13
votes
Accepted
Do Benadryl and Loratadine contain the same active ingredient?
No, they do not contain the same active ingredient. Benadryl (trade name) is also known as diphenhydramine (generic name); loratidine (generic name) is also known as Claritin (trade name). Both drugs ...
- 4,355
9
votes
Accepted
How do antihistamines work?
A very brief review of an allergic response is in order so that the answer makes sense. Think of a linked chain of events here.
An "allergen" is something a person is allergic to, e.g., cat dander or ...
- 8,792
9
votes
Can someone have an allergic reaction to a virus?
The TH1/TH2 model of T-cell responsiveness can be summarized as TH1 being the "antiviral/antibacterial" immune response and TH2 is the "antiparasite" immune response against worms ...
- 11.6k
7
votes
Accepted
Cold allergy is it possible?
There is no true allergy to cold, but there is a condition called cold urticaria, which is a subtype of physical urtiaria. Other subtypes of physical urticaria include increased sensitivity to ...
- 15.6k
6
votes
How likely is it for someone to develop a serious allergy in adulthood ?
Yes, you can develop a food allergy as an adult.
Apparently nobody really knows why but a couple of plausible theories:
being exposed to allergens when the immune system is weakened, such as during ...
- 530
6
votes
Accepted
How fast and effective does an epi-pen work against a peanut allergy reaction?
Mild case of artistic license.
The effects of epinephrine are rapid and can be dramatic, but they're not long-lasting. EpiPens are only intended as a delaying tactic to buy time for the patient to ...
- 9,303
6
votes
What is an allergy?
From Medicinenet.com:
A misguided reaction to foreign substances by the immune system, the body system of defense against foreign invaders, particularly pathogens (the agents of infection). The ...
- 6,480
6
votes
Accepted
How would I know whether I am lactose-intolerant? Are there any tests?
This page from the NIH has a lot of relevant information about lactose intolerance.
There are several standard diagnostic tests for lactose intolerance, but your physician might ask you to try ...
6
votes
Is there solid evidence, that antibiotics cause allergies?
The possible link between antibiotics and increased allergy and asthma incidence was mentioned at the 2004 annual meeting of American Society for Microbiology (New Scientist, 2004). They said that ...
- 15.6k
5
votes
Should Neosporin never be used?
You can look up practically any medicine that exists and you will find long lists of all of the possible side effects, risks and interactions.
Manufacturers have to list everything that could possibly ...
- 151
5
votes
Accepted
Difference between common cold and flu?
Symptoms, in short:
Common cold: blocked nose, yellow/green mucus, scratchy throat lasting for 7-14 days (usually no headache, fever or fatigue), year round
Hay fever (allergy to pollens): runny ...
- 15.6k
5
votes
Difference between common cold and flu?
In general a cold (usually rhinovirus), Influenza, or even a bacterial infection can have quite similar symptoms. If contracted through airborne particles, they primarily affect the respiratory system....
- 198
5
votes
How does the process of receptor blocking impact the human cells in context of antihistamine drugs (irreversible antagonist)?
It means that the receptors are blocked forever. A cell is a living thing, continuously producing new proteins (including receptors) and recycling old ones. So the cell is not defective forever, it ...
- 2,770
5
votes
Accepted
How does the amount of allergen in an allergy shot compare to a 6X homeopathic dilution
A quick, non-comprehensive google search turned up a couple of publications targeted at doctors indicating that maintenance doses of allergens are in the range of 5-20 micrograms:
http://www....
- 295
5
votes
Accepted
Can pheromones or sun trigger/cause allergy?
People can get allergy to sunlight. It is called photosensitivity or sun allergy. The most common form of this is known as polymorphic light eruption (PMLE), also known as sun poisoning[1,2]. This is ...
- 244
5
votes
Accepted
How does the body develop an allergy during a lifetime?
From the MayoClinic, it isn't clear why adult allergies develop:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-allergy/expert-answers/food-allergy/faq-20058483
However, there is evidence that ...
- 196
5
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to be allergic to corn but not popcorn?
Essentially this depends on which specific protein a person is allergic too. There will be a lot of crossover in plants so closely related as to be different subspecies of the same species, but some ...
- 2,331
5
votes
Rising allergy and intolerance diagnosis rates
This answer would be for the Hygiene Hypothesis part of the question
Epidemiology studies in favour of Hypothesis
The geographical distribution of allergic and autoimmune diseases is a mirror ...
- 706
4
votes
Can a person eliminate lactose intolerance through extended exposure?
Very generally speaking I would say it depends on the cause of the intolerance - if it is a primary intolerance (i. e. genetic problem with lactase persistence deficiency, the enzyme for digesting ...
- 1,157
4
votes
Accepted
Does some food increase pollen allergy symptoms?
There are foods that won't increase your pollen allergy symptoms, but instead cause them. This is a condition called Oral Allergy Syndrome, also known as Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome.1 This is caused ...
- 7,717
4
votes
Should all the stuff be thrown away when moving out from a house with mold?
The CDC has a great website on cleanup after mold. Also, this is a simple pamphlet. The degree of decontamination needed depends on the item and the extent of the mold. Whether something needs to ...
- 5,693
4
votes
Food Packaging Labels' Ingredient Statement Required To List Allergens?
My condolences for the difficulties you have -- and will continue -- to face on this subject. The unfortunate part of your ordeal is that there is no clear guidance -- whether regulatory or industry -...
- 213
4
votes
Should Neosporin never be used?
Neosporin has its advantages but also has way too many disadvantages. It is said to speed up healing but most cases prove that Neosporin is actually one of the antibacterial ointments behind the ...
- 1,848
4
votes
How long would someone be able to live if they suddenly became allergic to water?
Due to the rarity of the condition, pathogenesis is poorly understood. According to Aung, Montelibano, & Zin (2017), water may act as a solvent in aquagenic urticaria, solubilizing an antigen that ...
- 5,842
4
votes
Cold allergy is it possible?
No.
Allergy, which is an exaggerated immune sensitivity to certain environmental compounds, usually plants, or less commonly microorganisms, metals and other materials.
McConnell, Thomas H. (2007). ...
- 6,480
4
votes
Why is the H2O molecule an antigen despite its tiny size and simplicity?
The pathogenesis behind Aquagenic Urticaria isn't definitively known - and the extreme rarity of the condition makes studying it difficult (only ~100 cases published!)
It does appear to be an ...
- 1,252
4
votes
Accepted
Are non-allergic, non-pathogenic rhinitis associated with fever?
Common cold, which is an acute viral infection of the nose, is rarely associated with fever in adults (Canadian Medical Association Journal ; DPHHS Montana).
Allergic rhinitis does not usually cause ...
- 15.6k
3
votes
Accepted
Potato and rice diet to prevent allergic reactions to calm down atopic eczema
I've seen diets like that (often with lamb included) not to prevent allergies but to prevent eating something you are allergic to. The idea is that the person is allergic to a large number of diverse ...
- 3,744
3
votes
Is it ok to use sterile eye drops every day
Not sure what you mean by sterile eye drops? Most eye drops are sterile formulations so you do not introduce bacteria or pyrogens into your eyes.
Regardless, I looked into the product Clearine and ...
- 565
3
votes
Long term effects of an allergy pill? Loratadine
The most common side effect of loratadine is headache which has been reported in up to 12 percent of users. Other common side effects include drowsiness occurring in 8 percent of users, fatigue in 4 ...
- 682
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible