'Medibands & Hospital Bracelets' Category

Home allergy kits fraught with risks

Sunday, August 21st, 2011

FOR allergy sufferers, the idea that a simple home test can determine the source of their unpleasant symptoms is an appealing one.

Several websites offer DIY kits for as little as $70 promising to test for a number of common allergens using a small sample of blood.

With waiting lists at hospital allergy clinics up to a year long, doctors fear patients might be persuaded by the lure of home tests, which they say are unreliable.

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Allergy boy’s parents launch special food store

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

WHEN Michael and Michelle Merrett’s son, Christopher, was diagnosed with a severe dairy allergy they realised there was a gap in the business market.

The couple set up a company from their home in Haverings Close, Colchester, selling allergen-free produce.

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Australia: world’s food allergy capital?

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

Mukesh Haikerwal knows all too well the danger of a food allergy. It was 14 years ago that the Melbourne GP and former president of the Australian Medical Association first recognised symptoms of anaphylaxis in his then one-year-old son.

”As a father it was horrendous,” he says. ”You have this child that won’t settle and then you take off his top and he was beetroot red. I knew straight away it was an anaphylactic reaction.”

Convincing others to take his son’s nut allergy seriously was not as straightforward. 

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Diabetes rate soars in poorer areas

Monday, July 11th, 2011

THE rate of diabetes has increased by up to 40 per cent over five years in coastal retirement areas of NSW and has reached worryingly high levels in western Sydney – areas of the state least able to deal with the illness.

New analysis shows the incidence of diabetes in NSW has increased by an average of 27 per cent in that period.

”The actual numbers are huge and increasing. Looking at the figures, there’s no sign of it levelling off, which is pretty scary,” Alan Barclay, who prepared the data for the Australian Diabetes Council, said.

”It certainly will require provision of specific health professionals and services.

”We do know that people with diabetes end up in hospital far more often than people without diabetes.”

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Making Summer Camp Safe for Kids With Food Allergies

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011
By Child Development Institute on Jul 6, 2011

Food allergies don’t have to leave your child in the cold when it comes to summer camp. You can help them stay safe and healthy with a few simple tips. For parents, there are a few questions to ask.

Summer is about having fun and taking a break from school. For parents, it can mean finding a way to entertain their kids. One alternative is summer camp.

Whether your child chooses a day camp or an overnight camp, if they suffer from food allergies you have a valid concern about the safety of the camp. Here are a few questions to ask of the staff and administration of the camp before signing your child up.

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