Tomorrow, September 26 marks the 2nd annual Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD) Awareness Day. Gramercy Allergy hopes to help educate our patients on this often misdiagnosed disease, and spread the word.
Think you might have AERD? Please come in, Gramercy Allergy and Asthma can help.
What is Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD) or Samter’s Triad?
Think you might have AERD? Please come in, Gramercy Allergy and Asthma can help.
What is Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD) or Samter’s Triad?
- Patients with asthma and sinus disease can have reactions to these drugs and are diagnosed with Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD). This is also known as Samter’s Triad.
- Typically patients will have asthma, nasal polyps and allergy to aspirin. You don’t have to have all three diseases to have Samter’s Triad.
- A majority of patients also experience respiratory reactions to alcohol and an impaired sense of smell.
- As many as 7-10% of persons with asthma may have Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD). In patients with severe asthma as many as 15% of patients have AERD. If you have both asthma and nasal polyps the disease may be as high as 40% according to studies.
- The diagnosis of AERD is difficult and many patients are undiagnosed. The first ever AERD Awareness Day was September 26, 2018
- They undergo recurrent surgery for nasal polyps or chronic oral steroid use for their asthma.
- Many think that avoidance of aspirin or NSAIDS will prevent the disease, but THIS IS NOT TRUE.
- AERD can start at any age and is an acquired condition. It may be slightly more common in women then men.
What Are Symptoms Associated with Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease/Samter’s Triad?
- Nasal congestion
- Wheezing, chest congestion
- Severe poorly controlled asthma
- Recurrent nasal polyps.
- Facial pain and pressure
- Flushing and/or a rash
- Nausea and/or abdominal cramping
- Loss of sense of smell/taste
- Adverse reactions to alcohol
- General feeling of malaise
How Do you Diagnose Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease/Samter’s Triad?
- Your doctor may suspect you have AERD based off of your history.
- The gold standard for diagnosis is an aspirin challenge. THIS SHOULD ONLY BE DONE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A HIGHLY TRAINED ALLERGIST. Dr Jennifer Collins, MD and Dr. Meng Chen are both experts in Samter's Triad (Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease) and here to help you with your diagnosis and treatment.
- An aspirin challenge is performed to evaluate if you have an allergy to aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen.
- Patients with AERD may benefit from aspirin desensitization followed by twice daily aspirin therapy.
Want more help for Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease ? Gramercy Allergy and Asthma is an expert in treating AERD. Schedule an appointment with us. Dr. Jennifer Collins, MD,a Castle Connolly Top Doctor We are ready to help you with your eczema. Gramercy Allergy specializes in treatment of AERD in New York City
