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May 5, 2026 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Many people have heard that eating local honey helps treat seasonal allergies, commonly referred to as hay fever (i.e., allergic rhinitis), but is it true? Many beekeepers also agree with this concept, but again, is it true? This belief has been present for many decades. The theory makes some sense, but the answer is no, local […]
Read MoreApril 9, 2026 | Black & Kletz Allergy
When most people think of Springtime allergies, they think of people with nasal congestion, runny noses, post-nasal drip, itchy eyes, watery eyes, redness of the eyes, itchy throat, and sneezing. This description is of someone who has hay fever (i.e., allergic rhinitis). For the most part, this visualization is correct, however, many individuals also have or only have asthma symptoms […]
Read MoreMarch 18, 2026 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Well, it is this time of the year again. The time when pollen-allergic individuals are happy for the nicer weather, but often dread its consequences. For some, the relentless release of tree pollen causes a wide variety of annoying symptoms to occur, which is typical in the Spring in the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland […]
Read MoreMarch 10, 2026 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Chronic rhinosinusitis (i.e., long-standing inflammation of the tissues inside the nasal cavity and sinuses inside the facial bones) is one of the most common medical conditions, affecting approximately 12% of the population. In roughly 20% of these patients, there is an association with nasal polyps and the condition is thus named “chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.” […]
Read MoreFebruary 11, 2026 | Black & Kletz Allergy
A common complaint among patients is the need to clear their throats frequently in an attempt to get relief from a feeling of “irritation” in their throats. This feeling is often termed “post-nasal drip,” implying excessive secretions from the upper respiratory tract draining down the back of the throat. All because the feeling of a post-nasal drip is present, there are many other conditions or processes that […]
Read MoreJanuary 16, 2026 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergic condition caused by a sensitivity to a carbohydrate known as galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (i.e., alpha-gal). This molecule is found on the cells of non-primate mammals (i.e., beef, pork, lamb, venison, etc.). This condition is mainly thought to develop after tick bites. The regional distribution of alpha-gal syndrome corresponds with specific tick species populations […]
Read MoreNovember 27, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
The human immune system has evolved to defend and protect us from infections caused by microbes and some types of cancers. The cells responsible for these defenses originate in the bone marrow and circulate in the blood stream and lymphatic system. The human immune system has evolved to defend and protect us from infections caused […]
Read MoreNovember 12, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Well, it is that time of year again. A time for getting together with family and friends for the annual ritual of gluttony – I mean Thanksgiving. Although the holiday is generally a festive occasion, some food-allergic individuals find Thanksgiving to be a time of the year where they are more concerned than usual. Individuals […]
Read MoreOctober 23, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Urticaria (i.e., hives) are itchy red blotches or “welts” that generally occur on the skin but may also occur internally on various parts of the body. The lesions can be flush with the skin, but are usually slightly elevated above the skin surface, similar to a mosquito bite. Approximately 20 to 30% of the population […]
Read MoreOctober 10, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Individuals with asthma probably are unaware of the association between asthma and acid reflux (GERD). It is estimated that approximately 75% of asthmatics have GERD of some degree. GERD or acid reflux occurs when there is a backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus (i.e., swallowing tube). In other words, the stomach contents travel in […]
Read MoreSeptember 26, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
SARS-CoV-2 is the name of the coronavirus that is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic that caused millions of deaths worldwide. Although vaccination and established population immunity have substantially mitigated the severity of acute SARS-CoV-2 infections, the virus continues to infect millions of people resulting in a number of hospitalizations and deaths. There is a need for an […]
Read MoreSeptember 26, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Autumn has just begun and for some people it is a bittersweet moment. Although many individuals enjoy the lower temperatures that the autumn brings in the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan region, many allergy sufferers are not so welcoming because with the lower temperatures, mold and weed pollen levels rise. The major weed culprit […]
Read MoreAugust 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 […]
Read MoreJuly 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 […]
Read MoreMay 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 […]
Read MoreMay 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 […]
Read MoreApril 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 […]
Read MoreMarch 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 […]
Read MoreMarch 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 […]
Read MoreDecember 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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