August 9, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
The swimming season is in full swing and most public and private swimming pools are attracting swimmers of all ages and of all skill levels. For most individuals, swimming is one of the most pleasurable recreational avenues offered in the summer. For others, swimming offers an effective workout option without putting undue pressure on one’s […]
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August 5, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
We love our pets. Pets are very important to humans. They fulfill all types of psychological and social needs that people desire including happiness, self-worth, and companionship. Unfortunately, some individuals cannot experience the joy of owning a pet because they have allergy or asthma symptoms when they are exposed to the pet. Any pet can […]
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July 20, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Allergy immunotherapy (AIT) (i.e., allergy shots, allergy injections, allergy desensitization, allergy hyposensitization) is a time-tested efficacious treatment option for disorders caused by the sensitization to environmental allergens such as dust mites, molds, pollens, pets, and/or cockroaches. It is 80-85% effective in reducing symptoms from allergic rhinitis (i.e., hay fever), asthma, and/or allergic conjunctivitis (i.e., eye […]
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July 20, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Is it possible to be allergic to exercise? Well, not really, however, exercise can cause the body to exhibit the signs and symptoms of allergies! We are also not talking about an excuse not to exercise! The mechanism by which exercise causes “allergy” symptoms is not completely understood but it seems to be related to […]
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June 8, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
The esophagus is a tubal structure that propels food from the throat into the stomach through rhythmic contractions of the smooth muscles in its walls. A thin mucus membrane lines the insides of its lumen. Eosinophils are type of white blood cells that have some role in combating certain parasitic infections. Eosinophils can also cause […]
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June 3, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Generalized pruritus (i.e., generalized itching) is not an uncommon condition and can be quite maddening to the individual suffering from it. It may be associated with hives (i.e., urticaria) and/or angioedema (swelling). The itching is usually described as either intermittent or chronic itching in various parts of the body or it can be intermittent or […]
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May 16, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
There are disease states where medications taken by mouth do not offer enough benefit in either relieving symptoms, stopping the progression of a condition, or preventing complications of a disease. In these instances, medications may need to be administered by means of the parenteral route, such as using a needle or catheter to infuse the […]
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May 9, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Hay fever is the common name for allergic rhinitis. The classic symptoms of hay fever or allergic rhinitis may include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, itchy nose, sinus pressure, sinus headaches, itchy throat, itchy eyes, watery eyes, and/or redness of the eyes. In some individuals, respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, […]
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April 14, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Environmental allergies affect about 50 million Americans in varying degrees of severity. For a majority of these individuals, the symptoms are aggravated seasonally and triggered by exposure to outdoor allergens. Most of these allergens are pollens, which are tiny microscopic grains that help in the fertilization of plants. These pollens are produced by trees, grasses, […]
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April 6, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Now that Spring has sprung, one is more likely to be stung by a flying insect, although the summer months are when insect stings occur the most. In the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area, the most common flying insects that cause stings include the honey bee, wasp, yellow jacket, white faced hornet, […]
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March 8, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Unpleasant symptoms occurring after ingestion of a food could be due to a food allergy or food intolerance. What is the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance? Is it necessary or important to distinguish between the two terms? How is the food allergy or intolerance diagnosis established? Are these conditions managed differently? […]
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March 4, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
It is March again, and this marks the start of Spring. In the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area, trees are pollinating in the month of March. The pollination of trees is a major trigger for many allergy sufferers as it may cause either allergic rhinitis (i.e., hay fever) symptoms, allergic conjunctivitis (i.e., […]
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February 4, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
If you are suffering from allergy symptoms and you live in the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area, you are not alone. There may be many reasons why this is so. You should understand that there are a variety of allergens that could be affecting you, even in February. We will discuss some […]
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February 1, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Many parents wonder at what age can children be skin tested for allergies? Skin testing is a simple and common procedure used to detect what an individual is sensitized (i.e., allergic) to. It entails the application of a small amount of a chemical antigen, which is extracted from the natural allergy causing substance, on the […]
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January 13, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
An itchy, red, and scaly rash over the eyelids is a very common presentation of a type of contact allergy. This condition is termed eyelid dermatitis and describes inflammation of the skin over the eyelids. It may be in fact a local manifestation of a generalized disorder called atopic dermatitis (i.e., eczema). Eyelid dermatitis is […]
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January 10, 2022 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Sinusitis is a term for an inflammation of the sinus. Most of the time however, it refers to a typical sinus infection. There are of course various causes of sinus infections ranging from infections due to a virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite. Viral sinus infections are by far the most common sinusitis seen in the […]
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December 17, 2021 | Black & Kletz Allergy
An inflammatory appearance of the lips is termed cheilitis. This inflammation of the lips may cause redness, dryness, and/or scaling on the lips. It can also be associated with swelling, and in severe cases, blisters and/or sores may develop on the lips. Cheilitis can be either acute or chronic in nature. Although most cases of […]
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December 1, 2021 | Black & Kletz Allergy
When one thinks of house dust, a picture may come to mind of a room with a whitish colored film of dirt covering the hardwood floors, wooden furniture, and any other visible hard surface in the room. One may also envision house dust scattered in the air which can often be seen with the aid […]
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November 19, 2021 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes annual outbreaks of respiratory illnesses in all age groups. It is one of the most common illnesses in children. Though it can occur any time of the year, RSV infections are most common from the late Fall to the early Spring with a peak predominance in February. Virtually all children […]
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November 16, 2021 | Black & Kletz Allergy
We have all felt it and we have all heard it. “Turkey on Thanksgiving makes you sleepy!” If so, is it an allergy to turkey that causes this sleepiness? Is it just a side effect of something in the turkey that causes this tiredness and lethargy? Some have blamed the high amounts of the essential […]
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