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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October 6, 2021 | Black & Kletz Allergy
The Eustachian tube is a small tubular passageway that connects the middle ear with the junction of the back of the nose and upper throat. It is approximately 1.5 inches long and 3 mm. (0.12 inches) in diameter. It is the structure in the ear that pops when one goes to high altitudes or descends […]
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October 5, 2021 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Viruses cause a variety of illnesses in humans ranging from mild upper respiratory infections (URIs) to life-threatening pulmonary and extra-pulmonary diseases. Rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), coronaviruses, and influenza viruses are the most common viruses infecting the respiratory tract. Among these rhinoviruses, RSV, and influenza viruses are common causes of wheezing in children. Recurrent […]
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September 13, 2021 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Asthma usually coexists with other allergic disorders such as hay fever (i.e., allergic rhinitis) and/or atopic dermatitis (i.e., eczema). Less commonly, asthma is associated with chronic inflammatory/immunological disorders such as Churg-Strauss syndrome. Churg-Strauss syndrome is characterized by abnormal and excessive accumulation of types of white blood cells called eosinophils in the blood and tissues […]
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September 8, 2021 | Black & Kletz Allergy
If you have been doing yardwork this Summer, you may have noticed a multitude of red swollen itchy hive-like marks that seem like some sort of bug bite all over your body. You may be correct and these bug bites may well be caused by oak mites. Other names for oak mites include oak leaf […]
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