Winchester Hospital Allergist Vandana Krishna, MD Highlights Need for Education on Sesame Allergy

Winchester, Mass. – Winchester Hospital allergist Vandana Krishna, MD highlighted the increasing incidence of sesame allergy in an abstract and poster which she recently presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) in New Orleans.
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a nearly four-fold increase in food allergy-related hospitalizations in fewer than 10 years. The allergic reaction can range from mouth tingling to life-threatening anaphylactic shock, where the throat and mouth enlarge and restrict breathing, requiring immediate medical care.
 
In her paper titled “Need for Education about Sesame Allergy,” Dr. Krishna notes the increase in incidence of sesame in our diet, including foods such as sesame crackers, cookies and hummus. Although there is widespread understanding about reactions to peanuts, tree nuts and other major allergens, most parents are not aware of the allergic tendency of sesame. Dr. Krishna points out that sesame is not among the “big eight” food allergens (dairy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, shellfish, soy, and wheat) that are required to be identified on food product labels.
 
Based on Dr. Krishna’s practice, research and observations, she concludes that the general awareness of sesame as an allergen is low in the suburban population. As a result, she recommends education specific to sesame should be provided to primary care physicians, parents and day care and school personnel. She also advocates for the food industry being subjected to stricter labeling guidelines on this emerging food allergen.
 
A resident of Winchester, Dr. Krishna has been on the staff of Winchester Hospital since completing her fellowship in allergy and clinical immunology at Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard University. She is board certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology and a fellow of the AAAAI. Dr. Krishna practices at Asthma & Allergy Specialists, PC in Winchester.
 
About Winchester Hospital
Winchester Hospital is the first community hospital in Massachusetts to earn Magnet recognition, the American Nurses Association’s highest honor for nursing excellence. As the northwest suburban Boston area’s leading provider of comprehensive health care services, the 229-bed facility provides care in general, bariatric and vascular surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics, cardiology, pulmonary medicine, oncology, gastroenterology, rehabilitation, radiation oncology, pain management, obstetrics/gynecology and a Level IIB Special Care Nursery. Winchester Hospital has clinical affiliations with several nationally recognized hospitals in the region, including Children’s Hospital Boston, Tufts Medical Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. To learn more, visit www.winchesterhospital.org.

<<back

News

Upcoming Events

September 16, 2010:
6:30
Heartsaver CPR

September 22, 2010:
06:00 PM
Healthcare Provider CPR Recertification

September 23, 2010:
06:00 PM
Infant and Child First Aid

October 1, 2010:
6:30 PM
CPR for Family and Friends

View Full Calendar

Winchester Hospital 41 Highland Avenue Winchester, MA 01890 (781) 729-9000