MONDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) — The rise in temperatures associated with climate change might have an unexpected consequence: more allergies among more people.
New research from Italy suggests that higher temperatures are lengthening the pollen season for some plants and trees, increasing the pollen load they produce and causing a rise in the number of people who are developing allergies to certain pollens. Read More
SUNDAY, Feb. 28 (HealthDay News) — A carbohydrate in meat called alpha-gal may be the unrecognized cause of recurring severe allergic reactions in some patients, a new study suggests.
The study included 60 people in Australia and the United States who experienced the recurrent severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis with no known cause. Allergy tests revealed that 25 of the 60 patients had positive responses to alpha-gal. A positive response was considered a level of greater than 1.0 international units per milliliter of immunoglobulin E (IgE). Read More
SUNDAY, Feb. 28 (Health.com) — If your children are allergic to peanuts, you may not have to live—and eat—in fear much longer. Gradually building up a tolerance to peanuts and other foods may prevent dangerous allergic reactions, new research suggests. Read More
MONDAY, Jan. 25 (HealthDay News) — Harsh cleaning chemicals and wooden toilet seats — especially those with varnishes and paints — may be among the reasons why U.S. cases of toilet seat-related skin irritations among children appear to be increasing, researchers say.
Children can develop toilet seat dermatitis after repeated exposure to residue from harsh cleaning chemicals or after several uses of a wooden seat, said Dr. Bernard Cohen, director of pediatric dermatology at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, and colleagues. Read More
FRIDAY, Jan. 1 (HealthDay News) — For people with allergies and asthma, toasting the New Year could result in more than a hangover; it could also set off a variety of unpleasant reactions, warns an organization of allergists.
“It is usually not the alcohol itself that produces the reaction. It is most likely ingredients, such as sulfur dioxide [metabisulfite], yeast and additives. Common allergic reactions include hives, skin rashes, flushing and warmth of the skin, bronchospasm or shortness of breath, especially in those with asthma,” Dr. Clifford W. Bassett, chairman of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s Public Education Committee, said in a news release. Read More
MONDAY, Dec. 7 (HealthDay News) — Children born to mothers exposed to microbes during pregnancy may be less likely to develop allergies, German researchers say.
They found that pregnant mice exposed to inhaled barnyard microbes gave birth to allergy-resistant offspring. The microbe exposure triggered a mild inflammatory response in the mothers. This response was characterized by increased expression of microbe-sensing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the production of immune molecules called cytokines. Read More
MONDAY, Nov. 16 (HealthDay News) — Pediatric food allergies, which can sometimes be life-threatening, are increasing at a dramatic rate in the United States, new research shows.
But the study authors aren’t sure if the rise in reports of food allergies reflects an increase in actual prevalence or if better awareness has led more people to seek treatment for their symptoms.
Whatever the cause, it’s clear that the number of children with food allergies has gone up 18 percent and the number seeking treatment for food allergy at emergency departments or hospitals has tripled since 1993. Read More
THURSDAY, Sept. 10 (HealthDay News) — Having allergies can take a toll on your sex life, new research shows.
When polled, 83 percent of people with allergic rhinitis said it affected their sexual activity at least sometimes, with almost 18 percent of those affected saying their allergies nearly always got in the way of a satisfying sex life. Read More
THURSDAY, Aug. 6 (HealthDay News) — More than two-thirds of U.S. adults mistakenly believe that daily medicine can be taken to prevent a food allergy reaction, according to a survey that found a widespread lack of knowledge and awareness about food allergy among the general public.
The online survey of 2,148 adults also found that nearly half of respondents incorrectly believed that there is a cure for food allergy. More than 40 percent wrongly said that life-threatening allergic reactions could be prevented through means other than strict allergen avoidance, the researchers noted. Read More
