This video from the Food Allergy Initiative is a great representation, straight from the parents mouths, of how food allergies have impacted the lives of their children and themselves. It reinforces how important it is for people to really understand how food allergies affect children and their parents.
Candida albicans infection, called candidosis or candidiasis, is an opportunistic invasion of mucous membrane or skin by candida albicans, an endogenous yeast found in 40 to 80% of normal human beings. A former name for this small, budding fungus is monilia albicans.
Opportunistic means that yeast living on mucosal and skin surfaces does not invade (infect) unless these tissues become unhealthy and therefore cannot protect themselves.
Q: How does candida albicans cause infection?
A: Candida albicans lives on the mucosal surfaces and skin in most people without causing infection (colonizes) because of our normal defenses against invasion. In fact, candida albicans is a very effective colonizer of humans. For example, Russell and Lay found that 47% of 1-month-old infants were orally colonized with candida albicans, and 49% were colonized with other fungi.
During growth within the intestinal tract, the organism senses pH (acidity), oxygen, carbon sources, and the presence of surfaces allowing it to optimize gene expression for a particular environment. With these mechanisms for sensing, candida albicans is able to efficiently colonize humans in infancy.1
Lowered host defenses allow yeast already present on mucosal and skin surfaces to take advantage and can grow rapidly, becoming pathogenic (disease producing) so that infection results.
Infection is characterized by superficial, irregular white patches on mucosal surfaces and possible invasion of the bloodstream by a filamentous form (thread-like structures) that can rapidly develop.
Candida albicans is unique among oral pathogens in its ability to invade cornified layers of stratified squamous epithelium of the tongue, mouth surfaces, hard and soft palate, esophagus, and gut. Stratified squamous epithelium is the tough surface cells that ordinarily protect underlying tissues from damage or invasion by microbes.
Candida albicans is also capable of invading the lungs and causing pneumonia and septicemia, which is the spread of infection into the bloodstream.
Here is a time honored simple do-it-youself test for infection of the mouth or throat: First thing in the morning before brushing your teeth or eating, fill a small see through glass with water then gently spit onto the surface. If after an hour the spit remains on the water surface, it is unlikely you have candida in the mouth. If it grows legs downward, it indicates that yeast is growing. If the spit sinks to the bottom, you have this problem. Yeast in the mouth can quickly travel down the esophagus and into the gut.
Medical diagnosis. Difinitive diagnosis for the oral cavity is made by your clinician by swabbing the areas of your mouth and/or throat and viewing under a microscope for evidence of candida.
Infections of the esophagus and gut require inspection by gastroscopy or endoscopy procedure and the taking of samples to be examined under microscope. This examination also give the opportunity to rule out other problems. Barium swallow can show the extent of infection and any disfiguration of the esophagus that results.
The Les Misérables food allergy parody that will knock your hypoallergenic socks off!
With the amazingly popular hit musical Les Miserables coming to theaters oh so soon (only 26 days, but who’s counting?!), I thought it would be appropriate to share this funny and amazing “One Grain More” video made by four people who are struggling to cook gluten free. I loved the line, “This never ending road to gluten free,” boy does that seem true sometimes!
I was recently connected with Ciara Gavin of Allergen Detection Service Dogs in a joint effort to work together to increase Food Allergy Awareness by holding a conference in Colorado Springs. While that whole idea is still in the works, I was immediately intrigued by the work being done by Ciara and her team. I needed to know more! Lucky for me, she agreed to come to Denver and meet over lunch to discuss the work we both do. I am honored to share with all of you the amazing services being provided through Allergen Detection Service Dogs!
First, I have to say that I was lucky enough to meet one of these amazing dogs named Tucker, who is actually a mobility dog, and has a unique set of skills outside of allergen detection. However, he was in the restaurant with us and was well received, well behaved, and an all around incredible animal. I was hooked from
PURCHASE, N.Y., April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC is launching two new health and wellness initiatives this month to address health concerns for all customers and their families. In its ongoing efforts to fight childhood obesity and help kids live healthier lifestyles, Stop & Shop announced that the first issue of its brand new Kid Healthy Ideas, a free health and wellness quarterly magazine, is now available in all stores.
The 12-page, full-color publication, is geared towards kids ages 8 to 12 and features health-related educational articles, games and recipes.
Working with people diagnosed with food allergies and Celiac disease has opened my eyes to the world around me. Prior to this, the only person I knew with severe food allergies was a younger cousin of mine whom I spend very little time with. But, when you start paying attention, you figure out there are many people living with food allergies, Celiac disease or other food related intolerances or restrictions.
One day, I came into work and a co-worker, Genevieve Fraser, asked if I was the one with the food allergy therapist magnet on my car. When I said yes, she informed me that she has an anaphylactic allergy to peanuts, and has since she was very young. Suddenly, it was in my awareness that I had been bringing peanut butter to work almost every day that I am in that office, not even realizing my office neighbor, just across the hall, has to carry an Epipen everywhere she goes because of peanuts! Boy did that get my attention!
I didn’t stop bringing peanut butter to work at first, but I noticed I felt nervous and worried every time I did, so I finally stopped bringing it. However, I noticed being concerned about others using her office when she was not around, and wondering if people were taking peanuts in there. I finally decided that I should learn more about what it is like living as an adult with a severe anaphylactic food allergy, rather than just going off what I read and my own assumptions.
When I asked Genevieve if I could do a feature interview on her, she was so great and willing to share her story. I have to say, this interview was so informative, empowering, emotional, and motivating, that it really helped put some aspects of living with life threatening food allergies into perspective. Genevieve not only survived her childhood, despite bullying and being different, but has gone on to complete her college degree and is working on her master’s. She has dedicated herself to helping others overcome challenging obstacles in their lives so that they can live a full life, despite whatever challenges they might be facing. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did!