Allergies News

Forty-eight percent of the adult population with a convincing food allergy reported developing at least one as an adult (they may have had others as a child)

Experts said the findings highlight two important facts: Food allergies are common among U.S. adults, and many mistakenly believe they have one.

When you have animal allergies and you’re traveling, or you’re expecting guests who may be allergic to your pets, there are a few steps that can both guest and host can take to make the sneezing and itching less a problem.

Childhood food allergies are relatively common and should be taken seriously, with 1 in 5 having a reaction that takes them to the emergency room every year.

After nine to 12 months of treatment, two-thirds of people in a new study were able to tolerate the equivalent of two peanuts per day, and half the patients tolerated the equivalent of four peanuts.

Climate change may push ragweed – the plant that triggers hay fever – farther north in the United States in the next 35 years, scientists say.

Research suggests that more than 300,000 Americans have sesame allergy, according to Lisa Gable, CEO of the nonprofit group Food Allergy Research and Education.

It’s now estimated that 4 million to 6 million children under the age of 18 have food allergies, meaning 1 in every 13 children are restricted in what they can safely eat.

The ongoing EpiPen shortage, along with drugmaker Mylan's price increases, has caused problems, especially as the school year starts and parents are expected to supply their schools with new epinephrine devices.

Mosquito Threat Spurs New Ways to Tackle Old Pest Aug. 29, 2018 -- Insect-borne illnesses are on the march, as the bugs that carry them are spreading out and getting harder to kill.In response, scientists are looking for new, high-tech tools to prevent them from spreading those diseases.In California, researchers are trying to change the genes of mosquitoes to prevent them from carrying the parasites that cause malaria. And in Brazil and Southeast Asia, scientists are working to infect mosquitoes with bacteria that keep them from spreading dengue fever, a sometimes deadly virus that’s reaching beyond its

The FDA announced this week that it is extending the expiration date on some batches of EpiPens by 4 months to try to help people struggling with the shortage. But many in the allergy community say they’re afraid to give their children lifesaving medication that is past its printed expiration date.

EpiPens are still available in the U.S., but are in limited supply in certain areas due to factors such as supply disruptions and manufacturer issues, according to the FDA.

The first generic version of the EpiPen was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, paving the way for more affordable versions of the lifesaving allergy emergency medication.

The recall comes as the FDA considers whether nondairy beverages made from almond, soy, and other plant-based food can legally be called “milk.”

Scientists believe the results say it’s likely that dogs make bacteria in the home and the body more diverse, and therefore help strengthen the immune system.

Experts in Virginia are warning people to be on the lookout for giant hogweed, a dangerous plant that can leave humans with third-degree burns, cause serious blisters and even permanent blindness.

While 89 percent of people surveyed did fill their prescription for the auto-injector, "almost half (45 percent) said they didn't have [one] with them during their most severe allergic reaction," said study lead author Christopher Warren, of the University of Southern California.

Some parents have raised concerns about sunscreen after their children had rashes and swelling after using it. Doctors say the reactions are a rare type of allergic reaction.

The FDA post came a day after Bloomberg reported that more than 400 patients in 45 states were having trouble finding EpiPens and similar devices.

Specifically, people living within about 1,600 feet of a pig farm were 37 percent less likely to have allergies than those who lived more than roughly 1,900 feet away. And living no more than 1,300 feet from a cattle farm was linked with a 32 percent lower risk for allergies, the study found.

The mucus was analyzed for cytokines, which are proteins that enable cells to talk to each other. Based on the cytokines findings, the researchers categorized the patients into six different groups.

Only 63 percent of people who visit their community pharmacy to purchase treatment for their hay fever have a doctor diagnosis, said study senior author Sinthia Bosnic-Anticevich.

Visual clues, like signs of mold and excessive dust around the air vents, can point to a need for cleaning.

By the end of the study, 67 percent of the participants who took the peanut flour were able to tolerate the equivalent of roughly two peanuts, compared with only 4 percent of those who took the placebo.

Almost one-third of people with a food allergy have reactions to more than one type of food.