August 18, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Over the last 10-15 years, the number of individuals with meat allergy has risen mainly because of a condition called alpha-gal syndrome or mammalian meat allergy. Alpha-gal syndrome was first identified by Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 2002. He discovered that the syndrome originated from the bite of lone star […]
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July 18, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Pet allergies are quite common in the United States. About 20% of the U.S. population have cat allergies and 10% of the people in the U.S. have dog allergies. Approximately 70% of the homes in the U.S. have at least 1 pet with dogs being the most common pet, followed by cats. The percentage of […]
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May 28, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Histamine is a biogenic amine (i.e., an organic compound made up of carbon and nitrogen bonds) with several biological effects across different types of cells, mediated through the activation of histamine receptors. Histamine is normally present within mast cells and other similar cell types such as basophils. Mast cells are cells of the connective tissue that contain many granules rich in histamine and other chemicals. Histamine is also present in various […]
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May 23, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Individuals with pollen allergies may be affected throughout the year, depending on where they live or travel. In the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area, pollen allergies are bothersome to allergic individuals generally from late February through the first frost, which is usually at the end of October. In this region, trees are the […]
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April 10, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS), also known as oral allergy syndrome, is a condition in which there is first a “sensitization” of the immune system to various pollens and subsequent “reactions” when exposed to these pollens. Secondly, there is a similarity of the protein allergens in the pollen and the protein allergens of certain raw or […]
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March 25, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Spring is here! This means that quite a few Washingtonians will be pretty miserable as they will be suffering from hay fever (i.e., allergic rhinitis). In the early Spring, tree pollen is mostly to blame for the annoying symptoms that cause hay fever. Other than tree pollen, molds are also a common environmental allergen that plays havoc with allergy […]
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March 20, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a rare condition that causes gastrointestinal symptoms several hours after consumption of certain foods by an individual who has an intolerance to that food. The prevalence rate in the United States is approximately 0.5%. The most common types of food allergy in children and adults are mediated by an […]
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December 13, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
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 […]
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December 6, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
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 […]
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November 22, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
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 […]
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September 16, 2019 | Black & Kletz Allergy
There is some exciting news for children and their families with a history of peanut allergies. On September 13, 2019, the Allergenic Products Advisory Committee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted to recommend approval of a new oral immunotherapy product for children with peanut allergy. Peanut is one of the most common foods […]
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November 7, 2016 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Allergy shots are synonymous with other terms such as allergy immunotherapy, allergy injections, allergy desensitization, and allergy hyposensitization. The allergy shots Gainesville, VA residents rely upon are the same allergy shots that have been given in the U.S. for over 100 years. They have been an important method of preventing and/or diminishing allergy symptoms in tens […]
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October 25, 2016 | Black & Kletz Allergy
As we enter into the leaf-falling season, according to allergy specialists Gainesville, VA residents trust, some of us may experience a flare-up of mold-related health issues. Molds are tiny fungi and grow well in damp environments. Wet leaves form a substrate on which various types of molds can flourish. The microscopic spores released from growing […]
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October 17, 2016 | Black & Kletz Allergy
As allergy specialists Centreville, VA patients trust may attest, while it is possible to be allergic to alcoholic beverages, an alcohol allergy is relatively rare. Most of the time, it is an intolerance and not an allergy to the alcohol that is bothersome to an individual. An intolerance is basically an unwanted side effect of […]
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September 28, 2016 | Black & Kletz Allergy
September may be the month to consult an allergy specialist Centreville VA patients turn to, as ragweed pollen counts peak and wreak havoc in allergic individuals in the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area including the following cities in Northern Virginia: McLean, VA, Tysons Corner, VA, Vienna, VA, Fairfax, VA, Arlington, VA, Great Falls, VA, Falls Church, […]
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September 6, 2016 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Everyone has had an itch here or there, but as an allergist Washington DC patients rely on might attest, generalized itching (itching all over the body) does not occur in everyone. Generalized itching (i.e., pruritus) is not uncommon and is very annoying to the person suffering from this condition. It often may be associated with hives (i.e., urticaria), and/or angioedema […]
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August 9, 2016 | Black & Kletz Allergy
As the Summer draws closer to an end in Gainesville, VA, Tysons Corner, VA, Falls Church, VA, and the rest of the Washington, DC metropolitan area, you may be searching for an allergist in Arlington, VA as certain allergens become more prevalent which tend to cause an increase in allergy symptoms in certain allergic individuals. […]
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July 22, 2016 | Black & Kletz Allergy
The Allergists McLean VA Trust for Plant Rash Treatment With the advent of summer, many people in Gainesville, VA, Falls Church, VA, Tysons Corner, VA, as well as the rest of the Washington, DC metropolitan area, are experiencing various types of rashes after outdoor activities. “Irritant contact dermatitis” develops in individuals with very sensitive skin when they […]
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April 18, 2016 | Black & Kletz Allergy
A top allergist Arlington, VA trusts examines the correlation between allergies and sleep disorders Sleep disorders affect about 30% of the population. Several sleep disorders have been linked to allergies. People who suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis) are more than twice as likely to have insomnia as those individuals who do not have hay fever. They […]
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November 25, 2015 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Any Arlington allergist can tell you: millions of allergy sufferers reach for over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medications daily to try to get relief from their allergy symptoms. There are numerous medications available and they come in a variety of routes of administration. The medicines come in the forms of tablets, capsules, syrups, powders, nasal sprays, eye […]
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