August 24, 2011
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 24 (HealthDay News) — Exclusive breast-feeding of infants for four months or longer does not protect them against developing the itchy skin disorder known as eczema in childhood, new research shows.
In exclusive breast-feeding, an infant receives only breast milk, with no additional food or drink, according to the World Health Organization. Exclusive breast-feeding up to 6 months of age is recommended by a number of agencies, including the WHO and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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August 19, 2011
By Jenifer Goodwin
HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Aug. 19 (HealthDay News) — When Bela Mehta’s toddler son was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy, she carefully explained to her parents and in-laws that ingesting even the tiniest amount of peanut could cause a life-threatening reaction.
Yet when the grandparents came over to babysit, Mehta would come home to find that they’d brought over desserts that contained peanuts, or that they were continuing to make dishes containing peanuts using her blender.
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August 16, 2011
By Amanda MacMillan
TUESDAY, August 16, 2011 (Health.com) — Amanda Santos wanted to send her 5-year-old daughter, Skylar, to a small private school. But after they interviewed, met the teachers, and submitted Skylar’s medical records, they never heard back from the school, despite repeated inquiries.
Santos, who lives in Fairhaven, Mass., can’t say for sure why communication was cut off so abruptly, but she’s convinced that Skylar’s severe nut allergy was an issue. Read More
July 12, 2011
TUESDAY, July 12 (HealthDay News) — The immune systems of people with contact allergies may be primed to protect against certain types of cancer, including breast and brain cancers, new research suggests.
Contact allergies occur due to direct contact with chemicals and common metals such as nickel.
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July 11, 2011
MONDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) — So-called hypoallergenic dogs are no less likely to make you sneeze than other dogs, a new study says.
It’s widely believed that hypoallergenic dogs produce less dander and saliva and shed less fur, making them a healthier choice for people with allergies. But a team at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit found no scientific evidence that hypoallergenic dogs produce fewer allergens.
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June 20, 2011
By Jenifer Goodwin
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) — Nearly 6 million U.S. children — or about one in 12 kids — are allergic to at least one food, with peanuts, milk and shellfish topping the list of the most common allergens, a new study finds.
Researchers conducted a nationally representative survey of the parents of more than 40,000 children. About 8 percent reported having a child who had a food allergy. Of those, about 30 percent said their child was allergic to multiple foods.
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June 13, 2011
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By Amanda Gardner
MONDAY, June 13, 2011 (Health.com) — Children who live with dogs and cats are less likely to develop allergies to those animals later in life, but only if the pet is under the same roof while the child is still an infant, a new study suggests.
Compared to babies born into cat-free homes, those who grew up with cats were roughly half as likely to be allergic to them as teenagers, the study found. Growing up around a dog reduced the risk of dog allergies by about the same amount for boys, but not for girls—a finding that mystified researchers. Read More
June 13, 2011
By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, June 13 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to pets in infancy and childhood probably won’t increase a child’s risk of developing an allergy to cats and dogs, and may actually protect against such allergies, new research suggests.
The first year of life appears to offer the greatest protection, the researchers said. Living with a dog before age 1 year was associated with about half the risk of developing a dog allergy in boys. Exposure to cats before turning 1 was associated with about a 48 percent reduction in risk for girls and boys, the new study reported.
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June 11, 2011
SATURDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) — For most people, insect stings are a painful annoyance, but they can be deadly for those who are allergic to them, researchers warn.
Each year in the United States, more than half a million people have to go to emergency departments after suffering insect stings, and at least 50 die, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, which recently released updated guidelines for diagnosing and treating people with hypersensitivity to insect stings.
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May 19, 2011
By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, May 19 (HealthDay News) — For people with pollen allergies, this year is especially tough, say allergy experts.
“Everyone always has a reason to think the current year is the worst year ever for allergies,” said Dr. David Rosenstreich, director of the allergy and immunology division at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.
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