All Allergies Articles

Man's best friend? Depends on who you ask. In the United States, pets outnumber us humans by about 76 million: 378 million pets vs. 302 million people. While 65 million dogs are our pampered pals, there are 78 million favored felines found in American homes today. Your chosen chum -- be it cat, dog, fish or fowl -- provides you and your family with comfort, companionship and joy; and according Read more...

Sep. 17 -- Food allergies have become more common, especially among children. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, more than 2.2 million children have some time of food allergies. More than 12 million Americans have them, according to The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. Many adults have learned symptoms they had blamed on other conditions such as Read more...

Are you one of the millions of Americans that suffer from animal allergies? Me too! Perhaps, some might say, I chose the wrong profession. Why would anyone with animal allergies choose to work with animals, and sneeze and sniffle all day long? The answer to me is quite simple ... I love what I do. The questions I'm often asked is if there is a breed of dog or cat that is considered Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPH When Alex was in dental hygiene school, she suddenly developed allergy symptoms—sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and hives on her hands. She couldn’t think of any new exposures that would cause her symptoms, except for the school environment. After visiting her doctor, she was surprised to learn that the latex gloves she had been wearing in school were causing her Read more...

by Rick AlanDefinition Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an allergic lung disorder. It is related to the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus (AF). Aspergillosis can also occur as: A lung infection that can spread to other parts of the body (more common in patients with suppressed immune systems) A fungal growth ( aspergilloma ) in a lung cavity that has healed from a previous lung Read more...

by Michelle Badash, MSMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource Guide There are no guidelines for reducing your risk of allergic rhinitis because it is not fully understood why some people develop allergic reactions to certain substances while others do not. However, there are many things you can do to Read more...

by Michelle Badash, MSMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideYou have a unique medical history. Therefore, it is essential to talk with your doctor or healthcare provider about your personal risk factors and/or experience with allergic rhinitis. By talking openly and regularly with your healthcare Read more...

by Michelle Badash, MSMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideThere is no cure for allergic rhinitis, but treatment may reduce or alleviate your symptoms. The primary treatment methods include avoiding allergens, taking medication, and immunotherapy (allergy shots).Treatment involves the Read more...

by Michelle Badash, MSMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource Guide Symptoms are caused when allergens or irritants create excessive congestion in the normal breathing process. Both perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis cause the same symptoms, which may include: Runny nose and nasal congestionItchy, Read more...

by Michelle Badash, MSMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideThe purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.At this time, there are no screening tests Read more...

by Michelle Badash, MSMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideA risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.It is possible to develop allergic rhinitis with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your Read more...

by Michelle Badash, MSMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck SurgeryAddress:One Prince St.Alexandria, VA 22314-3357Phone:1-703-836-4444Internet address:http://www.entnet.orgDescription of services provided:Information about allergies, treatment, Read more...

by Michelle Badash, MSMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Resource GuideYour doctor or allergist will begin by taking a detailed medical history, which will include questions about your lifestyle, eating habits, family and medical history, and medication use. Your doctor will also do a physical exam, and will Read more...

DefinitionAllergy tests are used to determine which substances cause allergic reactions. Two types of tests can be used to confirm an allergy diagnosis: Blood tests—a small sample of blood is taken and tested for dozens of different allergens. Also called RAST testing or in vitro testing. Skin tests—applying suspected allergens to the skin to see if they elicit an allergic reaction (raised or Read more...

by Mary Mihaly It seems I am sensitive to certain jewelry—earrings not made of high-grade gold or silver, metal watch bands, pendants on cheap chains. My jewelry sensitivities are compounded by an allergy to some chemicals used in making latex, which is everywhere! My favorite bracelet, a hand-painted wood band coated in varnish, creates red, raised, furiously itching hives up my forearm. Read more...

by Leanna Skarnulis Twenty-seven sneezes. That's what forced Ann to stop her car alongside the road on a windy spring day in Nebraska. Ann's prescription medication was no match for Nebraska's airborne pollens. She's thought about moving back to Colorado where, with the exception of one bad spring, she lived free of hay fever for six years. Allergy and immunology specialist Betty Wray, MD, of Read more...

(Desensitization, Hyposensitization, Immunotherapy) by Karen Schroeder, MS, RD Type of Medication Medication administered as an injection just under the skin to help decrease allergic reactions. What Allergy Shots Are Most Frequently Prescribed For Hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis) Allergies to bee and insect stings Allergy shots don't work on all allergies or on all people with Read more...

by Mary Calvagna, MS In 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Clarinex (desloratadine) for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) in adults and children 12 years of age and older. Seasonal Allergic RhinitisSometimes called hay fever or rose fever, SAR occurs during specific times of the year when allergens (things you are allergic to) are in the air. Seasonal allergies Read more...

by Karin Beuerlein When flowers start blooming, pollen is looming, causing misery for millions of people with allergies. Advertisements for indoor air cleaners claim that they remove allergens and can make our lives sneeze-free. But do they really work? Don't toss your tissues just yet, say the experts. Studies haven't shown definitive improvement for allergic patients who use air cleaners. Read more...

by Christine Perry, MS, RD The term food allergy is often misapplied, leading many people to believe that they are "allergic" to certain foods when a more accurate term would be “food intolerance.” In fact, food allergy symptoms are caused either by a hypersensitivity reaction or by simple food intolerance to specific components of a food. Symptoms of adverse Read more...