onset of respiratory viral season in early September, notwithstanding an unending coronavirus. So, asthma alert should never be dropped, and patients and their parents are emphatically reminded of preventive anti-inflammatory therapy, i.e. inhaled corticosteroids, which in patients with known, even mild persistent asthma should be initiated (if ever stopped) at the same time as their allergy medications in advance of the season onset. Continuous use of inhaled steroids in the fall is also recommended for asthmatics in order to prevent severe asthma flares. There are five steroid compounds available in the US for inhaled use in asthma, all by prescription ONLY. Familiar brands include PULMICORT in dry powder form (FLEXHALER), ASMANEX, in both dry powder form (TWISTHALER) and pressurized metered-dose inhaler, FLOVENT, QVAR, ALVESCO. None of these medications is yet available in generic form. Most of those are FDA approved down to age of 4 years. Don’t mix these allergy medications up with ALBUTEROL which is a rescue or reliever inhaler that should be used only as needed for wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and 15 min before exercise for exercise induced asthma patients.
Thunderstorm asthma This asthma variant was first described in Australia and is recognized as a very severe form of allergic asthma when hypothetically explosive release of pollen grains, ragweed included, leads to acute asthma attacks requiring urgent care. There is a correlation found worldwide between a heavy thunderstorm season and emergency room visits and hospital admissions for asthma flares. This is something to keep in mind when working with your pediatrician or allergist to create the best treatment strategy for asthma in summer.
In summary Pollen.com has a National Allergy Map that gives us pretty accurate allergy pollen counts and allergy forecast in any area of interest in the US. Allergy Alert app provides an in-depth 5-day forecast of most specific allergens in the area. I hope this review of summer allergies proves to be helpful to you in your tireless pursuit of your children’s health and wellness in which allergy and asthma can play a significant role.
Youth Sports
Sports Nutrition- Fueling Optimal Performance Jennifer Yoon RDN, LDN, IBCLC For kids and teens involved in athletic activities, good nutrition is crucial for appropriate growth, development, and sports performance. A healthy balanced diet that includes all the food groups provides the energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals needed to help athletes perform at their best. > Grains – Bread, Cereal, Rice, Pasta- are an important source of carbohydrates needed for energy. Whole grains like wheat and bran provide B vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Athletes who choose to limit grain intake may not get enough calories for endurance and replenishing or building muscle stores. > Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins and minerals to ensure proper growth, development, and overall body functioning. Fruits also provide carbohydrates for energy. > Dairy – milk, cheese, and yogurt – provides carbohydrates and is an excellent source of protein. Dairy is rich in Calcium and vitamin D which are very important for athletes because they build strong bones and are involved in muscle contraction. > Proteins – lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dry beans, and legumes group – provide protein needed for energy and
AHN Pediatrics-Pediatric Alliance • Summer 2020 • www.ahnpediatrics.org
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