Unfortunately, many patients are often misdiagnosed as allergic to penicillin. Penicillin allergy is the most frequently reported drug allergy, yet skin tests demonstrate that nine out of 10 patients reporting a penicillin allergy are not truly allergic. This represents a significant threat to public health, as an unverified penicillin allergy may lead to increased use of broad-spectrum antibiotics which are linked to increased antibiotic resistance, mortality rates, and overall healthcare costs.

In addition, many patients who do test positive for a penicillin allergy “grow out of it” over time. In fact, for those patients whose skin tests reveal a hypersensitivity to penicillin, more than half lose that sensitivity within five years, and approximately 80% lose that sensitivity within 10 years.

At ALK, we are proud to again join several other organizations as a sponsor of National Penicillin Allergy Day, a national awareness day to help educate the community on penicillin allergies and the importance of testing for this allergy to ensure proper diagnosis. Now in its third year, the day is celebrated on September 28^th in honor of the date Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin – also known as the world’s first antibiotic – in 1928.

We encourage healthcare professionals to consider conducting routine penicillin skin testing for patients who report a history of penicillin allergy to ensure a correct diagnosis and proper antibiotic use. Patients who think they are allergic should consider discussing their concerns with their healthcare providers, who can share the risks and benefits of testing.

Together, we can help patients receive the most efficient and cost-effective treatment options.

If you experience recurrent impairment of sleep and have a tendency of feeling a bit ill most of the year, it might be because of allergy caused by house dust mites. Many are unaware that they suffer from house dust mite allergy even though it can affect them heavily.

“House dust mites may be very small animals, but they are the most common trigger of indoor allergies,  causing symptoms such as blocked nose, repetitive sneezing, breathing difficulties and watery eyes, all of which can lead to poor and interrupted sleep resulting in daytime sleepiness and fatigue. ”, says international renowned allergy expert at ALK Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen

The mites live in common household places such as beddings, mattresses, and carpeting , and although there are things you can do to minimise the amount of mites – see fact box – it is not possible to eliminate them completely. 

Allergy affects both sleep and quality of life
One study has shown that allergy symptoms can impair sleep significantly and that the degree of impairment is comparable to the severity of the symptoms.  Sleep problems like these can cause fatigue and daytime sleepiness, as well as decreased productivity at work or school, and further lead to impaired learning and memory, depression, and ultimately reduce your quality of life. 

The symptoms to look for are:

• blocked or runny nose
• sneezing
• itching and watering eyes
• inflamed eyelids
• shortness of breath
• tight chest
• coughing and wheezing

If you experience some of these symptoms all year round you might be suffering house dust mite allergy and could benefit from consulting your doctor for further clarification. Your doctor can help with diagnosis and the right treatment that can relieve your symptoms.

Diagnosis and treatment are essential
Your doctor will probably start by asking about the history of your symptoms and conduct a skin prick test that can show if you have house dust mite allergy. Once your doctor knows whether you are allergic to house dust mites and has determined the severity of your symptoms, the next step will be to select the most suitable treatment for you.

“In deciding the best treatment for someone who suffers from house dust mite allergy, the intention is to provide a treatment that will reduce the symptoms, including allowing the person to sleep better at night and function better during the day as a result of feeling fully rested again. Furthermore, house dust mite allergy is closely linked to the development of asthma, emphasizing the importance of treating the condition,” says Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen.

Many different treatments can provide relief
There are many options for treating your house dust mite allergy. The options range from over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription symptomatic medicines, to more long-term treatments like allergy immunotherapy. The two overall ways of treatment have both shown to provide relief and put an end to the discomfort and the sensation of feeling ill, but there are some differences:

Symptomatic treatments work while taking the medicine, but have no long-term effect. They reduce the symptoms of allergy, but unlike allergy immunotherapy, do not induce tolerance. Most symptomatic treatments are available over-the-counter (OTC), e.g. in supermarkets or pharmacies. Symptomatic treatments can include antihistamines, nasal and inhaled steroids and decongestants.

Allergy immunotherapy treatment has a long-term effect with sustained improvement, including in the years following treatment. The main difference between symptomatic and immunotherapy treatment is that immunotherapy induces tolerance and alters the natural course of the disease.

Choosing a treatment option that is right for you should be decided in close consultation with your doctor. Influencing factors include the cause of your allergy and how severe your symptoms are.

First of all, it is worth knowing that house dust mites are the most common trigger of indoor allergies,  causing symptoms such as blocked nose, sneezing, sore eyes and breathing difficulties, all of which can lead to poor sleep that results in daytime sleepiness and fatigue.  On a day to day basis, all the symptoms can actually have a significant impact on your quality of life.

“Being aware that you suffer from house dust mite allergy and knowing the facts about the illness can mean a world of difference in making sure that you find relief for your symptoms, and put an end to feeling a bit ill all year round”, says international renowned allergy expert at ALK Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen.

Facts about house dust mites in the home
The allergy is triggered by allergens from house dust mites which are very small, eight legged animals that prefer living in dark places. The highest populations of house dust mites are found in the bedroom, mostly on mattresses, pillows and bed linen.  However, house dust mites can reside everywhere in homes, most commonly in upholstered furniture, carpets, rugs, curtains and soft toys. 

House dust mites can survive in all climates and are found in most homes all year round, making them very difficult to avoid.  Neither vacuuming nor any kind of dust mite spray or dry cleaning can get fully rid of the house dust mites, but it is possible to remove and minimise the exposure to the house dust mite allergen by making changes to your daily routines. 

Diagnosis and treatment are essential
If you suspect that you might suffer from house dust mite allergy, but have not been tested or diagnosed yet, you should consult your doctor. The doctor will typically ask about the history of your symptoms and perform a skin prick to clarify if you have house dust mite allergy. This is an important first step in your fight against the symptoms because once you know if you suffer from house dust mite allergy the disease can be controlled by one of the many treatments available from your doctor.

“When people with house dust mite allergy receive the right treatment, there is often great progress to be seen. Suddenly, these people sleep much better at night and function better during the day than many might have in years. Furthermore house dust mite allergy is closely linked to the development of asthma which emphasise the importance of taking the condition seriously and actively seeking diagnosis and treatment”, says Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen.

You have different treatment options
There are many options for treating your house dust mite allergy. The options range from over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription symptomatic medicines, to more long-term treatments like allergy immunotherapy. The two overall ways of treatment have both shown to provide relief and put an end to the discomfort and the sensation of feeling ill, but there are some differences:

Symptomatic treatments work while taking the medicine, but have no long-term effect. They reduce the symptoms of allergy, but unlike allergy immunotherapy, do not induce tolerance. Most symptomatic treatments are available over-the-counter (OTC), e.g. in supermarkets or pharmacies. Symptomatic treatments can include antihistamines, nasal and inhaled steroids and decongestants.

Allergy immunotherapy treatment has a long-term effect with sustained improvement, including in the years following treatment. The main difference between symptomatic and immunotherapy treatment is that immunotherapy induces tolerance and alters the natural course of the disease.

Choosing a treatment option that is right for you should be decided in close consultation with your doctor. Influencing factors include the cause of your allergy and how severe your symptoms are.

Okay truth be told, the monsters are quite small, but there are millions of them – actually, the average person shares a bed with over two million of them. The monsters can be found everywhere in the house, but they especially bedrooms and other parts of the home with upholstered furniture, carpets, rugs, curtains and soft toys.  They have eight legs, prefer dark places and they are better known as house dust mites. 

“House dust mites might just be small animals, but they are also the most common trigger of indoor allergies,  causing symptoms such as blocked or runny nose, repetitive sneezing, breathing difficulties and eye irritation, leading to recurrent impairment of sleep resulting in daytime sleepiness and fatigue”, says international renowned allergy expert at ALK Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen.

The monsters are eating your skin
House dust mites thrive in our homes because we provide them with both humidity and food.  They prefer warm, moist environments where they can feed on our dead skin cells.  They are generally harmless in the sense that they do not carry or transmit diseases and they do not bite, sting or burrow into our skin.

However, house dust mites are still a major source of allergy for people all over the world,  causing runny noses, sneezing and teary eyes  which can further lead to difficulties sleeping  and even asthma.

If you recognise some of the mentioned symptoms and feel the impact on your life all year round, it is possible that you suffer from allergy caused by house dust mites.

“If you suspect house dust mite allergy and have not been diagnosed yet, you should consult your doctor for a test and further clarification of your symptoms”, says Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen.

 

Your doctor can help fight the monsters
Your doctor will probably ask about the history of your symptoms and conduct a skin prick test that can show if you have house dust mite allergy. A prober diagnosis is an important first step in your fight against the symptoms.

“If you suffer from house dust mite allergy, your quality of life can be improved significantly when you start to receive the right treatment. This is one very good reason for getting treated, however another one, equally important, is the fact that untreated allergy is considered a risk factor in the development of asthma,” says Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen.

 

Monsters don't like medicine
Or actually that is not strictly true because mites do not care whether your symptoms are controlled by medicine, but you might feel a world of difference. And luckily, there are many options for treating your house dust mite allergy. The options range from over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription symptomatic medicines, to more long-term treatments like allergy immunotherapy. The two overall ways of treatment have both shown to provide relief and put an end to the discomfort and the sensation of feeling ill, but there are some differences:

Symptomatic treatments work while taking the medicine, but have no long-term effect. They reduce the symptoms of allergy, but unlike allergy immunotherapy, do not induce tolerance. Most symptomatic treatments are available over-the-counter (OTC), e.g. in supermarkets or pharmacies. Symptomatic treatments can include antihistamines, nasal and inhaled steroids and decongestants.

 

The right treatment option
Allergy immunotherapy treatment has a long-term effect with sustained improvement, including in the years following treatment. The main difference between symptomatic and immunotherapy treatment is that immunotherapy induces tolerance and alters the natural course of the disease.

Choosing a treatment option that is right for you should be decided in close consultation with your doctor. Influencing factors include the cause of your allergy and how severe your symptoms are.

And once you are receiving the right treatment, the monsters can no longer play tricks on you while they are lurking around waiting for their treat.

Happy Halloween!

Seasonal allergic rhinitis, better known as pollen allergy, can bring symptoms such as an itchy nose and  eyes, sneezing, a blocked nose and watery discharge from the nose and eyes. Other symptoms are headaches, fatigue and a general malaise, and all of them can turn a game of football, a bike ride or a picnic into a real struggle.

"We see children who try to avoid symptoms by spending less time outside, often with the result that they become separated from playing with their friends. But many of these children suffer from their symptoms and become excluded unnecessarily during the pollen season for there are several ways to reduce the unpleasant effects of allergy through simple measures and treatment," says allergy expert at ALK Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen. 

Some children have mild symptoms that don't affect them significantly, but for others, pollen allergy is more severe with a huge impact on their everyday lives, and it is especially these children who need help to control their allergy.

Helping children with mild symptoms
You can help by washing your child’s face and hair after outdoor play since pollen can stick to these areas. Keep the windows closed especially in the morning and early evening when the pollens are released in the air. At times with high pollen counts, you should also avoid drying clothes outside. It is also a good idea to keep the car windows rolled up to avoid taking in lots of pollens when driving.
 
Children with moderate and severe symptoms
If your child has not received a diagnosis for pollen allergy yet, but is highly affected by allergic symptoms during the pollen season, it is recommended that you make an appointment with your child’s paediatrician for further test and diagnosis. The paediatrician will probably ask about the history of the symptoms and conduct a skin prick test that can show if your child suffer from pollen allergy.

During a skin prick test, the inside of the arm is typically pricked with a tiny amount of allergen. If your child is allergic, redness and swelling will appear locally within 20 minutes and disappear again after a few hours. The test is safe for infants and young children and it is an important step towards finding relief for the pollen allergy symptoms since it is possible to control the disease and get help through treatments available from the doctor.

Receiving the right treatment can mean a remarkable change to a child's life. But finding the right treatment is also very important in the long run since pollen allergy left untreated is considered to be one of the major risk factors in the development of asthma.  This can be explained by the ‘allergic march’ – a term that describes how allergic diseases progress throughout one’s life, and studies have shown that children who suffer from allergic rhinitis can go on to suffer from asthma. Approximately 20% of all hay fever patients develop asthma later in life.

Many treatment options for children
You will find that there are many options for treating your child’s hay fever, ranging from over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription symptomatic medicines, to more long-term treatments like allergy immunotherapy. The two overall ways of treatment have both shown to provide relief and put an end to the discomfort and the sensation of feeling ill, but there are some differences:

Symptomatic treatments work while taking the medicine, but have no long-term effect. They reduce the symptoms of allergy, but unlike allergy immunotherapy, they do not induce tolerance. Most symptomatic treatments are available over-the-counter (OTC), e.g. in supermarkets or pharmacies, and they can include treatments such as antihistamines, inhaled steroids and decongestants.

Allergy immunotherapy treatment has a long-term effect with sustained improvement, including in the years after completing the treatment. This is also the main difference between the effects of symptomatic and immunotherapy treatment since immunotherapy induces tolerance and alters the natural course of the disease.

The symptoms of pollen allergy also known as hay fever often appear from the eyes and nose. Your eyes may itch, water and become red. Your nose might get blocked, start to run and itch, and frequent sneezing is suddenly a normal part of your day. Other symptoms may include headaches, fatigue, insomnia and a general malaise.

Some people have mild symptoms that do not affect their everyday lives, but for others, the condition is more severe and consequently they may experience a reduced quality of life. For these people, it is time to strike back.

"Many people suffer unnecessarily during the pollen season, for there are several ways to reduce the impacts of allergy through simple measures and treatment," says allergy expert at ALK Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen.

Avoidance can help you some of the way
One way to fight pollen allergy is by trying to avoid or limit the exposure to pollen, and here, there are many situations where it is possible to implement small changes that can help reduce the contact with pollen significantly.

You can mow your lawn while it is wet with dew. Use a dryer to dry your laundry. Drive with closed windows and use a pollen filter in your car. Wear sunglasses when you go for a bike ride. Keep the windows closed while pollen counts are high. Stay inside as much as possible. Check pollen counts and make plans accordingly. Avoid furry animals which can carry pollen and wash your hair and change clothes when you get home after being out.

Diagnosis and treatment can control your hay fever
If you are not yet diagnosed with pollen allergy and your symptoms have a significant impact on your life, you should consult your doctor. The doctor will likely ask about the history of your symptoms and conduct a skin prick test that can show if you have hay fever. This is an important step in your fight against the pollen allergy symptoms because the allergy can be controlled and there are many treatments available from your doctor that can help you in doing that.

“We often see how the right treatment can make a huge difference in the patients’ quality of life, which calls for diagnosis and identification of prober treatment. Furthermore if allergic rhinitis is left untreated, it is considered a risk factor in the development of asthma,” says Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen.

You have different treatment options
There are several options for treating your hay fever, ranging from over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription symptomatic medicines, to more long-term treatments like allergy immunotherapy. Both symptomatic and immunotherapy treatments have shown to provide relief and end the discomfort and the sensation of feeling ill, but there are some differences between the treatments:

Symptomatic treatments reduce the allergy symptoms while taking the medicine, but there is no long-lasting effect because they do not induce tolerance like allergy immunotherapy. Most symptomatic treatments are available over-the-counter (OTC), e.g. in supermarkets or pharmacies, and can include treatments such as antihistamines, inhaled steroids and decongestants.

Allergy immunotherapy treatment has a long-term effect with sustained improvement, also during the years following treatment, because, unlike symptomatic treatments, it induces tolerance and alters the natural course of the disease.

A blocked and runny nose, itching and watering eyes and sneezing. Those are all pollen allergy symptoms that can make the sufferers feel really bad, but there is no need to be longing for fall and winter already because the good news is that almost everyone suffering from pollen allergy can be helped. The bad news, however, is that people often ignore their allergic symptoms and do not know enough about the condition to get the necessary help.

“Many people just try to live with their allergy symptoms and suffer from them quite substantially even though many things can be done about it. Top of the list is to understand the measures you can take to minimise your symptoms, getting a proper diagnosis via the doctor and then find the treatment that works best for you”, says allergy expert at ALK Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen.

Is it best to stay indoors?
Staying inside can make spring and summer a bit of a bore, but luckily, many of those who suffer from regular allergies can still enjoy the outdoors by reducing their exposure to pollen through these simple measures during spring and summer:

Wash your hair and change clothes when you get home after being out. Mow your lawn while it is wet from dew. Use a dryer and dry your laundry inside. Drive with closed windows and use a pollen filter in your car. Wear sunglasses when you go for a run or a bike ride. Keep the windows closed while pollen numbers are high. Check pollen numbers and make plans accordingly and avoid furry animals which can carry pollen.

Is pollen allergy not just something you should learn to live with?
Pollen allergy can be more than just a small inconvenience. If left untreated, the disease can significantly affect your quality of life and is considered a risk factor in the development of asthma. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, pollen allergy can cause poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue which can make it difficult for adults to think and function at work and hard for schoolchildren to perform well academically.

Is it necessary to see a doctor?
If you have not been diagnosed with pollen allergy yet and you have symptoms that significantly impact your life, it is advised that you consult your doctor. The doctor will probably ask about the history of your symptoms and conduct a skin prick test that can show if you have pollen allergy.

“Getting a diagnosis is very important if you want to reduce your pollen allergy symptoms and find relief instead of accepting feeling miserable. The main thing to remember is that this is a disease that can be controlled and there are many treatments available from your doctor that can help exactly in doing that”, says Jørgen Nedergaard Larsen.

Can’t I just use medication from the pharmacist?
Finding the right treatment for your allergy is important as it can make a significant difference in your quality of life, however, another equally important reason to act is the fact that untreated allergic rhinitis is considered a risk factor in the development of asthma. If your allergic symptoms have a large impact on your life, you likely need help from a doctor to identify the most suitable treatment for you.

The treatment options range from over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription symptomatic medicines, to more long-term treatments like allergy immunotherapy. The two overall ways of treatment have both shown to provide relief and put an end to the discomfort and the sensation of feeling ill, but there are some differences:

Symptomatic treatments work while taking the medicine, but have no long-term effect. They reduce the allergy symptoms, but unlike allergy immunotherapy, do not induce tolerance. Most symptomatic treatments are available over-the-counter (OTC), e.g. in supermarkets or pharmacies. Symptomatic treatments can include treatments such as antihistamines, inhaled steroids and decongestants.

Allergy immunotherapy treatment has a long-term effect with sustained improvement, including in the years following treatment. The main difference between symptomatic and immunotherapy treatment is that immunotherapy induces tolerance and alters the natural course of the disease.

ALK in the Netherlands have partnered with a local network, Liquid Nature, which specialises in putting bees up for adoption. Together with a neighbouring company, ALK is currently hosting two beehives.

Bees are critical to our ecosystem. In fact, they pollinate a third of all crops and 90 percent of wild plants. However, in recent years, the number of bees has been declining due to many different factors such as climate change, loss of habitat, intensive farming methods and colony collapse disorder.

Simple solutions to the crisis, such as making better use of our outside spaces where possible helps bees sustain their numbers and can make a lasting impact for both people and planet.

A sustainable company at its core

The network is led by a beekeeper, Jessica Loudon, and its mission is to help save the bees by making better use of outside spaces, especially in those areas where bees have the right conditions to thrive.

Jessica Loudon comes by the office in Almere once a week during the season to check on the hives and add additional breeding or honey surplus rooms as the bee population grows. The idea behind the network is simple; the companies offer their outside space for the bees; Liquid Nature tends to the hives; the bees provide value to the area and the companies get the surplus honey.

Although the bees usually hunt for nectar in wide areas far away from the hive, our colleagues have updated the procedure on how to act in case someone reacts to a sting as an additional precaution.