Hidden Dangers In The Classroom: Exposures To Hidden Food Allergens Extend Beyond The Cafeteria

Back-to-school often means last minute doctor's appointments, haircuts, and new clothes. But it's also an anxious time for families who have children with food allergies.

For parents of children with food allergies, risks extend beyond the cafeteria into the classroom, even to the school buses and field trips. The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), a nonprofit, patient advocacy organization, providing education and awareness on food allergy and anaphylaxis, says the risk of accidental exposure in those environments away from the cafeteria can be just as life-threatening.

"Often, parents and school staff think about avoiding allergens such as peanuts, milk products, or other foods in the cafeteria. Parents of children with food allergies should work with school staff to prepare a comprehensive plan to protect the child in all school settings and control the exposure to materials that could cause a reaction. Nothing should be taken for granted," said Anne Munoz-Furlong, Founder and CEO of FAAN.

More than two million school-aged children have food allergies. For many, even trace amounts of a food allergen can cause anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can result in hives, swelling, unconsciousness, and possibly death.

"Nearly 90 percent of school nurses indicated that when compared with other health issues, food allergy among children is very serious. The issue needs to be addressed by school officials as the average U.S. public school has 10 students with food allergies," continued Munoz-Furlong.

It is essential that school staff never let their guard down and always take the proper precautions. FAAN explains that any prop or project with food that contains any of the top eight allergens -- milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, etc.), fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy increases the risk for causing a reaction in a school setting to a child with food allergies.

Exposures to hidden food allergens extend beyond the cafeteria to objects in classrooms, field trips, and even materials used in art class. For example:

-- In the classroom, peanut butter is used to make bird feeders or used peanut jars may be used to hold crayons.

-- During school field trips, tree nuts may be found in "fossil digs" in museums.

-- In art classes, wheat can be found in papier mache, while egg may be used to thicken tempera paint.

Munoz-Furlong suggests families meet with school staff to go over all allergy needs, check materials and labels in art and science supply closets, and establish a plan so that they have a means of communication throughout the school year. She also suggests educators substitute food rewards with stickers, certificates, or pencils.

The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
http://www.foodallergy.org/

The Asthma And Allergy Foundation Of America And The HealthCentral Network To Develop Enhanced Internet Resources For Patients

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (http://www.aafa.org) and The HealthCentral Network (http://www.TheHealthCentralNetwork.com), a Choice Media Division, announce that they will work together to create a new online resource for individuals with asthma and allergic disorders. The collaboration marries the deep health education expertise and resources of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation with The HealthCentral Network's multimedia capabilities and vast online community of patients and experts.

"This partnership with The HealthCentral Network offers us a valuable modern vehicle to disseminate our extensive library of multimedia educational materials," said Mike Tringale, M.S.M., the Foundation's Director of Marketing and Communications. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America is the leading nonprofit patient organization focused on improving the quality of life for people with asthma and allergies and provides practical information, community based services and support through a national network of chapters and support groups. "One of our first joint projects will be to create a Web site portal to create opportunities for patients, providers and caregivers in the asthma and allergy community to connect," said Tringale. "Future projects will include the development of a blog allowing our supporters to interact on topics ranging from advocacy and policy issues, asthma and allergy program funding, patient rights, treatment guidelines and more."

The HealthCentral Network's new asthma Web site at http://www.MyAsthmaCentral.com and allergy Web site at http://www.MyAsthmaCentral.com are designed to leverage the wisdom and experience of asthma and allergy sufferers to help others coping with similar challenges. Building on a base of comprehensive medical information to inform and manage asthma, the new site seeks foremost to connect the asthma community through the voice of others who have been there. Through new tools such as customizable Web sites to keep extended families up-to-date during acute episodes, and regular blogs by those who can articulate the everyday realities of living with asthma, The HealthCentral Network seeks to provide in partnership with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America the ultimate community site to build awareness and understanding. More than 50 million individuals in the United States have allergies, and 20 million individuals have developed asthma, often triggered by or co-existing with other allergies.

"We are excited about promoting the Asthma and Allergy Foundation's award- winning educational programs, cutting edge research, and outstanding internet resources to our millions of Web site visitors on The HealthCentral Network," said Chris Schroeder, CEO and President of Choice Media. "Through this collaboration we hope to tap into the Foundation's network of local chapters and support groups to create an inspirational online community that captures the patient experience and addresses real world needs."

About The HealthCentral Network

The HealthCentral Network (http://www.aafa.org) is a division of Choice Media, Inc. and has over 30 general health and highly specific condition and wellness web properties, each committed to offering a voice in every day and personal language people can understand and connect with at critical points in their lives. Each site provides timely, interactive, in-depth, and trusted medical information, personalized tools and resources, and connections to vast communities of expertise for people seeking to engage in, manage and improve their health. The award-winning, multi-media experience combines medically-reviewed articles from doctors and researchers, as well as news, information, video and extensive engagement from every day people who have great experience and empathy in specific health areas. The Company also produces the Medical Breakthroughs television show, seen around the country.

Founded in the late 1990s, Choice Media, Inc. was recently acquired by a team of blue-chip investors including Sequoia Capital, Polaris Ventures, The Carlyle Group and Allen & Company. With a management team that combines decades of experience in interactive media and medical, science and news journalism, Choice Media, Inc. aims for the highest standards of quality, relevance and community for patients and their caregivers.

About the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), headquartered in Washington, DC, is the leading non-profit consumer and patient organization fighting asthma and allergic disease. The Foundation provides free information to the public, offers educational programs to consumers and health professionals, leads advocacy efforts to improve patient care and supports research to find cures. The Foundation's services include a toll-free hotline, counseling and educational materials, and a free caregiver magazine. For more than 50 years, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation has been a leader in fiscal responsibility and charity management and has a coveted four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a member of the National Health Council. To learn more about The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, visit http://www.aafa.org.

The HealthCentral Network
http://www.TheHealthCentralNetwork.com

Exam Nerves Affects Students' Immune Defence

It is hardly surprising that one of the medical programmes most important exams is stressful for students. However, research now shows that this mental stress also affects the students' immune defence systems, particularly amongst those suffering from allergies.

While diseases like asthma and allergies are becoming increasingly common in the West, many people believe that we are living ever stressful lives. A new study from Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Sweden backs up what many people have suspected: that there are important links between mental stress and the complex physical inflammation reactions characteristic of allergies.

In order to understand the link between stress and allergy, the scientists have examined how a major medical exam at KI affects feelings of stress, stress hormone levels, the immune system and lung function amongst students with and without allergies. The extensive tests were made on two occasions, first with the students during a calm period of study with no exam in sight, and then shortly before a major exam. Twenty two students with hayfever and/or asthma and 19 healthy students took part.

For the first time on record, scientists were able to show that a group of cells that are central to the human immune system known as regulatory T cells appear to increase sharply in number in response to mental stress. A regulatory T cell is a kind of white blood cell that controls the activity of a number of other types of immune cell. This increase was observed in both groups of students.

The study also showed that blood concentrations of a group of inflammation products called cytokines had changed and shifted against a pattern associated with allergic inflammation in the allergic students, but remained normal in the healthy students.

According to Mats Lekander and Caroline Olgart Hцglund, who are leading the research group, the two discoveries might very well be linked.

"There is much to suggest that the regulatory T cells are dysfunctional in people with allergies," Mats Lekander says. When people become stressed, they increase in number and normally have an anti-inflammatory effect. If this system does not work in people with allergies, it could explain the changed cytokine balance that we have observed in them."

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
SE-171 77 Stockholm

info@ki.se
http://info.ki.se/index_se.html

Students' Immune Defense Affected By Exam Nerves

It is hardly surprising that one of the medical programmes most important exams is stressful for students. However, research now shows that this mental stress also affects the students' immune defense systems, particularly amongst those suffering from allergies.

While diseases like asthma and allergies are becoming increasingly common in the West, many people believe that we are living ever stressful lives. A new study from Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Sweden backs up what many people have suspected: that there are important links between mental stress and the complex physical inflammation reactions characteristic of allergies.

In order to understand the link between stress and allergy, the scientists have examined how a major medical exam at KI affects feelings of stress, stress hormone levels, the immune system and lung function amongst students with and without allergies. The extensive tests were made on two occasions, first with the students during a calm period of study with no exam in sight, and then shortly before a major exam. Twenty two students with hayfever and/or asthma and 19 healthy students took part.

For the first time on record, scientists were able to show that a group of cells that are central to the human immune system known as regulatory T cells appear to increase sharply in number in response to mental stress. A regulatory T cell is a kind of white blood cell that controls the activity of a number of other types of immune cell. This increase was observed in both groups of students.

The study also showed that blood concentrations of a group of inflammation products called cytokines had changed and shifted against a pattern associated with allergic inflammation in the allergic students, but remained normal in the healthy students.

According to Mats Lekander and Caroline Olgart Hoglund, who are leading the research group, the two discoveries might very well be linked.

"There is much to suggest that the regulatory T cells are dysfunctional in people with allergies," he says. When people become stressed, they increase in number and normally have an anti-inflammatory effect. If this system does not work in people with allergies, it could explain the changed cytokine balance that we have observed in them."

###

Publication:

"Changes in immune regulation in response to examination stress in atopic and healthy individuals"

Hoglund, C. Olgart, Axen, J., Kemi, C., Jernelov, S., Grunewald, J., Muller-Suur, C., Smith, Y., Gronneberg, R., Eklund, A., Stierna, P. & Lekander, M

Clinical & Experimental Allergy 36 (8), 982-992

For further information, please contact:

Mats Lekander, Department of Clinical Neuroscience Email: mats.lekander@ki.se

Caroline Olgart Hoglund, Department of Medicine, Email: caroline.olgart@ki.se

Contact: Katarina Sternudd
Karolinska Institutet

Studies Have Shown That Using Air Filters Can Help Reduce Allergies And Asthmatic Attacks

What Causes Asthma?

Asthma is an allergic reaction that can be brought on by a variety of triggers including certain foods, medicines, organisms, dander, mold and airborne pollution. An asthmatic attack can be very frightening for both the asthmatic and their friends and family. While an air purifier alone is not sufficient to remove all allergans and asthmatic triggers from a home, they can be an effective component in your arsenal.

Including Air Purifiers in your Arsenal to help Combat Asthma Attacks

A quality air purifier alone cannot trap all household allergans that may contribute to asthmatic attacks. The reason for this is that not all allergans are or remain airborne. For example, many people with allergies are allergic to dust mite droppings (feces) which fall out of the air and into carpeting, upholstery and linens rather quickly due to their relatively large size. In addition, allergy attacks can be brought on by the presence of certain organisms which are immune to air purification, such as cockroaches.

In a September, 2004 study co-funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and published in the New England Journal of Medicine it was found that a HEPA air filter, when used in conjunction with dust mite proof mattress and pillow covers, cockroach extermination and a HEPA vacuum, dramatically reduced asthma symptoms.

Though no air cleaning system can remove all allergans from a home, studies have shown they can significantly reduce the levels of airborn allergans and irritants, in some cases, by up to 90%. The HEPA filter has long been used in laboratory experiments, and has been proven to reduce the level of particles in the air. Many air filtration systems rely solely on HEPA technology, or, include a HEPA filter as part of a multi-filtration system.

Multi Filter Air Cleaning Systems

There are purifiers available today that combine more than one type of air filtration technology. The HEPA filter is a widely known, effective and popular air filter. Newer technologies include ionization and UV filters, which, when combined with a HEPA, can trap or kill allergans and particles that are much smaller in size than was previously possible. There are some UV filters that can effectively treat airborne pollutants that are down to 0.001 microns in size. The HEPA air filter traps particles as tiny as 0.3 microns. Ionization technology for air filtration works by negatively producing negatively charged ions which attach themselves to contaminants. These contaminants then drop from the air, resulting in cleaner air to breathe. The HEPA operates by physically trapping particles that go through the filter. While the UV method works by killing or destroying germs.

While no air filtration system alone can remove all potential allergans from the air, they can definitely help reduce them. Subsequently helping to reduce the number of allergic or asthmatic attacks an individual may experience. Much of this depends on what the individual is allergic to, what filtration system they choose, and what other allergan-removal methods they employ in their home environment. A quality air purifier can be a valuable tool in fighting allergies and the effects of asthma.

By Michelle O'Connor
Air Purifying Your Home

Are Schools Prepared To Deal With Serious Allergies Of Pupils?

Severe allergies are on the rise, but a survey of schools in Scotland suggests that many of them are ill-prepared to protect their pupils, as reported by Aziz Sheikh and colleagues in the international open-access medical journal PLoS Medicine.

Foods are the most common trigger of anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life threatening allergic reaction, in children. Anaphylaxis can develop both in people known to have a tendency (risk) of getting the condition, or in those with no known risk. Sheikh and colleagues mailed questionnaires to 250 Scottish schools, of which 148 replied. 90 of them reported having at least one child with a known risk of developing anaphylaxis. Of those, most had at least one staff member trained to treat anaphylaxis, and almost all had the drug adrenaline (epinephrine) on site, which is a life-saving medication for treating anaphylaxis. However, many of the schools were doing poorly at reducing the risk of anaphylaxis -- for example, only 1 in 3 of these schools banned the sharing of eating utensils. Another worrying finding was that among the 58 schools that did not have children known to be at risk of anaphylaxis, less than half had a trained member of staff and only about 1 in 8 of these schools had adrenaline on site.

The study suggests that there needs to be detailed guidance for all schools in Scotland on preventing and treating anaphylaxis.

Citation: Rankin KE, Sheikh A (2006) Serious shortcomings in the management of children with anaphylaxis in Scottish schools. PLoS Med 3(8): e326.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0030326

###

CONTACT:
Aziz Sheikh
Edinburgh University
Division of Community Health Sciences
General Practice Section
20 West Richmond St
Edinburgh, EH8 9DX United Kingdom
aziz.sheikh@ed.ac.uk

All works published in PLoS Medicine are open access. Everything is immediately available without cost to anyone, anywhere -- to read, download, redistribute, include in databases, and otherwise use -- subject only to the condition that the original authorship is properly attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors. The Public Library of Science uses the Creative Commons Attribution License.

About PLoS Medicine

PLoS Medicine is an open access, freely available international medical journal. It publishes original research that enhances our understanding of human health and disease, together with commentary and analysis of important global health issues. For more information, visit http://www.plosmedicine.org/

About the Public Library of Science

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. For more information, visit http://www.plos.org/

Contact: Andrew Hyde
Public Library of Science

Replacing Old Mattress, Adding Ventilation Reduces Mites

Reducing the level of dust mites in the bedroom can be achieved by replacing old mattresses and increasing a room's ventilation, according to a new study.

The study, which was based on data collected from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II, can be found in articles in press area of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) Web site, http://www.jacionline.org. The JACI is the peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI).

In "Distribution and determinants of house dust mite allergen in Europe: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey II," Jan-Paul Zock, PhD, Municipal Institute of Medical Research, Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues looked to determine the distribution of two common house dust mites and what conditions would affect the level of those allergens in each home.

More than 3,500 samples of dust were taken from mattresses found in homes in 22 different study centers throughout Europe and analyzed for the different dust mite allergens. A bed in each home was stripped of linens and an 80cm x 125cm template was placed on the area of the bed where the participant usually slept, and that area was vacuumed to collect the dust samples.

Researchers found that Der 1 and Der 2 dust mite allergens were detectable in 68% and 53% of all samples, respectively, and that large differences in allergen levels occurred between study centers. Important risk factors for high allergen levels included an older mattress, a lower floor level of the bedroom, limited ventilation of bedroom and for one of the dust mites sampled, the level of dampness in the bedroom. Zock and colleagues concluded mite allergen exposure may be reduced by replacing the mattress regularly and increasing ventilation in the bedroom, particularly in winter.

Another study that resulted from the survey showed cat allergens may be present in homes that are cat-free.

Joachim Henrich, PhD, National Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg, Germany, and colleagues' study, "Cat allergen level: Its determinants and relationship to specific IgE to cat across European Centers," measured the quantity of cat allergen in mattress dust, and then analyzed the relationship between cat ownership and the level of cat allergen found in the participants' homes. The study can be found in the articles in press area of the JACI Web site, http://www.jacionline.org.

Like the Zock study, dust was vacuumed from the mattresses, with 2,800 mattresses from homes 22 different communities sampled. Current cat owners' homes had substantially higher amounts of allergens than past cat owners and those who had never owned a cat.

While never having a cat in the home led to a lower concentration of cat allergen, it didn't protect against high cat allergen exposure in communities where cat ownership is common. The researchers concluded that people who do not own cats may still be exposed to high levels of cat allergen in the home because cat ownership is common in their community and they bring the allergen home on their clothes. Indoor smoking was also found to lead to higher level of cat allergens, possibly because cat allergens can bind to the smoking-related particulate matter, and consequently, allergen concentrations might be increased in settled dust.

The AAAAI is the largest professional medical specialty organization in the United States representing allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Allergy/immunology specialists are pediatric or internal medicine physicians who have elected an additional two years of training to become specialized in the treatment of asthma, allergy and immunologic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,000 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries. The AAAAI serves as an advocate to the public by providing educational information through its Web site at http://www.aaaai.org.

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Prevalence Of Childhood Allergies Has Increased Over Past Decade

The prevalence of childhood allergies, such as hayfever, have increased over the past decade in many countries of the world, especially among younger age groups, reveals an Article in this week's issue of The Lancet.

In 1991 researchers carried out the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) to assess the worldwide prevalence of asthma, hayfever, and eczema*. Between 2002 and 2003, Innes Asher (University of Auckland, New Zealand) and colleagues repeated ISAAC to examine any changes in prevalence. The investigators surveyed the parents of over 193 400 children aged 6-7 years from 37 countries on the presence of symptoms of asthma and allergies, such as wheezing, in their child. They also asked around 304 680 children, aged 13-14 years from 56 countries, the same questions. Developing countries such as South Africa, Brazil, and Iran and developed countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, and the UK contributed to the study.

The investigators found that increases in prevalence were more common than decreases and occurred more commonly in the younger age-group. The increases were greatest for eczema in the younger age-group, and for hayfever in both age-groups. However, in the older age group where prevalence of asthma had been previously been high, symptoms of the condition more commonly decreased. The only regions where increases in prevalence of all three disorders occurred more often in both age-groups than decreases were Asia-Pacific and India.

In the UK, where around 1700 children took part in the study, asthma prevalence went up from 18.4% to 20.9%, hayfever from 9.8% to 10.1%, and eczema from 13% to 16% between 1991 and 2003.

Professor Asher concludes: "The data have direct relevance for health-service delivery in the countries included in the study as well as providing a basis for understanding these disorders. In almost all centres, there was a change in prevalence of one or more disorders over time. Although changes in mean annual prevalence to the order of 0.5% might sound small, such changes could have substantial pubic-health implications, especially since the increases took place most commonly in heavily populated countries."

###

Contact: Professor Innes Asher, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. mi.asher@auckland.ac.nz

Notes to editors

*Eczema - describes a group of skin conditions where the skin becomes inflamed, red, and itchy.

Contact: Joe Santangelo
Lancet

Childhood Allergies Have Increased Globally Since 1991

Childhood allergies have become more widespread around the globe since 1991, according to a large study. The most common allergies are hayfever, asthma and eczema. In the UK, a study of 1,700 children found asthma prevalence went up from 18.4% in 1991 to 20.9% in 2003 - for the same period hayfever prevalence went up from 9.8% to 10.1% and eczema rose from 13% to 16%.

Between 2002 and 2003, Professor Innes Asher, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand, and team, repeated a 1991 study called The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) to asses global prevalence of asthma, hayfever and eczema.

193,400 children, aged 6-7, from 37 different countries were monitored for symptoms of asthma and other allergies, such as wheezing. The researchers used feedback from the children's parents for this study. Another 304,680 children, aged 13-14, from 56 different countries, were surveyed directly with the same questions. The study included children from developing countries, such as Brazil, South Africa and Iran, as well as developed countries, such as the UK, Swede, Canada and New Zealand.

The researchers found that:

-- Rises in prevalence were more common than falls - especially among younger children

-- Eczema has become more widespread worldwide among younger children

-- Hayfever has become more prevalent globally among all age-groups

--Asthma prevalence among older kids, which had previously been high, more commonly decreased

--Only in India and the Asia-Pacific region has the prevalence of all three disorders - asthma, hayfever and eczema - increased in all age-groups.

Prof. Innes Asher concludes that the data have direct relevance for health-service delivery in the countries included in the study, as well as providing a basis for understanding these disorders. Almost everywhere there has been a change in prevalence of one or more disorders over time. Seemingly small increases of 0.5% may seem insignificant. However, they have substantial public-health implications, especially as they often appear to take place in densely populated areas.

Worldwide time trends in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in childhood: ISAAC Phases One and Three repeat multicountry cross-sectional surveys
Prof M Innes Asher MBChB, Stephen Montefort MD, Bengt Bjцrkstйn MD, Christopher KW Lai DM, David P Strachan MD, Stephan K Weiland MD and Hywel Williams PhD, the ISAAC Phase Three Study Group
The Lancet 2006; 368:733-743
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(06)69283-0
Click Here To View Abstract (You will need to register - Free)

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today

Not All Yellow Jackets Created Equal

Flouting widely held beliefs that yellow jacket stings have less effect early in the season and that most people can outgrow a dangerous allergic reaction to a sting, allergists at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have concluded that the sting severity is determined not by the calendar but by the species of insect doing the stinging.

"As far as stings go, some yellow jackets are worse than others," says David Golden, M.D., an associate professor of allergy and immunology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Because we've found that the severity of an allergic reaction is related to the species of yellow jacket, it's important for people to understand that they can have wildly different reactions depending on which species stings them and that getting stung once without an allergic reaction does not guarantee that a more serious reaction will not happen with a later sting."

Published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the study by Golden and his research team involved 111 patients who had all tested allergic to yellow jackets. The researchers performed 175 test stings with two different species of yellow jackets and closely monitored the study participants for physical symptoms resulting from the stings, such as flushing, changes in vital signs, dizziness, shortness of breath and hives.

Over time Golden, whose original research goal was to find out why some people have allergic reactions to stings while others do not, began to notice that subjects were having fewer reactions to a particular species of yellow jacket, leading them to restructure and analyze the data they had collected at the three-year mark. They found that allergic reactions were much more common, and nastier, with the yellow jacket called Vespula maculifrons than with the one named Vespula germanica. These are the two most common species in the eastern United States, but most people can't tell them apart.

The researchers also checked whether yellow jacket stings were stronger at the end of the summer. They found that the stings in the first half of the summer caused the same number of allergic reactions as the stings in the last half of the summer. Once in July and then again in October, they also collected venoms from Vespula germanica and Vespula maculifrons, and tests showed no difference in the ability of the early- and late-summer venoms to cause allergic reactions.

The likelihood of a severe reaction was 41 percent in those who had a history of bad reactions and who were stung with Vespula maculifrons. Those who had only experienced mild sting reactions in the past and who were stung by Vespula germanica had only a 3 percent chance of an adverse subsequent reaction.

"Our results show that people who had the worst reactions in the past have the most to worry about from future stings," said Golden. "They shouldn't be fooled into thinking that they will be safe from all future stings just because they have no reaction to a particular yellow jacket sting."

Allergists recommend that those who are susceptible to severe reactions should be immunized to protect them against the allergy. Allergy shots with purified venoms (venom immunotherapy) give almost total protection from allergic reactions to stings.

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