Latest Allergy & Asthma News
The latest allergy and asthma-related news feeds from around the world.
Lower levels of sunlight exposure link to allergy and eczema in children, study suggests
February 3, 2012
Increased exposure to sunlight may reduce the risk of both food allergies and eczema in children, according to a new scientific study.
Exposure to common environmental bacteria may be source of some allergic inflammation
January 31, 2012
Could some cases of asthma actually be caused by an allergic reaction to a common environmental bacteria? New research findings suggests that this idea may not be as far-fetched as it seems.
January 11, 2012
Investigators have identified a genetic mutation in three unrelated families that causes a rare immune disorder characterized by excessive and impaired immune function. Symptoms of this condition include immune deficiency, autoimmunity, inflammatory skin disorders and cold-induced hives, a condition known as cold urticaria.
Increased risk of developing asthma by age of three after Cesarean
January 10, 2012
A new study supports previous findings that children delivered by Cesarean section have an increased risk of developing asthma.
Memo to pediatricians: Allergy tests are no magic bullets for diagnosis, experts say
December 26, 2011
An advisory from two leading allergists urges clinicians to use caution when ordering allergy tests and to avoid making a diagnosis based solely on test results.
Improved medication use could reduce severe asthma attacks
December 12, 2011
Researchers have found that one-quarter of severe asthma attacks could be prevented if only patients consistently took their medication as prescribed. Moreover, an asthma attack was only significantly reduced when patients used at least 75 percent of their prescribed dose, according to the study.
Few allergies in unstressed babies, Swedish researchers find
December 12, 2011
A new study shows that infants with low concentrations of the stress-related hormone cortisol in their saliva develop fewer allergies than other infants. Hopefully this new knowledge will be useful in future allergy prevention.
High intestinal microbial diversity safeguards against allergies, study suggests
December 8, 2011
High diversity and a variety of bacteria in the gut protect children against allergies as opposed to some individual bacterial genera. These are the findings of a comprehensive study of intestinal microflora (gut flora) in allergic and healthy children.
Immune system has protective memory cells, researchers discover
November 28, 2011
The immune system possesses a type of cell that can be activated by tissues within the body to remind the immune system not to attack our own molecules, cells and organs, researchers have discovered.
Dirt prevents allergy, Danish research suggests
November 2, 2011
If infants encounter a wide range of bacteria they are less at risk of developing allergic disease later in life, new research from Denmark suggests.
Substance from bacteria could lead to allergy-free sunscreen
October 25, 2011
As the realization that radiation emitted by the sun can give rise to skin cancer has increased, so also has the use of sunscreen creams. These creams, however, can give rise to contact allergy when exposed to the sun, and this has led to an increasing incidence of skin allergy. Scientists in Sweden are leading the hunt for a natural UV filter that does not have undesired effects.
More evidence that allergies may help in fighting brain tumors
October 20, 2011
Subjects with somewhat elevated levels of antibodies produced to fight allergens were less likely to go on to develop brain tumors, according to a new study. The study adds to evidence from prior studies, but some questions still remain.
Obese children have up to double the risk of having asthma
October 14, 2011
Asthma is considered one of the main causes of school absenteeism and its prevalence has risen in the last decades. Overweight children have been shown to have double the frequency of asthma than that of non-obese children.
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of allergies, study suggests
October 14, 2011
Today, about one in four European children suffer from allergy, which makes this disease the non-infectious epidemic of the 21st century. Evidence suggests that lifestyle factors and nutritional patterns, such as breastfeeding, help to reduce the early symptoms of allergy.
Inhibiting allergic reactions without side effects
October 13, 2011
Researchers have announced a breakthrough approach to allergy treatment that inhibits food allergies, drug allergies, and asthmatic reactions without suppressing a sufferer's entire immunological system.
October 11, 2011
Researchers have turned off a life-threatening allergic response to peanuts by tricking the immune system into thinking the nut proteins aren't a threat to the body, according to a new preclinical study. The peanut tolerance was achieved by attaching peanut proteins onto blood cells and reintroducing them to the body -- an approach that ultimately may be able to target more than one food allergy at a time.
Environmental health risks of livestock farming: More exacerbations in lung patients
September 27, 2011
Emissions from livestock farms cause asthma and COPD patients living nearby to experience more exacerbations, according to new research. Also, chances of contracting Q fever from nearby sheep and goat farms increased with the number of animals rather than with the number of farms, the research found, hinting at higher health risks from "mega farms."
September 18, 2011
Eating low-fat yogurt while pregnant can increase the risk of your child developing asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever), according to recent findings. Researchers suggest that non-fat related nutrient components in the yogurt may play a part in increasing this risk. They are also looking at the possibility that low-fat yogurt intake may serve as a marker for other dietary and lifestyle factors.
Mother's diet influences baby's allergies, research suggests
September 8, 2011
A possible link between what a mother eats during pregnancy and the risk of her child developing allergies has been identified in new research.
September 2, 2011
Scientists in Germany have clarified an endogenous mechanism that can prevent the development of allergies. They were able to show that certain cells of the immune system, so-called killer dendritic cells, are capable of eliminating allergy cells. The results of the study open up new perspectives for strategies to protect against allergies.
Heat in chili peppers can ease sinus problems, research shows
August 25, 2011
Hot chili peppers are known to make people "tear up," but a new study found that a nasal spray containing an ingredient derived from hot chili peppers may help people "clear up" certain types of sinus inflammation.
House dust mite test on wheezy toddlers predicts asthma in teen years
August 24, 2011
Wheezy toddlers who have a sensitivity to house dust mites are more at risk of developing asthma by the age of 12, a new study has shown.
Prolonged breastfeeding does not protect against eczema, global study shows
August 23, 2011
The largest worldwide study on the association between breastfeeding, time of weaning and eczema in children has concluded that there is no clear evidence that exclusive breastfeeding for four months or longer protects against childhood eczema. The study concludes that children who were exclusively breastfed for four months or longer were as likely to develop eczema as children who were weaned earlier.
Using powder-free latex gloves reduces latex allergy rate in health care workers
August 17, 2011
Researchers investigating latex allergy in health care workers have demonstrated the most effective public health strategy to prevent allergic sensitization is by stopping the use of powdered latex gloves.
Nut-allergy sufferers face prejudice: Life-threatening nut allergies viewed as 'frivolous' by many
August 15, 2011
Parents of nut-allergy sufferers face hostility and skepticism in trying to find safe environments for their children, a new study has found.
August 14, 2011
A pandemic of ailments called the "allergic march" -- the gradual acquisition of overlapping allergic diseases that commonly begins in early childhood -- has frustrated both parents and physicians. Now scientists have identified that expression of the protein TSLP may influence susceptibility to multiple allergic diseases by regulating the maturation of basophils, an uncommon type of white blood cell.
Prenatal pet exposure, delivery mode, race are key factors in early allergy risk, study finds
August 8, 2011
Prenatal pet exposure, a mother's delivery mode and race are influential factors in a child's risk of developing allergies by age 2, according to a new study. Researchers found that babies who have indoor prenatal pet exposure have a pattern of lower levels of the antibody Immunoglobulin E, or IgE, between birth and age 2. IgE is linked to the development of allergies and asthma.
Mold exposure during infancy increases asthma risk, study finds
August 4, 2011
Infants who live in "moldy" homes are three times more likely to develop asthma by age 7 -- an age that children can be accurately diagnosed with the condition, according to a new study.
Study challenges baby formula claim
July 14, 2011
Hypoallergenic baby formula does not reduce a baby's risk of developing allergies in later life, a new study by researchers in Australia has found.
Contact allergies may trigger immune system defences to ward off cancer
July 11, 2011
Contact allergies (reactions caused by direct contact with substances like common metals and chemicals) may help prime the immune system to ward off certain types of cancer, suggests new research.
Hypoallergenic dogs don't have lower household allergen levels than other dogs, study finds
July 7, 2011
Contrary to popular belief, so-called hypoallergenic dogs do not have lower household allergen levels than other dogs. That's the conclusion of a study by researchers who sought to evaluate whether hypoallergenic dogs have a lower dog allergen in the home than other dogs. Hypoallergenic dogs are believed to produce less dander and saliva and shed less fur.
You are what you tweet: Tracking public health trends with Twitter
July 6, 2011
Computer scientists have sifted through two billion 'tweets' for information on where people are sick, what ails them, and what they're doing about it.
Researchers identify early biomarker for future atopy in asymptomatic children
July 6, 2011
The signs of atopy may be present long before symptoms begin, even in month-old babies, according to a new research study from Denmark. The study found that the level of urinary eosinophil protein-X, a marker of inflammatory cells, in newborn babies was linked to higher risk of allergic sensitization, nasal eosinophilia and eczema at six years.
Childhood asthma linked to depression during pregnancy
July 6, 2011
Anxiety, stress and depression during pregnancy may lead to a greater risk of asthma for your child, according to researchers. The findings support a growing body of research showing that exposures can influence the risk of developing asthma.
Foods with baked milk may help build tolerance in children with dairy allergies, study suggests
July 1, 2011
Introducing increasing amounts of foods that contain baked milk into the diets of children who have milk allergies helped a majority of them outgrow their allergies, according to a new study.
Gastric bacterium Helicobacter pylori protects against asthma
July 1, 2011
Infection with the gastric bacterium Helicobacter pylori provides reliable protection against allergy-induced asthma, immunologists have demonstrated in an animal model. Their results confirm the hypothesis recently put forward that the dramatic increase in allergic diseases in industrial societies is linked to the rapid disappearance of specific micro-organisms that populate the human body.
Herbal medicine treatment reduces inflammation in allergen-induced asthma, study suggests
June 30, 2011
Researchers using a traditional Korean medicine, SO-CHEONG-RYONG-TANG (SCRT) that has long been used for the treatment of allergic diseases in Asia, found that SCRT treatment alleviates asthma-like pulmonary inflammation via suppression of specific chemokines or proteins.
Children’s hay fever relieved by cellulose powder without adverse effects, study suggests
June 28, 2011
A cellulose powder has been used increasingly for many years against allergic rhinitis. Still, there has been a shortage of scientific evidence for its efficacy in seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever), particularly in children. Now, however, scientists have shown that the cellulose powder reduces symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in children. Researchers did not find any adverse effects.
High prevalence and severity of childhood food allergy in the US
June 20, 2011
A national study of food allergies in the US, the largest of its kind, finds that more children have food allergies than previously reported.
June 13, 2011
A new study reveals that keeping a dog or cat in the home does not increase children's risk of becoming allergic to the pets.
Cosmetics can cause serious adverse effects, study suggests
May 31, 2011
Permanent hair dye gives the most serious adverse effects, yet there are also many reactions to facial and body moisturizers, according to new research.
Cockroach allergens in homes associated with prevalence of childhood asthma in some neighborhoods
May 17, 2011
Researchers compared the household presence of cockroach, mouse, cat, dust mite and other allergens in neighborhoods with a high prevalence of asthma to that in low-prevalence neighborhoods. They found that cockroach, mouse and cat allergens were significantly higher in homes located in neighborhoods where asthma is more common and that children in these higher-exposure homes were more likely to be sensitized to cockroach antigens.
New tool to assess asthma-related anxiety
May 5, 2011
When children or adolescents with asthma and their parents become overly anxious about the disorder, it may impair their ability to manage the asthma effectively. A new, effective tool to assess asthma-related anxiety is described in a new article.
Plant extract may be new therapy for hay fever, study suggests
April 27, 2011
Fighting hay fever with a plant extract? It works, as was shown in a new clinical study. Allergic symptoms were alleviated significantly better than with the usual histamine receptor antagonists.
Childhood eczema and hay fever leads to adult allergic asthma, study finds
April 15, 2011
Children who have eczema, particularly when occurring with hay fever, are nine times more likely to develop allergic asthma in their 40s, a new study reveals.
Many restaurant staff are undertrained and misinformed about food allergies, study finds
April 14, 2011
A new study reveals that there is no association between a restaurant worker's knowledge of food allergy and his or her confidence in being able to provide a safe meal to a food allergic customer.
Nanoparticles offer hope for common skin allergy
April 3, 2011
Tiny particles only billionths of a meter in diameter -- about two thousand would fit across the width of a human hair -- could offer big hope in a small package to the many millions of people who are allergic to the nickel in everything from jewelry to coins and cell phones.
Cat allergy vaccine safe and effective, study suggests
March 31, 2011
Mark Larché and his research team have developed a cat allergy vaccine which is effective and safe with almost no side effects.
New treatment may desensitize kids with milk allergies, study suggests
March 21, 2011
Milk allergy is the most common, affecting 2.5 percent of children under age 3. In a small clinical study, scientists report effectively desensitizing milk-allergic patients by increasing their exposure to milk in tandem with an allergy drug called omalizumab, allowing children to build up resistance quickly with limited allergic reactions.
Vaccine to cure asthma brought on by house dust mite allergies?
March 21, 2011
Researchers are working on a vaccine that could completely cure asthma brought on by house dust mite allergies.
Marathon runners can suffer allergic reactions
March 17, 2011
As almost 40,000 runners get set to take part in this year’s London Marathon, a new study has found that one in three will suffer from allergies after the event. Researchers have shown how far symptoms such as itchy eyes, a runny nose and congestion can be attributed to allergic reactions.
Omalizumab relieves seasonal asthma attacks in youth, study finds
March 16, 2011
A drug that targets the antibody immunoglobulin E, a key player in asthma, nearly eliminated seasonal increases in asthma attacks and decreased asthma symptoms among young people living in inner city environments, a clinical trial has found.
Pregnancy anemia linked to childhood wheezing and asthma
March 10, 2011
Need a reason to take your iron supplements? Iron deficiency during pregnancy may directly impact infant and childhood breathing health according to a new study.
Cell component involved in triggering cat allergy identified
March 9, 2011
New research could provide hope for any allergy sufferers who have ever had to choose between their health and their household pet.
Easy, accurate way to predict food allergies developed, study suggests
March 3, 2011
An on-line calculator that predicts, within seconds, the presence of the three major food allergies in children has been developed. The new calculator gives 96% accuracy compared to current methods that are 61% -81% accurate.
Tanning bed exposure can be deadly when complicated by medication reactions
March 1, 2011
Use of tanning beds to "self-treat" skin eruptions can be dangerous when complicated by medication reactions according to a new study.
Heparin a key role player in allergy and inflammatory reactions
February 25, 2011
Heparin plays a key role in allergic and inflammatory reactions driven by mast cells, scientists show. The study sheds some new light on the biological function of heparin.
Low vitamin D levels linked to allergies in kids
February 24, 2011
A study of more than 3,000 children shows that low vitamin D levels are associated with increased likelihood that children will develop allergies, according to a new article.
Steroids to treat asthma: How safe are they?
February 23, 2011
Children experiencing an asthma attack who are treated with a short burst of oral steroids may have a brief and transient depression of immune response, according to a new study. These findings have implications for asthmatic children who have flare-ups and who may be exposed to new contagious diseases.
Border patrol: Immune cells protect body from invaders
February 7, 2011
Barrier sites -- the skin, gut, lung -- limit the inner body's exposure to allergens, pollutants, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Understanding how the immune system works in these external surfaces has implications for understanding such inflammatory diseases as asthma, psoriasis, IBD, and food allergies, all of which occur at the body's barriers. Researchers have identified an immune cell population that acts as the body's border patrol with the outside world.
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