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Related terms: Hayfever, Nasal Allergies

Blog (15)

Does Your Child Have Seasonal Allergies or a Cold?

Posted 13 days ago by Drugs.com

SATURDAY, May 12 – It can be difficult during the spring months for parents to determine whether their children have a cold or seasonal allergies, but an expert outlines how to tell the difference. "Runny, stuffy or itchy noses; sneezing; coughing; fatigue; and headaches can all be symptoms of both allergies and colds, but when parents pay close attention to minor details they will be able to tell the difference," Dr. Michelle Lierl, a pediatric allergist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, said in a hospital news release. "Children who have spring or fall allergies have much more itching of their noses; they often have fits of sneezing and usually rub their noses in an upward motion," she explained. "They also complain about an itchy, scratchy throat or itchy eyes, whereas with a cold, they don't." When people have allergies, their nasal discharge is usually clear and ... Read more

Related support groups: Allergies, Allergic Rhinitis, Cold Symptoms, Hay Fever

FDA Approves Zetonna (ciclesonide) Nasal Aerosol for Allergic Rhinitis

Posted 24 Jan 2012 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, January 20, 2012 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Zetonna (ciclesonide) nasal aerosol to treat the symptoms associated with seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older. Ciclesonide is a corticosteroid first approved for nasal use as Omnaris in October 2006. Zetonna nasal aerosol is formulated with a hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant in a delivery system designed to dispense ciclesonide medication as a fine dry mist in a small volume (50 mcL) to a patient's nose, which may be able to reduce sensory effects such as back-of- the-throat run-off and run-out out of the nose that can occur with aqueous-based corticosteroids. A large phase III clinical study investigated 74 mcg or 148 mcg doses of ciclesonide nasal aerosol once-daily in 1,111 patients, 12 years of age and older with perennial allergic rhinitis ... Read more

Related support groups: Allergic Rhinitis, Hay Fever, Ciclesonide Nasal, Hayfever

Hay Fever Symptoms Worse in Spring Than Summer: Study

Posted 26 Dec 2011 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, Dec. 23 – Hay fever symptoms – itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and runny nose – are worse in the spring than summer even when pollen counts are the same, according to a new report. In the study, researchers compared daily pollen counts during the 2007 and 2008 hay fever seasons with daily symptoms reported by hay fever sufferers living around Leiden in the Netherlands. The study participants were also tested for other common allergies, including birch pollen, house dust mites, dogs and cats. The investigators found that hay fever symptoms matched the concentration of pollen in the air and also the amount of medication taken by the participants. They took more medication on days with high pollen counts and severe hay fever symptoms and less medication on days with low pollen counts and milder hay fever symptoms. But hay fever symptoms were reportedly worse during the spring than ... Read more

Related support groups: Allergic Rhinitis, Hay Fever

Health Tip: Using a Nasal Spray for Allergies

Posted 18 Aug 2011 by Drugs.com

-- A nasal spray can help many allergy sufferers find relief from symptoms, but it's important that the spray be used correctly. The American Academy of Family Physicians mentions these suggestions when using a nasal spray: It may take as long as two weeks before you notice the spray's full effect. At least once per week, wash the canister that delivers the spray. Before you spray, sniff air into each nostril to allow the medication to go deep inside the nose. Aim the spray straight toward the back of your head. If used correctly, the spray shouldn't leak from your nose or down your throat. Stop using the spray for a few days if you have a nosebleed or feel pain in the nose. Use the medication as directed by your doctor, and store it out of direct sunlight. Read more

Kids' Eczema, Hay Fever Linked to Allergic Asthma Later

Posted 20 Apr 2011 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, April 20 – New research finds that adults who suffered from eczema as children – especially if they also had hay fever – are nine times more likely to have allergic asthma when they're in their 40s. The findings are based on about 1,400 adults who have been followed for five decades as part of Australia's Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study. The study participants were assessed in 1968, when they were 7 years old, and then again in 2004 when they were about 44 years of age. "In this study we see that childhood eczema, particularly when hay fever also occurs, is a very strong predictor of who will suffer from allergic asthma in adult life," lead study author Pamela Martin, a University of Melbourne graduate student at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, said in a university news release. "The implications of this study are that prevention and rigorous treatment of ... Read more

Related support groups: Eczema, Allergic Rhinitis, Hay Fever, Allergic Asthma

Firstborn Kids Seem to Have More Food Allergies, Hay Fever

Posted 21 Mar 2011 by Drugs.com

SUNDAY, March 20 – Firstborn children may be more likely to suffer from certain types of allergies, finds a new study. Japanese researchers surveyed parents of more than 13,000 children aged 7 to 15 and found that a child's birth order did not seem to affect the prevalence of asthma or eczema. However, firstborn children were more likely to have hay fever, pink eye due to allergy and food allergy. In fact, the investigators found that the prevalence of food allergy was 4 percent in firstborn children, 3.5 percent in second-born children and 2.6 percent for children born later. "It has been established that individuals with increased birth order have a smaller risk of allergy. However, the significance of the effect may differ by allergic diseases," first author of the study, Dr. Takashi Kusunoki, of the pediatrics department at Shiga Medical Center for Children and Kyoto University, ... Read more

Related support groups: Allergies, Allergic Rhinitis, Hay Fever

Allergies Linked to Lower Brain Cancer Rate in Study

Posted 7 Feb 2011 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Feb. 7 – If you suffer from allergies, take heart: Researchers say you may be less likely to develop a tough-to-treat brain cancer, possibly because your immune system is on high alert. It's not clear how this knowledge might improve prevention or treatment of brain cancer, but the study's lead author said the findings pave the way for further research. "We need to do more studies to really get at that underlying mechanism. Then we might be able to do things that would influence people who might have a higher risk or may have a family history," said Bridget J. McCarthy, a research associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The lesions studied are known as gliomas, the most common type of adult brain tumor. They account for more than half of the 18,000-plus malignant brain tumors diagnosed in the United States every year, according to the U.S. ... Read more

Related support groups: Allergies, Allergic Reactions, Allergic Rhinitis, Hay Fever

Sneezing Again? Avoid Ragweed

Posted 22 Aug 2010 by Drugs.com

SUNDAY, Aug. 22 – If you've been sneezing your way through August, ragweed may be the culprit. Ragweed season usually starts around mid-August and tends to torment allergy sufferers until the first frost sets in. Because ragweed counts are the highest between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. on hot, dry and windy days, consider avoiding outdoor activities during that time, says an expert from the Saint Louis University Medical Center. Seasonal allergy triggers abound, and knowing which ones affect you can help you avoid them to reduce the risk of annoying symptoms such as sneezing, stuffy nose and itchy eyes, Dr. James Temprano, assistant professor of internal medicine at the university, said in a university news release. If you're not sure what's causing the problem, consider a skin test to determine which allergens are affecting you, Temprano suggested. For these tests, he said, doctors place ... Read more

Related support groups: Allergic Rhinitis, Hay Fever

Allergies Dampen Sex Lives

Posted 25 Jan 2010 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, Sept. 10 – Having allergies can take a toll on your sex life, new research shows. When polled, 83 percent of people with allergic rhinitis said it affected their sexual activity at least sometimes, with almost 18 percent of those affected saying their allergies nearly always got in the way of a satisfying sex life. "I was kind of surprised that it made that much of a difference," said study author Dr. Michael Benninger, chairman of the Head and Neck Institute at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Commercials for allergy relief products tend to focus on helping people get back to enjoying an active lifestyle, such as taking their kids to the park, Benninger said. Rarely is there mention of sex lives, and that could be because it's an area that has been studied so little, he noted. Allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever, affects 10 to 40 percent of the U.S. population, according ... Read more

Related support groups: Allergies, Allergic Rhinitis, Hay Fever

Shots Relieve Children's Hay Fever, Cut Expenses

Posted 17 Jan 2010 by Drugs.com

SATURDAY, Jan. 16 – Allergy vaccinations reduce total health-care costs in children with hay fever by one-third and drug prescription costs by 16 percent, according to a 10-year U.S. study. Researchers compared the medical claims for 2,770 children with hay fever (allergic rhinitis) who received allergy vaccinations with the claims of 11,000 children with allergic rhinitis who didn't receive allergen immunotherapy. "This large-scale, comparative effectiveness study of health outcomes clearly demonstrates the benefits of allergen immunotherapy for children with allergic rhinitis. Findings are even more impressive considering the results were based on 'real world' health-care delivery, rather than on treatment provided within a tightly controlled clinical trial," study author Cheryl Hankin, president and chief scientific officer of BioMedEcon, said in a news release. The study will be ... Read more

Related support groups: Allergic Rhinitis, Hay Fever

Keep Asthma, Allergies at Bay for the Holidays

Posted 6 Dec 2009 by Drugs.com

SATURDAY, Dec. 5 – They're not Scrooges, but people with allergies and asthma can have bad reactions to certain holiday traditions and need to take special steps to prevent sneezing and wheezing, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). Those who are allergic to live evergreens may choose to decorate with artificial plants, but both live and artificial trees can trigger symptoms, experts say. They offer the following hints to help people avoid allergy and asthma symptoms over the holiday season: Some allergies are triggered by terpene, which is found in the oil or sap of live evergreen trees, wreaths and garlands. Other allergy sufferers may react to mold or pollen on trees and natural decorations. The ACAAI suggests washing pollen and mold off live trees, especially the trunk, with a garden hose and leaving the tree in a bucket of water in the ... Read more

Related support groups: Allergies, Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, Hay Fever, Allergic Asthma

Health Tip: Understanding Hay Fever

Posted 30 Jun 2009 by Drugs.com

-- Hay fever – an allergic reaction to pollen – is what causes the runny eyes, sneezing, swelling and itching that makes you miserable when you head outside. Hay fever worsens when outdoor trees, shrubs and other plants are pollinating, says the American Lung Association. While anyone can have hay fever, it does tend to run in families, the association says. People who have been exposed to the pollens that trigger hay fever may quickly become more sensitive to these allergens. The best thing you can do to prevent hay fever is to avoid the pollens that trigger it. Try to stay inside with an air conditioner and an air purifier running, and take an antihistamine to help manage symptoms. People with severe hay fever, if they need to be outdoors for long periods, should consider wearing a dust mask, the association says. Read more

Related support groups: Hay Fever

Climate Change Could Sting Allergy, Asthma Sufferers

Posted 11 May 2009 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, May 11 – Climate change isn't only bad for the Earth, it may be bad for your health – especially if you have allergies or asthma. Global warming is making pollen seasons last longer, creating more ozone in the air, and even expanding the areas where insects flourish, putting more people with bee allergies at greater risk, experts say. "Climate change will cause impacts in every area. Wet areas will get wetter, and drier climates are getting drier," said Dr. Jeffrey Demain, director of the Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Center of Alaska, and a clinical associate professor at the University of Washington. Those changes will mean more people with allergies and asthma will suffer. In wet areas, mold allergies will spike, while in drier areas pollens and other airborne irritants will become more of a problem, he said. Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced ... Read more

Related support groups: Allergies, Asthma, Asthma -- Maintenance, Hay Fever, Asthma -- Acute, Allergic Asthma

Health Tip: Keep Allergy Symptoms Under Control

Posted 20 Apr 2009 by Drugs.com

-- When spring has sprung, so have all kinds of allergens. Blooming trees and flowers may lead to sneezing, coughing and watery eyes. But you don't have to let allergy symptoms keep you from enjoying spring. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help manage your allergy symptoms: Medications such as over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants, eye drops or nasal sprays can help prevent and ease symptoms. Consider regular allergy shots. Always take a shower when coming in from the outdoors, especially before you go to bed. Help keep your home free of mold by frequently and thoroughly cleaning bathrooms, shower curtains and anything else that tends to get moist. Use a dehumidifier to limit humidity to less than 50 percent, if possible. Limit exposure to pets if a family member is allergic to them. Limit fabrics, which can attract dust. Where possible, ... Read more

Related support groups: Allergies, Hay Fever

Breathe Easier Knowing Spring's Pollen Triggers

Posted 5 Apr 2009 by Drugs.com

SUNDAY, April 5 – Spring can be challenging if your child is one of the more than 35 million Americans with hay fever. But a bit of preparation can help the youngster enjoy being outside, one expert says. This involves three steps, explained Dr. Clay Stallworth, a pediatrician with MCG Pediatric Primary Care Associates and MCGHealth Children's Medical Center in Augusta, Ga.: Know if your child has allergies and what causes them. Find out when plant pollination will occur. Begin treatments before symptoms appear. Allergies tend to run in families. If both parents have allergies, their children have a 75 percent to 80 percent chance of developing allergies, Stallworth noted. The risk drops to 40 percent if one parent is allergic. Children usually develop seasonal allergies at 5 to 6 years old, but they can develop them at any age, even as adults, he added. Signs of allergies include: ... Read more

Related support groups: Hay Fever

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