Allergy News

Skin allergies can be caused by a myriad of different things ranging from environmental agents to ingredients found in personal care products like soaps, detergents, cosmetics, or even household products or pets.

It is still unknown why allergic reactions to products occur in some people but not others, although it is known that people who have allergies to certain agents are genetically predisposed, so if you find yourself itching like crazy at just the sight of a specific laundry detergent, you have at least one parent to thank.

Continue reading "Skin Allergies and Rashes: How to Get Relief" »

BALTIMORE, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers suggest only one in five inner-city children with chronic asthma gets enough medicine to control dangerous flare-ups of the disease.

The researchers at The Johns Hopkins Children's Center call the findings disturbing because preventive therapy failure leads to over-reliance on fast-acting "rescue" drugs after an asthma attack strikes and to more complications and increased risk of death.

The scientists interviewed parents of 180 Baltimore children from age 2 to 9 who were diagnosed with persistent asthma and studied pharmacy records. Overall, only 20 percent of the 180 got the recommended amount of daily controller medication, which is six or more refills in a 12-month period.

Continue reading "Many urban children don't get asthma drugs" »

Dec. 4, 2006 -- Children with asthma are more likely to be obese and less likely to exercise than those without the disease, a British study shows.

"Asthma was identified as a barrier to exercise by parents and children," write the University of Nottingham's Cristine Glazebrook, RGN, PhD, and colleagues in Pediatrics.

But physical activity is important for everyone, including those with asthma; nearly half the children with asthma in Glazebrook's study were overweight.

The researchers call on experts to develop strategies to promote exercise for children with asthma.

Continue reading "Kids With Asthma: Obesity More Likely" »

A tiny heater that warms the lungs and airways is being used to treat asthma. The device, which is inserted through the nose or mouth, gives ten-second blasts of mild heat to the muscles to stop them contracting.

Research shows that the beneficial effects of three sessions of the device, now on trial at five hospitals in the UK, can last for more than two years.

Asthma is a major and increasing health problem, with 5.2 million people in the UK currently receiving treatment, including 1.1 million children.

Continue reading "Tiny heater inside your lungs could end asthma inhalers" »

Continue reading "Late start to European winter troubles skiers, bears and asthma sufferers" »

GA²LEN welcomes the vote of the European Parliament on the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) on 30 November that acknowledges allergic diseases as major chronic diseases to be addressed in European research during the coming 7 years (2007 - 2013).

The European Parliament adopted the report of Prof. Jerzy Buzek that recognises “respiratory diseases including those induced by allergies” as health priorities to be addressed by translational research. This will allow respiratory allergic diseases (including asthma) to be covered by the research programme under the health theme.

In the first drafts, only food allergies (8% of all allergies) were covered. Allergic diseases will now be tackled under both the health and food themes of the research programme which should allow scientists to progress towards the overall understanding that is needed to help control this epidemic through effective prevention and treatment.

Continue reading "EU prioritises allergic diseases in the Seventh Framework Programme for Research" »

More than 1 million residents of the Washington-Baltimore region already live close to heavily trafficked motorways where dangerous soot pollution is at levels that can trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and respiratory disease. Building the $2.4 billion (and rising), 18-mile intercounty connector linking Interstate 270 to Interstate 95 through neighborhoods and near schools would worsen these health problems.

Maryland Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley (D) reiterated his support for the road following his election last month, but if the public demands protection for our children and the elderly, he still could take steps to prevent these health hazards.

Continue reading "ICC Could Be Hazardous To Your Children's Health" »

Continue reading "Study: Infants Living With Dogs Wheeze Less" »