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Hives, also known as urticaria, is a very bothersome problem for those affected. They are usually quite itchy although they do not have to be. A hive is typically a raised welt, wheal, or bump on the skin that may have an accompanying red blotch surrounding the bump. Hives however can be flush with the skin in some cases. The shape and size of a hive is very variable, ranging from pinprick-looking dots to large
An eosinophil is a type of white blood cell that has a role in fighting against parasitic infections and responding to allergens. Eosinophils normally constitute about 5 to 8% of the white blood cells in one’s bloodstream. Their absolute numbers range from 100 to 500 eosinophils per microliter of blood. In individuals who are atopic, (i.e., people with a higher incidence of allergic disorders), there will be a higher number of eosinophils in the blood. When there are
Atopic dermatitis (i.e., eczema) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the skin. The symptoms usually begin in infancy and early childhood, although less commonly, they may begin later in life. Genetic predisposition is the underlying reason for most cases, however environmental factors and allergic sensitization to foods and aeroallergens may trigger and/or aggravate the condition. The face and extensor regions of the extremities are usually affected in infants and young children, whereas the flexural areas, especially in
Winter is around the corner and so are the annoying allergy symptoms that some individuals experience during this time of the year. Classically, in the Washington, DC, Northern VA, and Maryland metropolitan area, when people think of hay fever (i.e., allergic rhinitis), they think of allergy symptoms that occur in the Spring and/or Fall. The allergens that cause these bothersome symptoms in the Spring and Fall are primarily pollens. Tree and grass pollens generally cause allergy symptoms
Much of the information from the past decade regarding when to introduce peanuts into the diet of infants has been reviewed recently and subsequently revised. Research over the past 9 years shows that early introduction and regular consumption of peanuts decreases the risk of developing a peanut allergy. It is no longer recommended that parents delay the introduction of peanuts in most children, as delay beyond 12 months may actually increase the risk of peanut
Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) has been a hot topic in recent years. It seems as though the prevalence is increasing over the last decade. Mast cell activation syndrome is caused by episodes of the abnormal release of mast cell mediators which can affect any organ system, but tends to involve the skin, nervous system, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal tract mostly. Before delving into the syndrome, it is important to understand the science behind it.
It is that time of the year again. Soon you will be seeing children (and some adults) trick or treating in your neighborhood searching for candy. For children, Halloween is a time to be with their friends, eat a lot of candy, and dress in scary costumes. For millions of parents however, Halloween can also be scary, but for a different reason: Their children have food allergies. According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE),
Immunizations are one of the most effective and safe ways of preventing or reducing the risk of serious illness from various infections. Vaccinations also prevent infections from spreading from one individual to another, thus protecting the health and well-being of the general population. One should always check with one’s primary care provider before getting a vaccine. The CDC recommends vaccines for adults based on a variety of factors which may include age, travel destinations, sexual
Milk is one of the most common foods to cause allergic reactions. Almost 3% of children younger than 3 years of age are allergic to milk. Notwithstanding, a vast majority of children spontaneously outgrow their milk sensitivities. CAUSES: In children with milk allergy, the immune system falsely identifies the protein in the milk as potentially dangerous, and as a result, mounts a defensive attack. The “pre-formed” milk specific antibodies (i.e., immunoglobulin E or IgE) react
Generalized itching (i.e., generalized pruritus) is a condition which can be quite annoying. It is when an individual has diffuse itching of the body usually without an associated rash. Approximately 20-25% of the general population experiences generalized pruritus at least one time in their life. The itching may be intermittent or it may be chronic in nature. “Acute” itching is when the itching has been present for less than 6 weeks. “Chronic” itching is defined by having it for 6
Anaphylaxis is an acute, severe, and life-threatening allergic reaction. The most common triggers for anaphylaxis include allergenic foods, medications, and insect stings. Symptoms usually begin within a few minutes of exposure of the triggering agents. Initially, the symptoms characteristically involve the skin which typically causes itching and hives followed by swelling of the soft tissues. Unless treated, the reaction may rapidly progress and may involve other organ systems (e.g., respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular) resulting in symptoms
As the Summer marches on and we are now in the month of August, many allergy sufferers are about to get ready for another foe, namely ragweed. Usually about August 15th of every year, ragweed pollen begins to blanket the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area like clockwork. The dissemination of ragweed pollen generally comes to an end in our region in late October during the first frost. With the rising temperatures and
Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin triggered by a physical exposure to an allergen. These allergens are usually either chemicals or plants. There are 3 plants, (i.e., poison Ivy, poison oak and poison sumac) which account for a vast majority of plant-based allergens. The active allergen is the sap oil (i.e., urushiol) in the roots, stem, and the leaves of the plants. About half the adult population in the United States develops contact
Now that it is Summer, mosquitoes are becoming more prevalent in the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland region. Mosquitoes are flying insects that tend to be more widespread where there is standing water. They are more active early in the morning and early in the evening. Female mosquitoes typically lay their eggs in stagnant water. Only the female mosquito bites and feeds on human blood, as they need this blood in order to produce
Grass pollen allergy is a very common environmental allergy. Grass pollinates in at different time of the year depending on where in the U.S. one is located. In the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S., grass pollinates from the Spring through the Summer. In the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area specifically, grass predominantly pollinates begins in April and generally lasts until the end of August, however, the peak pollination tends to
In order to understand conjunctivitis, one must first understand a little about the anatomy of the eye as well as a little physiology of the way eyes become lubricated. The conjunctiva is the thin transparent membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids (i.e., palpebral area) and the front of the eyeballs (i.e., bulbar area). The lacrimal glands, which are located in the outer corners of the eyes, secrete tears which lubricate the eyes. These
Summertime in the metropolitan Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia area, brings a lot of allergies for allergy sufferers. For most of us, we see the coming of Summer as a beautiful event every year because of the warmer weather and longer days it brings us. People with allergies however see the coming of Summer as a mixed bag of good and bad. Even though they may be happy with the advantages of warmer weather
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the lower respiratory tract. The lower respiratory tract includes the muscular tubes that carry air in and out ofthe lungs as well as the tissues in the lungs where gas exchange takes place. The inflammation found in individuals with asthma is usually associated with inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, which includes the nose and the sinuses. The symptoms of asthma may include a feeling of chest tightness
As we enter into Spring, not only should allergy-sensitive individuals be on the lookout for those annoying pollen allergy symptoms, but they should be aware of their surroundings for venomous flying insects. In the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia metropolitan area, the most common venomous flying insects are honey bees, wasps, yellow jackets, white-faced hornets, and yellow-faced hornets. The summer months are the peak months that insect stings occur. In the U.S., about 3%
Acute sinusitis is another way of saying an acute sinus infection. Acute, in this context, refers to a sinus infection that is less than 4 weeks old. Chronic, on the other hand, refers to a sinus infection that has persisted for more than 12 weeks. There is also a category called subacute. Subacute refers to the vast majority of sinus infections are acute in nature. Most are viral in origin and thus do not need