Questions tagged [allergy]

Questions pertaining to a damaging immune response by the body to a substance, esp. pollen, fur, a particular food, or dust, to which it has become hypersensitive.

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How do antihistamines work?

We recently got some new kittens and my step son is allergic to them. He mostly suffers from a runny nose, but also had itchy eye last night after he Left a robe in the kitten room all day Put it ...
Paul's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can someone have an allergic reaction to a virus?

My understanding of allergies is that they are more or less immune responses to non-pathogenic substances. The definition on MedicineNet more or less agrees with this. While I don't have any known ...
Robert Columbia's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
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How does the body develop an allergy during a lifetime?

I've heard about people who weren't allergic to peanut butter or pollen previously in their lives, but suddenly develop an allergy to that substance. What is the mechanism behind an allergy "suddenly" ...
Dave Liu's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
153 views

Why are peanut allergies so much more severe than other food allergies?

Based on my understanding of how adaptive immune responses arise, I would expect peanut allergies to be roughly normally distributed with regard to severity, like other food allergies. However, peanut ...
sehrgut's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
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Do Benadryl and Loratadine contain the same active ingredient?

When I get bad Hay Fever, I take either Benadryl or Loratadine. I am wondering what the active ingredients are in these, and Is it okay to take them both together (or would that be over dosing)? On ...
Tim's user avatar
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8 votes
2 answers
225 views

Difference between common cold and flu?

What are the differences between flus and colds? I don't know about English, but in Spanish they confuse it very often when using words gripe and resfriado. Maybe it's not the case in English, but I ...
Pichi Wuana's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
190 views

Which conditions are associated with (multiple) food allergies?

Most people with food allergies are allergic to one or few foods, but allergies to more than three foods are relatively rare (PubMed, 2010). In some people who are allergic to several foods, an ...
Jan's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
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Does some food increase pollen allergy symptoms?

As a pollen allergic, should I avoid of eating some kinds of food which may increase pollen allergy symptoms?
Luxqs's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
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My allergy-caused stuffy nose goes away when I exercise. Why?

I'm currently dealing with my seasonal pollen allergies, and currently the right side of my nose is simultaneously blocked and runny. But when I start exercising, for example five situps, the blockage ...
oneequalstwo's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
228 views

How likely is it for someone to develop a serious allergy in adulthood ?

I always am slightly afraid of food which I know contains allergens, as although I have never had a serious allergic reaction to anything, one of my friends suffers from them. Is there any real (let's ...
Polycarples's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is it possible to be allergic to corn but not popcorn?

Is it possible for a person to be allergic to one subspecies and not another of the same parent species? For instance, can a person be allergic to sweet corn but not popcorn (both subspecies of Zea ...
DonielF's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
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Does early exposure protect against developing allergies later on in life?

I recently read a few papers (here and here) that concluded that children exposed to peanuts before 1 year of age were less likely to develop peanut allergies later in life than children who were not ...
Nate's user avatar
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6 votes
3 answers
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Seasonal allergies home remedies

Like many I have seasonal allergies and spring time is hell I am allergic to grass and tree pollen Are there any home remedies that actually work ? Any way to train body to adapt?
SeanClt's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
180 views

Rising allergy and intolerance diagnosis rates

A leading theory behind the rising allergy and intolerance diagnosis rates is the "hygiene hypothesis." This theory suggests that living conditions in much of the world might be too clean and that ...
Chris Rogers's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
277 views

How would I know whether I am lactose-intolerant? Are there any tests?

I suspect that I might be lactose-intolerant, but I don't know how to tell. Can I just see a doctor and get tested, or do I have to live with the assumption? If there are any standardized tests, how ...
Jonas Schwarz's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
443 views

Can pheromones or sun trigger/cause allergy?

One of my friends is having Eosinophilia (the eosinophil count in the peripheral blood should be in the range 0-5×10^8/L, in her case it's 12.) She says that she has many allergies like from dust, ...
ABcDexter's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
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Are non-allergic, non-pathogenic rhinitis associated with fever?

Among common causes of rhinitis are irritants weather changes infection (e.g. common cold) allergy (e.g. hay fever) One way to disentangle between infection and allergy in presence of rhinitis is by ...
Remi.b's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
146 views

Can a person eliminate lactose intolerance through extended exposure?

It sounds dangerous, or at least uncomfortable, but I have a friend who thinks drinking milk daily will help cure him of lactose intolerance. Are there any studies that indicate that prolonged ...
Dave Liu's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
130 views

Can foods one is not allergic to exacarbate atopic dermatitis?

Several physicians (incl. two profesors in allergology, regarded among highest authorities in allergology in my country) told me and insisted that people with atopic dermatitis must avoid certain ...
gaazkam's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
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Are steroids effective for treatment of ACEI-induced angioedema?

A class of blood pressure medications called angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI, e.g. lisinopril, benazepril, etc) sometimes have a side effect of angioedema, usually manifesting as lip ...
Susan's user avatar
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5 votes
0 answers
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Do salt rooms really help fight pollen allergies?

I've heard that sitting in salt rooms, also known as halotherapy, can help fight pollen allergies. Is there any scientific proof that this claim is true? If so, why?
Luxqs's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
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Should Neosporin never be used?

I read on https://millerfamilydermatology.com/things-that-are-forbidden-in-my-house/ (mirror): 1 Neosporin® Neosporin is a combination of 3 different topical antibiotics-Neomycin Sulfate, Polymyxin ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
137 views

How does the process of receptor blocking impact the human cells in context of antihistamine drugs (irreversible antagonist)?

I have problem in understanding what it really means that antagonist is irreversible. I have an allergy and I stopped to take some drugs because of side effects. I tried to predict how long does it ...
objc3p0's user avatar
  • 51
4 votes
2 answers
4k views

Should all the stuff be thrown away when moving out from a house with mold?

Can anything from a molded house be safely moved to a new house without any further harm for health? Can spores be wiped out from clothes and furniture?
Vladimir Berlev's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
150 views

Covid vaccine side effects [closed]

The Pfizer Covid vaccine caused allergic reactions. For patients that are deemed to be at an increased risk of adverse side effects following a risk assessment (e.g. because of diabetes, heart disease)...
Pat-S's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
97 views

How long can an allergic reaction last after exposure to an allergen?

My dad has a skin allergy (rashes, itchiness), and I want to cut out some things from his diet to see if it's causing the problem. But I don't know how long an allergic reaction can last in absence ...
randomshinichi's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

Long term effects of an allergy pill? Loratadine

Are there any studies/effects of long term use of an allergy pill? I use Loratadine to help control my environmental allergies but I'm concerned about it being an every-day thing. Am I facing any ...
Unknown Coder's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
83 views

Are "latex fruit intolerance/syndrome" and "histamine intolerance" related or otherwise two names for the same problem?

I have an intolerance to bananas and avocados without a doubt. I get bowel cramps, bloating, and if I eat way too much of those foods, some mild topical itching on my skin. My research for latex ...
Ryan Mortensen's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
87 views

Is there solid evidence, that antibiotics cause allergies?

I have read, that the use of antibiotics could be part of the reason for the increase in allergies, we see today. In alternative medicine circles, it is a common theme to reduce the use of ...
user1721135's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
85 views

What is an allergy?

Is an allergy a negative response to a molecule that the majority of the population doesn't have? I've heard that people can be allergic to lactose, which the majority of people aren't, while people ...
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3 votes
1 answer
5k views

How fast and effective does an epi-pen work against a peanut allergy reaction?

Last night, I read a horror story about a baseball coach who assaulted his star player after training because she made his son look bad as the eternal number 2. He fed her peanuts while she had a nut ...
Nzall's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
4k views

Is there such a thing as "histamine liberators" and how do they work?

In the context of allergies, I keep reading the term "histamine liberators" with claims that certain foods release histamine. A random example from everydayhealth.com: Some foods, while low ...
bluenote10's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
85 views

Potato and rice diet to prevent allergic reactions to calm down atopic eczema

I've heard of a diet consisting only of boiled potatoes, rice (with salt) and cooked apples which shall help against skin problems possibly caused by allergies. The diet is supposed to be followed for ...
user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
324 views

do diphenhydramine and loratadine have same preservatives?

Do they use the same preservatives in diphenhydramine as they do loratadine? My doctor tells me I'm allergic to diphenhydramine but I'm also allergic to my dog and would like to know if loratadine is ...
Ramanda's user avatar
  • 31
3 votes
1 answer
128 views

Is there any evidence for the idea that eating too many nuts makes you allergic?

I occasionally come across the idea that eating too many of a particular nut or other food substance will give you an allergy to it later. An example might be: http://www.peanutallergy.com/boards/can-...
Joe's user avatar
  • 131
3 votes
1 answer
232 views

Map of ragweed infested countries

I have a very serious ragweed allergy and I am living in Hungary which is pretty much super infested. I started wondering which countries are affected by this lovely plant, because I don't want to ...
atoth's user avatar
  • 141
3 votes
0 answers
64 views

Why are beta-lactam antibiotics the most common drug allergens?

β-Lactam antibiotics: the most common allergens among drugs. Allergic reactions caused by β-lactam antibiotics bind to their chemical structure. The source of haptens is an unstable β-lactam ring to ...
Freezing Soul's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
127 views

Seboorrheic Dermatitis, Fungi, Environmental Factors

How can seborrheic dermatitis not be caused by poor hygiene as the assotiation for dermatology said? Wouldn't poor hygiene at least aggravate the condition? The treatment is mainly antifungal. And ...
George Ntoulos's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
27 views

Does increasing “allergy” histamine affect “wake” histamine? Do both respond to the same triggers?

I understand that histamine is used by the body as part of the immune response, widening blood vessels, etc., to aid the white blood cells in their attack. Often this ends up helping them attack ...
DonielF's user avatar
  • 259
3 votes
0 answers
26 views

Factors affecting the severity of an allergic reaction

I share a house with two very furry guinea pigs and inconveniently, am also very allergic to them. Every morning I take an anti-allergy tablet as I’m well aware that I’m likely to come into contact ...
Cthulhu's user avatar
  • 131
3 votes
0 answers
44 views

Will food allergy rashes eventually stop appearing?

I've recently noticed that after eating certain food, I develop a minor allergic reaction in form of a small red rash or two, anywhere on my body. The allergic reaction is in my opinion very minor, ...
NewGuest's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
36 views

Can allergies "generalize" to other substances present during an allergic reaction?

I've heard some claims that allergic reactions to one substance can "generalize" to other substances present at the same time. For example: A person is allergic to lobster, but not to clams. The ...
octern's user avatar
  • 305
3 votes
1 answer
128 views

Can consumer-oriented heart rate tracking devices/smartwatches be used for implementing Dr. Coca's food sensitivity test?

The pulse test invented by Dr. Coca involves measuring heart rate every 30 minutes after a meal to detect its rises after an allergenic meal - http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020108....
Joe's user avatar
  • 359
2 votes
1 answer
78 views

How does the amount of allergen in an allergy shot compare to a 6X homeopathic dilution

I have a bottle of liquid that is meant to build my immunity to "cedar fever," a common allergy in central Texas. It is a homeopathic medicine which contains the cedar pollen at a 6X dilution, ...
D. K.'s user avatar
  • 123
2 votes
2 answers
196 views

How low can you go on a low salt diet? [closed]

I'm sensitive to salt and am considering doing a salt-free diet. Is it ok if I remove salt and seasonings from my diet and cooking altogether? Will the sodium content of natural foods like oats, milk, ...
Seeking_Truth's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
91 views

Food Packaging Labels' Ingredient Statement Required To List Allergens?

I discovered recently I am allergic to soy and have been looking at the labels on many foods I eat to discover it's in almost all the foods I eat. Some don't seem to make any sense - like raw walnuts ...
StopSigningMeOut's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
245 views

What percentage of reported allergies are genuine?

Many people claim to be allergic to various things (e.g. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/122809). Since I've been to an allergist, I naturally wonder how reliable those claims are. As far as I can ...
ChiTownBob1's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
104 views

What is mode of exposure in allergic reaction to new carpet?

In reading about allergies associated with a new carpet installation, such as a skin rash, it's not clear exactly what the mode of exposure is. Is it from breathing in the chemicals that are ...
Not_Einstein's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
192 views

Why would someone have an anaphylactic reaction to intravenous saline?

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073567570800332X Abstract Anaphylaxis and acute allergic reactions may sometimes be fatal. They occur within minutes in a sensitized individual. ...
Willy A's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
53 views

How to discover allergies to certain foods?

Sometimes it is hard to find food allergies. Wheezing or any side affects but the root cause may not be known. Is there a good way to find food allergy?
Kathir's user avatar
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