invite to share information on food allergy.

21.01.2022 Have you heard of an allergy to exercise? Exercise induced anaphylaxis (EIA) is an uncommon, but recognised disorder, where you can have an allergic response to exercise. Allergy symptoms can occur with exercise alone however more often EIA occurs when a particular food is eaten around the time of exercise. This is known as Food Dependent Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis (FDEIA). EIA and FDEIA can be affected by co-factors such as medication, temperature, alcohol and pollen in the environment at the time. EIA and FDEIA can be difficult to diagnose and complex to manage, so its important that you are under the care of a clinical immunology/allergy specialist. For further information see our website: http://ow.ly/Bo3F50BmGEP

21.01.2022 Thunderstorm asthma - be prepared Some good advice in this article from The Age. See your doctor for a plan for what to do in a thunderstorm asthma event anyone who has: - asthma;... - respiratory issues such as wheezing; - Hay fever; and - had asthma and believed they had the condition under control. For those with asthma: - Always use your preventer medication as much as your doctor advises. - Always carry your reliever inhaler (blue puffer). - Keep up to date with pollen counts and weather forecast during spring and summer. - Have an up-to-date written asthma action plan including thunderstorm advice. - Avoid being outdoors just before and during thunderstorms, especially in wind gusts before rain. - Get inside a building or car with the windows shut and the air conditioner switched to recirculate or recycled. See more

20.01.2022 This is an excellent article on hay fever and why it is important to manage symptoms and talk to your doctor about a management plan and possible desensitisation.

19.01.2022 Do you know how to administer a nasal spray for your allergic rhinitis (hay fever)? If you use a nasal spray to treat your allergic rhinitis (hay fever) it is important you are using it correctly. If used incorrectly the spray solution will not be absorbed and you will not see an improvement of your symptoms. Some nasal sprays can take a couple of days of use before you notice a difference.

19.01.2022 Do you have a child with severe allergies attending school or childcare? The National Allergy Strategy is developing minimum standards for the prevention and management of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions) in schools and childcare. To help develop these standards, the NAS want to know how you think severe allergies should be managed in schools and childcare. Please complete the short survey to share your thoughts. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to comple...te. Surveys are completed anonymously. For more information, visit the National Allergy Strategy website Be quick as the survey closes at midnight on Friday 25th September 2020.

19.01.2022 With Summer well on its way, and the lifting on COVID restrictions in most states, many Australians will be looking forward to eating out over the Holiday period. How do those with food allergies eat out safely? What are the hints you can share for eating out safely?... See our Eating out with Food Allergy resources for tips to help you enjoy a meal out with friends and family: http://ow.ly/aJIg50CpIQ1

18.01.2022 Where are the strange places you have found common allergens? Some of our members have recently found: Wheat in wool care laundry detergent.... Clothing which is constructed from milk protein but can also contain soy, peanut or corn! Azlon is a synthetic fibre derived from the proteins found in milk, egg, peanut, corn, and soy (among other sources). Who would have thought? Coming into contact with these products is unlikely to cause an anaphylactic reaction. However some skin irritation could result especially in someone who has eczema. In someone with eczema who is not already eating wheat there could be a small risk they maybe sensitised by having their clothing washed in a detergent containing wheat.

17.01.2022 Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in childhood, affecting about 8 percent of infants aged 12 months. 80 percent of these infants are likely to outgrow their egg allergy within the first few years of life. However, a very small number of people have egg allergy for life. Join Dr Merryn Netting on Thursday December 3, in the next instalment of the Feeding your Child with Food Allergy webinar series for a discussion around managing egg allergy. Register here:... http://ow.ly/Q39f50CsO9e The webinar will be recorded and there will be opportunity to ask Dr Netting questions at the end.

17.01.2022 Are you a young adult living severe food allergy? Join the National Allergy Strategy on Thursday 20th August for a catch up on Zoom. The session will begin at 8pm AEST and will run for about an hour. In order to take part in the chat you must RSVP to [email protected] by COB Wednesday 19th August. Once your RSVP is received, a National Allergy Strategy staff member will provide you with an invitation to join the meeting.... Please note, this chat is open to young adults aged between 18-26 years.

17.01.2022 FOOD RECALL Milk and Soy Alert 22 August 2020 - TASMANIA ONLY Product description: Fresh sauces Product names: ... The Happy Chef Fresh Peppercorn Sauce The Happy Chef Fresh Caramelised Red Wine and Rosemary Jus The Happy Chef Fresh Diane Sauce The Happy Chef Fresh Country Sauce Reason for recall: The presence of undeclared milk and soy Recall detection: The recall is a result of government surveillance For more information go to: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au//Happy-Chef-Fresh-Sauces- See more

17.01.2022 Halloween is coming up at the end of this month and for parents of children with food allergies this can be a ‘tricky’ time of year. While Halloween may be a bit different across the country this year, those in states where trick-or-treating is going ahead it is a good time to start planning for it. Talk to your child before going trick-or-treating about your rules around what treats your child can and can’t have (and when they can have their treats). We have a help sheet and three different posters to display at your house to help children with food allergies stay safe and still participate in the fun: http://ow.ly/8jPc50BPBfz

17.01.2022 Join Dr Merryn Netting Advanced Accredited Pracitising Dietitian as she talks about ways to help babies and children learn to eat well. Register here: http://ow.ly/WIgQ50BHna0

17.01.2022 Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, through the National Allergy Strategy is working with the Australian Commission On Safety and Quality In Health Care (ACSQHC) to develop an Acute Anaphylaxis Clinical Care Standard (CCS). This CCS will help guide the consistent treatment of anaphylaxis emergencies and hospital discharge education and care nationally. An ACSQHC Topic Working Group is currently progressing the CCS and consumer consultation will happen as we progress developm...ent of the CCS which will include an Acute Anaphylaxis Clinical Care Standard Fact Sheet for consumers. A&AA thanks the ACSQHC and all experts working to optimise emergency treatment of anaphylaxis in line with best practice at a national level. Information on the development of this Clinical Care Standard go to https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/acute-anaphylaxis-clini

16.01.2022 Today, on World Atopic Eczema Day, Acacia, a brave teen, shares her story of triumph despite all odds. Her amazing story of life with severe eczema gives hope to so many. For many, PBS listing of Dupixent is so close, yet so far. A&AA advocates for Australians to have access to range of medications to treat eczema more effectively. Doctors and individuals with eczema need to be able to choose the treatment that best suits their needs. A&AA pleads with Minister Greg Hunt MP and Sanofi Australia to announce PBS listing of Dupixent so people like Acacia across Australia can have their lives back. Read Acacias story: http://ow.ly/3UOg50BnKy0

16.01.2022 Fathers Day may look a little different this year, but that shouldnt stop us from thanking our Dad for all he does! The global pandemic has meant that a lot of us a reading more often, so why not spoil Dad with a good book or two from Booktopia? Booktopia has a wide range of books that will put a smile on anyones face. There are also a range of puzzles, games and gadgets that will keep Dad and the family entertained for days. When you head to Booktopia though the link below A&AA receives a commission - you dont pay any more, but you are helping A&AA! Shop today: http://ow.ly/m8jI50AUQ2W

16.01.2022 Food Alert - Cadbury Dairy Milk Marble Chocolate NEW Cadbury Dairy Milk Marble 173g block and 54g Medium bar contains a HAZELNUT praline centre coated in Cadbury Dairy Milk and Dream chocolate Cadbury have asked Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia to provide the following update.... Cadbury is encouraging consumers to always check ingredient and allergen information, especially when trying new products. Cadbury Dairy Milk Marble has recently been launched in block and bar format the product is a mix of milk and white chocolate with a hazelnut praline centre. Please note the product contains milk, hazelnuts and soy, and may contain wheat, peanuts and other tree nuts. We’re committed to making our packaging and labels as easy as possible for consumers managing allergies and always welcome feedback. This is a sponsored post.

15.01.2022 Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) understands that Dupilumab (Dupixent) for the treatment of people with severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) has been listed for another Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) hearing in November 2020. This listing is to assist the government and Sanofi-Aventis Australia (the sponsor of the new medication) with progression of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listing of Dupilumab. While we are confident the recommendation for PBS l...isting of Dupilumab will stand, we are writing to the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health and to Sanofi-Aventis Australia to express our frustration and plea that the challenges preventing the urgent PBS listing of Dupilumab are resolved. Our hope is that the November PBAC meeting outcome means PBS listing will then be expedited. People need to access the potentially life changing medication they so desperately need. Read our full statement: http://ow.ly/KM2N50BLAOg

14.01.2022 Do you know the correct way to remove a tick? Australian ticks can cause two very serious allergies, tick anaphylaxis and Mammalian Meat Allergy. It is very important to remove ticks the right way so you reduce the risk of tick anaphylaxis and/or the development of an allergy to meat from mammals (e.g. beef, lamb, pork, kangaroo). People with tick and insect allergy can suddenly go into anaphylaxis because the allergen goes straight into the bloodstream and not into the gut a...s it does with food allergy. People can collapse within minutes so it is important you do your best to avoid insect sting and tick bite, KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE STUNG OR BITTEN and always have your emergency medication with you. With experts forecasting a particularly wet Summer make sure that you know how to remove a tick correctly. Watch this interview with Medical Entomologist Professor Stephen Doggett, and Allergy Consultant Assoc. Professor Sheryl Van Nunen to learn more.

14.01.2022 Christmas is around the corner - how are you preparing for the holiday season? Visit our website for tips about how to safely enjoy the festive season: http://ow.ly/dVci50CsYjZ

14.01.2022 We thank the Shadow Minister for Health Chris Bowen MP for hearing our plight and supporting people with severe eczema. Life changing Dupixent needs to be PBS listed now...we have people desperate for this treatment call us daily. Their suffering is real - we need them to be heard.

13.01.2022 FOOD RECALL Shellfish Alert 28 August 2020 -Western Australia Only Product description: Frozen vegetarian dumplings... Product name: Miss Chows Vegetarian Dumpling Reason for recall: The presence of undeclared shellfish Recall detection: The recall is the result of a customer complaint For more information go to: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au//Miss-Chows-Vegetarian-D See more

13.01.2022 Allergic rhinitis ( hay fever) or Covid-19? With COVID-19 circulating it is even more important to have your allergic rhinitis symptoms under control. It is best to avoid the dilemma of having to consider whether your runny nose is COVID-19 related. Wearing a face mask with allergic rhinitis is near impossible.... See your GP to discuss which antihistamines, nasal sprays or eye drops (if your eyes are affected) would be best suited to you. Visit our website for more information about allergic rhinitis: http://ow.ly/lw7k50B5bYK

13.01.2022 FOOD RECALL - HAZELNUT Alert 3 Sept 2020 Product description: Chocolate covered malt balls Product name: Haighs Milk MaltiChocs Reason for recall: the presence of an undeclared allergen (hazelnut) as a result of hazelnut chocs being packaged in maltichoc packaging... Recall detection: The recall is the result of customer complaint For more information go to: http://ow.ly/6Mqi50BgzXA

12.01.2022 Do you or someone you know have MUSTARD allergy? Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has an application for Rapeseed Isolate Protein to be registered as a novel food. This would allow it to be included in food such as meals, dairy foods, bread, breakfast cereals, fruit juices etc. People with mustard allergy may react to Rapeseed Protein Isolate. A&AA is concerned about the impact of this on people with mustard allergy. A&AA has made a submission expressing our conc...ern about the registering of this novel food and we encourage you to make a submission about this issue if it affects you. Applications close 4th September. See below for more information and to make a submission:

12.01.2022 Did you know that leaving your adrenaline injector in temperatures above 25C can affect the dose of adrenaline, making it less effective over time? As such, adrenaline injectors (such as the EpiPen) should not be stored in cars or out in the hot sun for extended periods of time. It is important to do your best to keep your adrenaline injector between 15 and 25C most of the time. It must be with you when out and about but keep it where you want to be on a hot day (i.e. not sitting in the sun). For helpful hints about temperature management visit our website: http://ow.ly/rSih50BCEIq

12.01.2022 Do you work in a school or childcare service? The National Allergy Strategy is developing minimum standards for the prevention and management of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions) in schools and childcare. To help develop these standards, the NAS want to know how you think severe allergies should be managed in schools and childcare. Please complete the short survey to share your thoughts. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Surveys are completed an...onymously. For more information, visit the National Allergy Strategy website. Be quick as the survey closes at midnight on Friday 25th September 2020.

12.01.2022 Cow’s milk allergy is one of the more difficult to manage food allergies in children. There are many different types of allergic conditions caused by cow’s milk protein, as such, the cow’s milk protein allergy webinar will be presented over two evenings. The second part of this two-part presentation is on managing gastrointestinal cow’s milk protein allergy. This webinar is for parents of children with delayed or gastrointestinal symptoms of cow’s milk allergy focussing on co...nditions such as allergic proctocolitis and allergic enteropathy; this type of allergy is sometimes called ‘cow’s milk protein intolerance’. (Note: We will be doing separate webinars on FPIES and Eosinophilic Oesophagitis) Register here - it's free: http://ow.ly/5K4Y50Cg6FZ These webinars, presented by Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian Ingrid Roche, are part of our Feeding your child with food allergies webinars series, presented by allergy dietitians. Please note: part 1 will be captioned and on our website soon.

11.01.2022 Children (and teens and adults) who are at-risk of anaphylaxis to food often experience anxiety around eating. The right level of anxiety can be protective, however too much anxiety can be crippling and stop the person engaging in normal social situations such as eating out with friends, attending birthday parties and family functions. A new research article shows that psychological therapy can help manage excessive anxiety. If you feel that you/your child may be exhibiting e...xcessive anxiety type behaviours it can be valuable to get help from a psychologist trained in cognitive behaviour therapy. Consider speaking to your GP for a referral to a psychologist. This research study talks about a Food Allergy Bravery (FAB) clinic at at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania - how great would it be to have one of these at each major childrens hospital in Australia? We love this quote from the author of the study: Our ultimate goal, of course, is for every child with a food allergy to stay safe while living as big a life as they want to http://ow.ly/WElO50BgBTs

11.01.2022 Psychological services for people living with food allergy surveys. To take part in a study about how food allergy has affected you or your child and your access to psychological services please use the following links: Adults with food allergy: http://ow.ly/MbyF50BLuaf ... Parent of child aged 0-17 with food allergy: http://ow.ly/PKwa50BLuag Young person with food allergy aged 12-17: http://ow.ly/co4n50BLuai These survey are part of an international survey on Psychological Service Needs for Food Allergy headed by Dr Rebecca Knibb at Aston University in collaboration Dr Chrissie Jones, Dr Helen Brough, Dr Linda Herbert, Centres in the UK, Europe, the USA and Canada and the European academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology's Patient Organisations Committee (A&AA is part of this Patient Organisation Committee).

11.01.2022 You can make some changes to decrease exposure to pollens,dust mites and moulds in the environment that can make your allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or asthma worse. Here are some example of tips to help you reduce exposure to environmental allergens. Stay inside during thunderstorms in pollen season if you have a pollen allergy.... Avoid going outside during high pollen days or when it is windy. Pollen counts are often higher in the morning. If you do need to go out wear sunglasses( they are usually larger and offer more coverage than prescription glasses). You may want to avoid hanging your clothing and sheets outside to dry during high pollen count days. Consider what plants and grasses you have around your house. You might need to replace the ones which trigger your allergic rhinitis. Visit our website for further helpful hints: http://ow.ly/VgXm50BddFH

11.01.2022 So good to see our young people sharing important information. Great to work with our peer mentors and motivated teens and young adults to help us guide tweens and teens with allergy care. National Allergy Strategy See www.250k.org.au

10.01.2022 SPONSORED POST The Happy Snack Company has released a new flavour of their delicious dairy free chocolate coated chickpeas - salted caramel! Like the rest of the chickpeas and fava beans from The Happy Snack Company, the chocolate coated chickpea range is dairy, nut and wheat free. ... The new salted caramel flavour are so good, they recently won first place at the Australian Healthy Food Magazine Awards 2020 in the category of Best Packaged Sweet Snack! You can purchase The Happy Snack Company products in Coles and Woolworths. For more information visit: http://ow.ly/z08b50BMMOA

10.01.2022 What causes allergic rhinitis (hay fever)? Did you know up to 18% of the population suffer from allergic rhinitis. Some people have allergic rhinitis in Spring / Summer, other people have it all year round. It is caused by your nose or eyes coming in contact with allergens in the environment. These allergens can include pollens (from grasses, weeds or trees), dust mites, moulds and animal hair.... Symptoms can be mild /moderate or severe and include a runny/itchy or blocked nose/sinuses, sneezing and itchy watery eyes. Treatment can include nasal sprays, antihistamines, and eyedrops ( if your eyes are affected). To find out the pollen forecast for your area visit http://ow.ly/pMxz50B5bpP. You can download an app for your local pollen count centre as well. Note: pollen forecast is only available in NSW, VIC, QLD & ACT.

09.01.2022 Do you know about allergen immunotherapy? Is your allergic rhinitis (hay fever) still a problem and affecting your quality of life? Is this despite using your nasal sprays, antihistamines and implementing preventative measures? There is a long term treatment which may help decrease your symptoms and improve the quality of your life. This is called allergen immunotherapy. With immunotherapy many have been able to reduce their symptoms and even use less or no daily medications... for allergic rhinitis. Visit our website for more information: http://ow.ly/FVUF50Bag7k

09.01.2022 Are you a young adult living with severe food allergy? Join the National Allergy Strategy on Thursday 17th September for a Zoom chat with special guest Val Noble. Val is a caring, engaging and experienced registered nurse that has worked in the field of allergy in Perth for many years. The session will begin at 8pm AEST and will run for about an hour.... In order to take part in the chat you must RSVP to [email protected] by COB Thursday 17th September. Once your RSVP is received, a National Allergy Strategy staff member will provide you with an invitation to join the meeting. Please note, this chat is open to young adults aged between 18-26 years.

09.01.2022 Are you in lockdown in Melbourne and having difficulty accessing safe food? A few Melburnians have contacted us about the challenge they have with getting food from outside their 5km from home restriction at present. Your ASCIA Action Plan detailing your food allergies that is signed by your doctor is sufficient evidence to allow you to travel outside your 5km from home radius IF you cannot get the specialised food you need from within that 5km radius. See information from Victorian Department of Health and Human Services: http://ow.ly/g0qp50BnLQz

08.01.2022 NEW RESOURCE AVAILABLE - Allergic Rhinits (hay fever) and Allergen Immunotherapy Webinar Weve had great feedback on recent posts on allergic rhinitis and immunotherapy. In this webinar, Professor Connie Katelaris explains much more on management and treatment in easy to understand language. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been used for over 100 years and is a proven treatment providing long-term relief of allergic rhinitis for many. But what exactly is AIT ? And how does... it work? Watch the webinar on our website: http://ow.ly/Gp2U50BgAyI

08.01.2022 Managing life with cow’s milk and/or egg allergy, or less common allergic conditions such as FPIES and/or EoE can be difficult. Our Feeding your child with food allergy Webinar Series has been developed with the support of four experienced, dedicated allergy dietitians. The dietitians will help with understanding of these conditions and will share everyday management tips. The first webinar in this series - How can I teach my child to eat well? - will be on Thursday 15th Oct...ober, 8pm AEST. Join Dr Merryn Netting Advanced Accredited Pracitising Dietitian as she talks about ways to help babies and children learn to eat well. For more information and to register for the webinar visit: http://ow.ly/WIgQ50BHna0

08.01.2022 Good news! Winter is almost over and Spring is right around the corner! Are you ready for Spring? Is your allergic rhinitis (hay fever) under control? Allergic rhinitis affects up to 18% of the population and can have an impact on how you manage day to day. It can result in unsettled sleep, daytime tiredness, headaches and poor concentration.... You dont have to suffer this Spring. Speak with your GP and discuss treatments including nasal sprays, antihistamines and eyedrops (if your eyes are affected). Often people will require a combination of medicines to help them through Spring. We recommend people with allergic rhinitis visit their GP BEFORE Spring. This way an appropriate treatment plan can be devised: http://ow.ly/IgBc50B39PD Visit our website for more information: http://ow.ly/ZRFl50B39PC

08.01.2022 Today is World Skin Health Day! Visit the The Australasian College of Dermatologists website for helpful tips to prepare for your telehealth appointment with the dermatologist: http://ow.ly/Y5Do50BPFut Many of these tips would also be useful for telehealth appointments with your GP or Clinical Immunologist.... For helpful tips on managing atopic dermatitis (eczema), head to our website: http://ow.ly/AB2p50BPFus

07.01.2022 Have you ever wondered what happens inside your body when you develop an allergy? This short animation created originally for the National Allergy Strategys 250K Youth Project - provides a simple explanation about how we develop allergies and how our immune system works. Learn what happens when an allergic reaction occurs and the role that antihistamine and adrenaline have in managing signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction. Learn more about allergies on our website: http://ow.ly/FPT850BrTWr

07.01.2022 What should you do if you think that your child has a food allergy? Have a read of this informative article from ABC Life. The article discusses the importance of early diagnosis and seeking appropriate medical assistance from your GP or allergy/clinical immunology specialist.

05.01.2022 With Summer on the way, and the lifting of COVID restriction in most states, many people will look forward to eating out over the holiday period. Are you prepared? Have you downloaded your Chef Card? Is it up to date? Always verbally disclose your allergy and ask questions about the ingredients and food preparation. ... Another safe guard is to have a Chef Card which provides written information that outlines the foods you must avoid. Present the Chef Card to the chef or manager when ordering your meal. Download your chef card today: http://ow.ly/t44H50CrJUS

05.01.2022 FOOD RECALL Egg Alert 11 November 2020 Product description: Low Calorie High Protein Gelato... Product name: Fit-Lato Lemon Meringue Gelato 473ml Reason for recall: The presence of undeclared egg Recall detection: The recall is the result of a customer complaint. One case of illness reported by the sponsor. For more information go to: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au//Fit-Lato-Lemon-Meringue- See more

05.01.2022 October is Mental Health Month. Dealing with allergies on a daily basis can cause a lot of stress and anxiety in individuals with allergies and those who care for them. Our Health Educators sometimes recognise a high degree of anxiety in some of the people that make contacts with us.... So we thought we would start the month off by providing links to reputable organisations that support people with their mental health and help them to lead better, more relaxed, fun and rewarding lives even though they have to sometimes do some things a little differently. You may like to keep a copy of these useful groups. Headspace is for young people and the older people in their lives. http://ow.ly/RoyU50BF3a2 Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best mental health. http://ow.ly/qB9250BF39Z Lifeline is are a national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. http://ow.ly/MPce50BF3a0 The Black Dog Institute is a research medical institute to investigate mental health across the life span. http://ow.ly/b1w550BF39Y For more information about October Mental Health Month, visit: http://ow.ly/I1GC50BF3a1

05.01.2022 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Adrenaline injector CHOICE to become a reality in Australia. It is important that people at risk of anaphylaxis and their treating doctor can discuss options of adrenaline injector devices and choose a device that best suits their needs.... Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) is pleased to announce the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is currently reviewing two applications for registration of alternate adrenaline injectors in the Australian market. SYMJEPI , an adrenaline injector and ANAPEN, a revised adrenaline autoinjector are currently with the TGA awaiting registration and THEN hopefully PBS listing. A&AA is in communication with both the Australian sponsors of the devices. Visit our website for more information: http://ow.ly/X3kE50BfuiZ A&AA will continue to advocate for Auvi-Q, a Kaleo product, to be an option for Australians living with the risk of anaphylaxis.

05.01.2022 Living with allergies is difficult. It is OK to ask for help. During the All About Allergens for Hospitals launch, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP spoke about the anxiety, fear and depression associated with living with food allergy. Understandably we have many parents contacting us with severe anxiety. Often their young child has just had a severe reaction, they will have been given a lot of information from the health professionals with little time to process it. ... Well-meaning friends/friends are providing unscientific advice from ‘a little bit won’t hurt him’ to telling you that the next reaction will be worse, grandparents are offering the food the child is allergic to and friends no longer invite the child over for a playdate. A consultation with a Clinical Psychologist can provide support and guidance with managing anxiety. It is wonderful self-care. It is our hope that all allergy clinics have a psychologist located within them, and all Clinical Immunologists have a mental health support team they can refer patients to. For more information about, read: allergy management and anxiety: http://ow.ly/SNaT50BLtTS

05.01.2022 Thank you to those who have already completed the Food Allergy COVID-19 Wellbeing Study. A reminder the survey is still open. Monash University in Melbourne is currently conducting a study trying to understand how the pandemic influences the wellbeing of people with food allergy. Being this far into the pandemic, it would be helpful for researchers to understand more about the health and wellbeing of people living through lockdown, isolation, quarantine and possiblly decreased food options. If you are the parent or carer of a child aged 1-17 years with food allergy, or if you an adult with food allergy, please consider assisting us with this survey: http://ow.ly/Gycs50AIzdL

04.01.2022 Staff Training reduced helpline/email support A quick reminder that Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australias staff will be undergoing important training beginning today until 11 September 2020 inclusive. During this time, we will only be answering urgent requests for assistance. If you have an urgent request please email [email protected] and we will answer you as soon as possible. We apologise for the inconvenience. Normal operations will recommence from 14 September 2020.

03.01.2022 FOOD RECALL Milk Alert 10 September 2020 Product description: Plant based protein powder - VEGAN... Product name: Keep it Cleaner Plant Based Protein Powder Chocolate Flavour Reason for recall: The presence of undeclared milk Recall detection: The recall is the result of a consumer complaint For more information go to: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au//Keep-it-Cleaner-Plant-Ba See more

03.01.2022 FOOD RECALL Peanut Alert 20 August 2020 Product description: Milk Chocolate coated sultanas Product name: David Jones Australian Sultanas in Milk Chocolate... Reason for recall: The presence of undeclared peanut Recall detection: Customer complaint For more information go to: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au//recal/Pages/default.aspx See more

03.01.2022 The National Allergy Strategy is in the process of developing minimum standards for the prevention and management of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions) in schools and Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). As a partner in the development of these standards, we believe that they will be a great first step to improving the care of children with potentially life threatening allergies . A&AA helped the family in this article to report the two reactions that her son had ...in child care as a result of being given the wrong food. We applaud Margaux Bonne for speaking up. Great advocacy work! As this article is behind a Herald Sun paywall we have put snapshots of the full article in the comments below.

02.01.2022 Are you, or is someone you know at risk of anaphylaxis to insect stings? Allergies to venom from stinging insects (bees, wasps and ants) are one of the most common causes of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) in Australia. The most common causes of severe bite and sting allergy in Australia are:... Bee sting (honey bee and native Australian bees) Wasp sting (paper wasp and European wasp) Ant sting (jack jumper, green-head, bulldog ants) Other insects such as ticks, caterpillars, March flies and even bedbugs can trigger anaphylaxis but are less common. Individuals at risk of bite and sting anaphylaxis should wear a medical identification necklace/ bracelet and have an ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis and an adrenaline injector close by. Like food allergy, there are several actions or strategies that can help reduce the risk of a bite or sting but we can never make an environment risk free. If we know someone is at risk of bite or sting anaphylaxis we must always be prepared for an emergency situation. For further information about bites and stings, and strategies to reduce risk visit our website: http://ow.ly/2btE50AY0QY

02.01.2022 Do you have a teen aged 11 - 17? Join the National Allergy Strategy (NAS) on Monday 14th September for a Zoom chat with special guest Helen Czech. Helen is the wonderful allergy nurse that attended our Victorian 250K Youth Camp at Merricks Lodge late last year. The Zoom chat will start at 8pm AEST and will run for about an hour. In order to take part in the chat you must RSVP to [email protected] by COB Monday 14th September. Once your RSVP has been received, a NAS staf...f member will provide you with the URL link and password to access the forum. National Allergy Strategy staff and members of the Peer Mentor team will also be online to help guide the discussion and moderate where required. Please note, the chat is open for any teen aged 11-17.

02.01.2022 A&AA calls for this tragedy to be the catalyst for change. Anaphylaxis can, and does happen in the workplace. When employees disclose their severe allergy (as Glenn Morton did) it is important that employers and employees work together to increase safety in the work place. A&AA strongly supports Carly Mortons plea for a coronial inquest to help unfold the sequence of events that lead to Glenns death so that we can implement change to protect the ever growing number of peop...le at risk of anaphylaxis. We continue to support Glenns loving wife and family and commend them on their courage to speak out. We encourage workplaces to work with their employees to develop strategies to help protect workers with severe allergies, including insect allergy.

02.01.2022 This article captures really well the feeling you get when you get THAT phone call from school about your child experiencing an anaphylaxis. Ranjana's son was not diagnosed with being at risk of anaphylaxis, but his fast thinking teacher knew the right thing to do. Huge congratulations to the child's teacher for following her instincts even when the child said he was fine. The only comment we would make is that if the child is suspected to be experiencing anaphylaxis, the EpiPen should come to the child, they shouldn't walk to the EpiPen.

01.01.2022 Undeclared milk. PharmaCare Laboraties fined $164,520 for misleading advertising. Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, as the advocate for people with allergic disease, assisted and advised the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in communicating the recalls of Nature’s Way Smart Vita Gummies Omega which contained undeclared milk.... Thank you to the TGA for progressing the investigation and issuing fines to protect people living with food allergy.

01.01.2022 Today is R U OK?Day and R U OK? is encouraging all Australians to learn what to say if someone in their life says theyre not OK. R U OK? CEO Katherine Newton says we can be a safety net for people who might be struggling with life. We need to be genuine when we ask R U OK?, to let people know were there to listen, that we wont judge them and that people can find pathways to support and recovery when theyre struggling, said Ms Newton. ... Were encouraging everyone to learn that theres more to say after R U OK? because a conversation really can change a life. Were calling on Australians who are well and able, to check in with someone, reach out and meaningfully ask are you OK? not just today but every day, said Ms Newton. This is about caring for someone in your world. Its about looking out for your friends, your family, your colleagues, your neighbours. For more information on how to ask, see: https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask To find immediate support services, other support and services and useful tools and resources, head to: https://www.ruok.org.au/findhelp For allergy related support, call A&AAs telephone helpline on 1300 728 000

01.01.2022 Did you know that Exercise Induced Anaphylaxis (EIA) is quite different to a diagnosed food allergy? Exercise induced anaphylaxis (EIA) is an uncommon, but recognised disorder, where you can have an allergic response to exercise. Allergy symptoms can occur with exercise alone however more often EIA occurs when a particular food is eaten around the time of exercise. This differs from diagnosed food allergy, where even very small amounts of the allergen can lead to an allergic reaction at any time. This reaction can be made more severe by exercise as well as other factors such as alcohol, heat, the amount of the food that was eaten or the person being unwell at the time. Read more here: http://ow.ly/UQcR50Cmm9V