About 20% of the population comes down with influenza every year, and vaccination is an effective strategy to prevent it. But patients with egg allergy have been told that they couldn’t be vaccinated because chicken eggs are used in making vaccine. Consequently, there was theoretical concern that traces of egg protein could trigger a serious allergic reaction.

But new data indicate differently.[1-4] At least 17 studies of more than 2600 egg-allergic patients showed no serious reactions, including respiratory distress and hypotension. The only reactions were minor, such as hives and mild wheezing.

The likeliest reason for this surprising lack of reaction is the tiny amount of leftover egg protein in the vaccine. There is also good news for the healthcare professional who administers flu vaccines. No skin tests are needed. The results aren’t predictive, and there is no need to divide the dose. Single-dose studies support giving the entire vaccine dose at one time.

Caveats
There are some special caveats. Egg-allergic patients must get the inactivated flu shot because this is what has been used in studies. They cannot get the nasal flu vaccine. Anyone giving vaccinations should be familiar with egg allergy. After administering the shot, patients should be observed for 30 minutes.

The bottom line is that allergy experts have changed their tune. They now say it is safer for egg-allergic patients to get vaccinated than to risk getting the flu.[5]

Having said all of this, children with big skin test reactions to egg-white (15 mm or more) might be best to avoid the flu vaccine this year.

Dr Rodney Ford 2013

References
1. Kelso JM. Administration of influenza vaccines to patients with egg allergy: update for the 2010-2011 season. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010;126:1302-1304.
2. Greenhawt MJ, Li JT, Bernstein DI, et al. Administering influenza vaccine to egg allergic recipients: a focused practice parameter update. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2011;106:11-16.
3. Chung EY, Huang L, Schneider L. Safety of influenza vaccine administration in egg-allergic patients. Pediatrics. 2010;125:e1024-1030.
4. Zeiger RS. Current issues with influenza vaccination in egg allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002;110:834-840.
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and control of influenza with vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2011. MMWR Morbid Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011;60(early release):1-6. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm60e0818a1.htm?s_cid=mm60e0818a1_w Accessed August 11, 2011.

I have been writing about this for the last 15 years. It is now clear that about 10% of the populations suffers from the harmful effects of gluten – but most are unaware of it.  However, more and more people are adopting a gluten-free lifestyle and noticing the difference.  Also, only 10% of existing victims of celiac disease have been diagnosed – that means that 90% of celiac sufferers remain undiagnosed.  This is why I have continued writing and promoting about the harm of gluten.

I have now come to the conclusion (like so many others) that everyone would be better off on a gluten free diet.  I have written about this in my book “Gluten: ZERO Global”.

Now I advocate for people being “gluten-ZERO” rather than gluten-free.  

Here is a quick look at the “gluten-related disorders” book covers.  These are available as print books, with many now available as ebooks.

“The book for the Sick Tired and Grumpy”

   50 stories from parents whose children recovered on a gluten free diet.

“Gluten Free Parties and Picnics”

  Colored book with stories to encourage children embarking on their gluten free journey

There books have helps thousands of children.  I hope that they will help you too.

Cheers, Dr Rodney Ford

Every day in my clinic I am presented with distressed children and desperate parents who are told to “tough it out.”  Who are told (or inferred) that they are inadequate parents, or that their child is “just being naughty” or “going through a developmental crying stage.”

One of my mums sent this email today: “I have been at a doctor appointment today and my doctor has told me to try to wean by child off omeprazole, as there has been a recent study out saying that babies shouldn’t be having this medication as the long term effects aren’t known. Can you please advise me on what I should do as I don’t want to cause more harm than good by giving it to him but at the same time he is drinking well [before he went onto omeprazole he was having major feeing and sleeping issues]  Thank you.”

First do no harm.  Surely there is a medical imperative to look at the long-term harm to your baby, who is left in pain for months and sometimes years, untreated, with esophageal burning day after day.  Developing hyper-vigilance and behavior disorders.  The distressed parents coping with depression, sleep deprivation and inadequate bonding to their child.  The separation or divorce precipitated by endless nights of inconsolable crying.  The feeding disorders that stem from chronic gut pain and regurgitation, with difficulty introducing solids.  Children who are not thriving and whose brain growth might be compromised.

I don’t understand the reluctance of so many doctors to turn a blind eye to reflux disease and allow such obvious suffering.  It is a serious well documented condition. The very-long-term side effects on all modern medications are unknown.  Speculative.  Omeprazole has been used for over 30 years with an excellent safety track record.  We know that untreated GERD can be a disaster.

My plea is to have compassion on these babies and children and let them have the medication that they need.

You can pay Dr Ford’s speaking/seminar fee by PayPal by adding this item to the cart.

Evidence for a gluten-zero planet

Dr Ford’s challenging new book was released on 14 Sept 2012 in Seattle.

Price of US$20 plus postage

Dr (Professor) Rodney Ford emphatically declares: “Gluten is bad for us all!”  Yes, you read that right – bad for you, bad for him, and bad for everyone else!  This is a bold statement to make.  However, he claims that there is now enough evidence about the harm of wheat/gluten for us all to demand massive changes to our diet, our farming practices and our food manufacturing industry. This action will substantially improve the health of our Nations.

Gluten: universal harm

Dr Ford not alone in proposing that gluten is potentially harmful to for us all. Many other health professionals have also reached this conclusion, supported by growing research evidence of gluten diseases. Most recently, 15 top celiac-doctors have acknowledged that gluten-related-illness is a common problem that needs much better diagnostic tests. In their landmark paper “Spectrum of gluten-related disorders: consensus on new nomenclature and classification.” http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/10/13, they conclude that “all individuals, even those with a low degree of risk, are susceptible to some form of gluten reaction during their life span.”

Global gluten-zero diet

The widespread adoption of gluten-free-life is a food revolution based on the personal experience of millions.  This is a recent phenomenon that has seen exponential growth over the last ten years. Dr Ford predicts that in another generation gluten will be rejected by most reputable food processing companies. This will be a difficult truth for many people to accept because wheat products are currently the very foundation of our diet.  After all this time to discover that our basic food is harmful is a huge shock.

The purpose of this ebook “Gluten: ZERO global” is to present you with the evidence that everyone, including your family, should now be avoiding gluten.

We have upgraded the whole eClinic website
There still may be a few gremlins/bugs in the changeover – we have our team working on this. We will be making it an even better and lower-priced experience. 

We have reduced the fee to just US$9.99, so that even more people will have the opportunity of getting their individualized food allergy/intolerance help. 

Thanks for your support and patience.  If you are experience frustration problems, please let me know. Some people have had delays in the “activation” of their eClinic account. The information links “InfoLinks” have been redirected – they should all be working soon.

We are now offering you two substantial ebooks free with our eClinic subscription.

Cheer Dr Rodney Ford

ebook is available for purchase on “Smashwords”. (US$15)

(the Print Book (Price USD $20.00 + $5 postage within the USA) will be available in October 2012). 

Dr (Professor) Rodney Ford emphatically declares: “Gluten is bad for us all!”
Yes, you read that right – bad for you, bad for him, and bad for everyone else!  This  implies that the whole world should avoid gluten.

This is a bold statement to make.  However, he says that there is now enough evidence about the harm of gluten for us to demand massive changes to everyone’s diet, our farming practices and food manufacturing industry. Eventually, this will substantially improve the health of our Nations.

Gluten: universal harm

Dr Ford presents the evidence that gluten is potentially harmful to everyone: “bad for us all.”

He is not alone in endorsing this concept. Many other medical/health professionals have also reached this conclusion, supported by growing research evidence of gluten diseases. Most recently, 15 top celiac-doctors have acknowledged that gluten-related-illness is a common problem that needs much better diagnostic tests. In their landmark paper “Spectrum of gluten-related disorders: consensus on new nomenclature and classification.” http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/10/13, they conclude that “all individuals, even those with a low degree of risk, are susceptible to some form of gluten reaction during their life span.”

Global gluten-free diet

The widespread adoption of gluten-free-life is a food revolution based on the personal experience of millions.  This is a recent phenomenon that has seen exponential growth over the last ten years. Dr Ford predicts, that in another generation, gluten will be rejected by most reputable food processing companies. This will be a difficult truth for many people to accept because wheat products are currently the very foundation of our diet.  After all this time to discover that our basic food is harmful is a huge shock.

 The purpose of this ebook “Gluten: ZERO global” is to present you with the evidence that everyone, including your family, should now be avoiding gluten.

 Dr Ford explores these questions:

 1. Why pick on Gluten? 10 decades of Celiac; 10 years of Gluten Syndrome; 10 months of ZERO gluten.

2. Why is gluten so bad for us all? Cannot digest it;  gut leaky; toxic proteins.

3. Why are there so many sick people? “Nobody knows what’s wrong with me.” Old technology for modern disease.

4. How much illness can be attributed to gluten? The catalogue of gluten-illness.  Health burden of gluten.

5. Can gluten really damage brains, nerves and minds? Brain symptoms, nerve damage, mental disorders.

6. What other illnesses might be linked to gluten? Auto-immune diseases, hormones.

7.  Should we really change what we eat? Diet – not Drugs. The alternative grains. Health-giving foods.

8. How can we feed 7 billion people?  Is bad food better than no food?

Ebook available on this link:   http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/221633