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News and Features Related to Allergies

FDA Approves 'Dry' Nasal Spray for Allergy

March 26, 2012 -- The FDA today approved Qnasl, a "dry" nasal spray, for the treatment of nasal allergy symptoms. Qnasl is a powdered form of beclomethasone dipropionate, a corticosteroid. Allergists consider these drugs to be a first-line treatment for people with allergic rhinitis, which causes a
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Worst Cities for Spring Allergies in 2012

March 20, 2012 -- The third time is said to be the charm. But it's doubtful the allergy sufferers in Knoxville find it charming that for a third consecutive year their East Tennessee city has earned the No. 1 spot on the list of the worst places to live with spring allergies. Knoxville natives have
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The Truth About Mucus

Mucus is something everyone has, and some people wish they had a lot less of the stringy, gooey stuff. Sure, it can be gross to blow globs of snot into tissue after tissue when you have a cold or sinus infection, but mucus actually serves a very important purpose. "Mucus is incredibly important for
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Spring Allergies Strike Early This Year

Feb. 17, 2012 -- Got a stuffy nose, sore throat, watery eyes, or throbbing head? In February, those symptoms are usually caused by a cold or the flu, but this year, the culprit could be allergies. Thanks to a mild winter, spring allergy season got started nearly a month early in many parts of the U.
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Antibiotics Do Not Reduce Symptoms of Sinus Infection

Feb. 14, 2012 -- Patients may want to pause before asking for antibiotics to treat a sinus infection. A new study involving more than 150 patients ages 18 to 70 suggests that the antibiotic amoxicillin may be no better than a placebo in improving symptoms for those with sinusitis -- a common inflamm
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Will Moving Help My Child's Allergies?

In every issue of WebMD the Magazine, we ask our experts to answer readers' questions about a wide range of topics. In our March/April 2012 issue, we asked Brian Vickery, MD, WebMD's Children's Allergies Expert, whether it's possible to control a child's allergies by moving out of town. Q: Every spr
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Should I Get Allergy Shots?

In every issue of WebMD the Magazine, we ask our experts to answer readers' questions about a wide range of topics. In our March/April 2012 issue, we spoke to Michael Land, MD, WebMD's Allergy and Asthma Expert, about allergy shots -- who needs them, how they work, and how long you have to get them.
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Does Honey Help Prevent Allergies?

In every issue of WebMD the Magazine, we ask experts to answer readers' questions about a wide range of topics, including some of the most cherished medical myths out there. For our March/April 2012 issue, we talked to Michael Palumbo, MD, an allergist with Allergy & Clinical Immunology Associates i
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Are You a Mosquito Magnet?

You’re trying your best to enjoy an evening cookout, but a constant swarm of mosquitoes follows you from grill to poolside. The threat? A pierce to your skin, leaving behind an itchy red welt and possibly even a serious illness. As you swat madly at the pests, you notice that others seem completely
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Are Vacuum Cleaners Bad for Your Health?

Jan 6, 2012 -- You vacuum your house religiously to get rid of all the dust, dirt, and bacteria and make sure your indoor air is up to snuff. But new research suggests that some vacuum cleaners may actually be making things worse, not better. Certain vacuum cleaners spit fine dust and bacteria back
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