Many travelers now come equipped with tissues and antihistamines. But for those with severe allergies, travel can be a much more harrowing, and potentially deadly, experience.
Consider, for example, a few incidents that highlight how challenging severe allergies while traveling can be for individuals. A recent story that grabbed international headlines drew attention to a 7-year-old boy and his family who were forced by the airline to deplane after he had a severe allergy attack prompted by the presence of service dogs on the domestic flight.
Although in this instance the boy's allergies were not life-threatening, other high-profile stories in the past couple of years have featured young children who have gone into anaphylaxis after consuming, or simply being exposed to, tree nuts during flights—allergic reactions extreme enough to force the planes to land for the children to receive medical treatment.
Sensational media coverage aside, there is a recurrent thread to stories like these: Severe allergic reactions during travel are unpredictable, can come on swiftly, and are increasingly common. Knowing one's risk and planning ahead may make all the difference, which makes communication between physicians and patients about the management of severe allergies that much more important.
In response to some of the latest news about travel-related allergy attacks, Dr Bill Storms, a practicing allergist with over 40 years of experience in Colorado Springs, Colorado, shared some insights and recommendations for other physicians on counseling patients with severe allergies before traveling.
Medscape Allergy & Immunology © 2016 WebMD, LLC
Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Severe Allergies and Travel: The Journey Begins With a Single Step - Medscape - Mar 21, 2016.
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