Dr Zaahir Abrahams Paediatrician

29/05/2025

A food allergy app! AFSA showing the way.

The Allegrow Food Allergy Support App enhances quality of life by minimising the time spent reading labels in-store. It helps individuals with food allergies or intolerances discover a wider range of suitable South African free-from food products. Users can enjoy various features, such as personalised profiles, curated shopping lists, and a tool to locate healthcare practitioners nearby.

You can download the apps here from the App Store and Google Play.
Allegrow app has a 7-day free trial version and thereafter R50 per month
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/za/app/allegrow/id6470016826
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.drivaticapp.AlleGrow

06/05/2025

🌍 Small Symptoms, Big Impact!

Don’t overlook signs of allergies like a blocked or runny nose. These could point to underlying issues with asthma control. 🌸💨 Identifying the risks could be a game-changer for your health. Take charge this World Asthma Day!

06/05/2025

Today is World Asthma Day! GINA emphasizes the need to ensure that people with asthma can access inhaled medications that are essential both for controlling the underlying disease and treating attacks - Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL.

Download the new 2025 report here: bit.ly/3EDiwMc

30/04/2025

🌍 World Asthma Day: Connecting the Dots! 🌟

"Did you know that a blocked, itchy, or runny nose could mean your asthma isn't fully under control? Allergic rhinitis and nasal symptoms often go hand-in-hand with asthma. When we care for the whole airway, we breathe easier together. Talk to your healthcare provider today. 💙

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30/04/2025

The effects of temperature and humidity on asthma Both humidity and cold air are two very common asthma triggers and it is important that asthma sufferers bear this in mind. Whilst exposing a child to cold air or a steamed room may help with some croup sufferers, this will not work for asthma. Both....

25/04/2025

This bronchiolitis educational video provides families with a basic understanding of the signs and symptoms and how to manage their child. For more education...

25/04/2025

Food additives and preservatives and how they affect allergies.

Food additives are increasingly added to processed food – they help preserve food, enhance flavour, and improve texture. But if you or a loved one has food allergies, it’s important to understand how these additives might impact your health. A recent study explored the relationship between food ...

09/04/2025

In South Africa, a high-middle-income sub-Saharan African country, only 31.5% of children with asthma had well controlled asthma and 17.6% had been admitted to hospital in the previous year. The prevalence of asthma in adolescents has been reported at 17% and in children in more rural settings and 21% in urban settings. The prevalence of doctor diagnosis of asthma was 16.6%, but more than 50% of these children exhibited severe asthma symptoms. The majority of symptomatic children were over-reliant on “as required” short-acting β-agonist 81.2% and only 17% of asthmatics were on regular ICS.

The inevitable consequence of poorly controlled asthma is greatly increased morbidity, with the disability weight for controlled asthma increasing from 0.009 to 0.132 for uncontrolled asthma.

Refiloe M, Kevin M, Rebecca N, Maia L, Hellen M, Graham D, et al. Asthma care in sub-Saharan Africa: Mind the gap! J Pan Afr Thorac Soc 2022;3:59-62.

09/04/2025

This week we focus on Asthma Controller medicine. What they are, why they are important and how to use your MDI controller effectively.

09/04/2025

✨Controllers✨ (sometimes called preventers) are there to treat the inflammation and stop the airways going into spasm. Controllers should be used regularly to reduce the inflammation that results in swelling, mucus and muscle tightening around the airways. Use your controller every day, even if you don’t have any asthma symptoms such as wheezing or tightness of the chest.

08/04/2025

Moulds are fungi which release tiny particles called spores into the air, and it is these spores that cause allergic symptoms in people when they are breathed in. The black spots on the walls and ceilings of damp rooms are moulds; the white and black furry layers on decaying bread and other foods ar...

08/04/2025

When someone has a reaction to foods that are harmless for most people, the person is having a “hypersensitivity” reaction. When everyone who eats that food has a reaction (e.g food poisoning) it is called a “toxic” reaction.