February 9, 2012
By Jenifer Goodwin
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Feb. 9 (HealthDay News) — When Jane Able’s 4-year-old daughter, Ellie, was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy, the New Albany, Ohio, mother got trained in using an epinephrine pen and never leaves home without it.
The device contains an injectable dose of epinephrine, a hormone that can halt even life-threatening allergic reactions. But it’s not only Able who needs to know how to use the device — so do teachers, babysitters, even the parents of Ellie’s friends.
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February 2, 2012
THURSDAY, Feb. 2 (HealthDay News) — Sometimes, there’s nothing better than scratching an itch. And a new study suggests that where the itch resides is key to the pleasure derived from scratching.
The findings help improve understanding of itch and might even help folks battling itchy skin ailments, according to study author Dr. Gil Yosipovitch, a professor of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.
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December 23, 2011
FRIDAY, Dec. 23 (HealthDay News) — Hay fever symptoms — itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and runny nose — are worse in the spring than summer even when pollen counts are the same, according to a new report.
In the study, researchers compared daily pollen counts during the 2007 and 2008 hay fever seasons with daily symptoms reported by hay fever sufferers living around Leiden in the Netherlands.
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December 19, 2011
MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) — Holiday decorations, both old and new, can cause asthma attacks and allergic reactions, an expert says.
Dr. Joseph Leija, an allergist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Maywood, Ill., warns that fresh Christmas trees, poinsettias and boxes that have been stored for months can stir up potential triggers like dust and mold.
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December 16, 2011
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Dec. 16 (HealthDay News) — While the alarming re-emergence in 2009 and 2010 of mosquito-borne dengue fever in the continental United States seems to have subsided, that’s no reason to believe the potentially deadly infection won’t be back, experts warn.
The outbreak of the sometimes-excruciating viral illness centered on southern Florida. Now, researchers have issued an update on the situation for one locale in particular, Key West.
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November 24, 2011
THURSDAY, Nov. 24 (HealthDay News) — The holiday season can be a challenge for people with allergies and asthma, but there are a number of things they can do to protect themselves, allergists say.
Food allergies are an issue because many traditional holiday foods contain such allergens as wheat, soy, dairy and nuts, the experts pointed out in a news release from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
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November 6, 2011
By Jenifer Goodwin
HealthDay Reporter
SUNDAY, Nov. 6 (HealthDay News) — Pumpkin spice candles and pine-scented air fresheners may evoke the holiday season for some. For others, those airborne fragrances trigger allergy symptoms — from runny, itchy noses and sneezing to asthma attacks.
Allergists say as the popularity of scented products has risen, so have complaints from their patients about reactions to them.
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November 6, 2011
SUNDAY, Nov. 6 (HealthDay News) — Alcoholic beverages can trigger allergic reactions or exacerbate existing allergies, experts warn.
Though rare, some people have allergies to the alcohol itself, while others are allergic to various substances in alcoholic drinks such as beer and wine, Dr. Sami Bahna, past president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) and chief of Allergy and Immunology at Louisiana State University Medical School in Shreveport, La., said in an ACAAI news release. Symptoms may include red, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, upset stomach and difficulty breathing.
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November 6, 2011
SUNDAY, Nov. 6 (HealthDay News) –
By taking steps to reduce pet allergens in their homes, pet owners can reduce the spread of pet allergens to people who may be allergic, experts say.
Pet allergens are found in more than 90 percent of U.S. homes, even though only 52 percent have a pet, said Dr. Dana Wallace, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, in a college news release.
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November 5, 2011
SATURDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) — Too few American doctors use oral food challenges to diagnose food allergies even though this type of test is considered the gold standard, according to a new study.
In an oral food challenge, a patient consumes foods to see if it causes an allergic reaction. This is done under close medical supervision.
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