It's hard to believe that the next summer isn't far off. For those hay fever sufferers, now is the time to start considering desensitisation immunotherapy for grass pollen. This treatment needs to be started at least 2 months before the grass pollen season gets under way for best results. All too often hay fever sufferers [...]
Caesarian section delivery of infants is associated with increased risks of developing allergies to common foods and inhalant allergens according to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Sept 2018). Studies in the USA show a greater risk of developing allergies in babies born by Caesarian Section and lower rate in those born by Vaginal [...]
Now that Christmas is over, its time to take down that Christmas tree. Real conifer trees used to decorate and celebrate Christmas indoors will contain mould spores and pollens that can be allergenic. After 14 days indoors most will release significant amounts of allergen into the indoor environment. Even artificial trees brought out and rejected [...]
Allergy sufferers are prone to large localised bumps on the skin due to midge, mosquito and fleabites in the summer. These reactions can be intensely itch and quite often swollen affecting the face and eyelids in small children. They also tend to occur in groups on the skin. This isn’t a true allergic reaction but [...]
Just spent a few days at Warwick University Life Sciences Department completing an update course on Clinical Immunology. It is “mind blowing” to see how efficient our immune system is at protecting us by intensive surveillance and rapidly recognising any new virus’, super-bacteria and cunning cancer cell on a constant basis. Our 24/7 dedicated immune [...]
Itching of the skin (the medical term is Pruritiis) can be a debilitating condition. The immediate assumption is that the itching is due to an allergy. But if there are no spots or rashes, an allergy may be far from the cause. Did you know that excess dryness of the skin stimulates the histamine itch [...]
Summer has finally arrived. So get those antihistamines and nasal sprays out of storage. With the lovely warm sunny weather comes the dreaded grass pollen scourge. Hay fever (Pollinosis) and allergic conjunctivitis can severely and adversely impact quality of life. Now’s too late to start Grazax (a new revolutionary Hay Fever treatment for grass pollen [...]
This involves taking stool specimens from healthy individuals and transplanting it into the gut of people who suffer with bowel problems that relate to faulty or pathogenic organisms in the gut. This may be a factor in certain chronic conditions that are difficult to treat with conventional medication and antibiotics. These include Inflammatory Bowel Disease [...]
A new concept in allergology is that of "local" IgE production on respiratory and ocular membranes causing allergy and also called Local Allergic Rhinits. The allergic reaction in this case is very localised to the nasal membranes and conjunctiva and not identified on routine allergy skin prick testing or RAST blood testing. However these patients respond to [...]
Some recent medical studies have suggested that overuse of antihistamine medication may result in Alzheimer’s disease. Only some of the older non-sedating antihistamines were mentioned in the study. Some older (sedating) antihistamines such as chlorphenamine and diphenhydramine cross into the brain and can cause drowsiness and are even used as OTC “sleeping pills”. Newer once-daily [...]