Allergic

February 29, 20244min readHelpful Gut Bacteria Seem to Reduce Allergic Disease in KidsIn babies, the right combo of gut bacteria might stave off later allergies, so scientists are testing “cocktails” of helpful microbes as therapyBy Lydia Denworth I stopped sending peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to school with my kids around 2007. That was roughly the moment when people started talking about a dramatic rise in the number of children with serious nut allergies. Cases of all kinds of allergies in youngsters have…

A mother of a high school football player said her son’s teammates placed peanuts in his locker despite knowing he was allergic, a dangerous act that his school district didn’t consider bullying.When Carter Mannon was in sophomore year of Texas’ Lake Travis High School last October, his teammates got suddenly curious about his peanut allergy, the teenager’s mom, Shawna Mannon, explained to People.“They were kind of joking around about it and they said, ‘But could it kill you if it touched you?’ And he says, ‘Yeah, it…

Researchers at Northwestern University have created a targeted allergy treatment using antibody-coated nanoparticles to inhibit specific mast cells, successfully preventing allergic reactions in mice without broader immune system suppression.In a mouse study, a new approach successfully prevented anaphylaxis without causing side effects.Researchers at Northwestern University have created the first targeted treatment to avert allergic reactions, which can vary from mild symptoms like itchy hives and watery eyes to severe…

Rob McElhenney’s New Year’s Eve photo dump spooked fans as it included a picture of a completely swollen face, which was later revealed to be a prosthetic prank.The 46-year-old actor, who co-owns the football (soccer) team Wrexham FC with Ryan Reynolds, ignited worries among fans when he shared a snap of his enormous blown-up head on December 31.Taking to his Instagram page, Rob shared a carousel of images which included the selfie in question.Rob’s face looked like it had doubled in size, appearing completely…

Jamie Dornan is opening up about that one regrettable encounter with an animal that did not go according to plan. The actor was on The Graham Norton Show recently, when he shared a hilarious situation a few years ago when he kissed a horse despite being highly allergic to the animal; and it left him with swollen lips. (Also read: Matthew Perry turned ‘angry and mean’ due to excessive ketamine and nicotine lollipops consumption: report) Jamie Dornan in The Graham Norton Show. What Jamie Dornan sharedJamie said,…

Allergic begins with a minute-by-minute account of a man in a car having an allergic reaction to a bee sting. Author Theresa MacPhail is coolly scientific as she describes anaphylaxis progressing through his body, the rising panic of his helpless girlfriend and the firm resignation of the pharmacist who refused to give him adrenaline because the law forbade it. The man in the car was MacPhail’s father, and he died that day. The book continues, describing the science, politics and personal experience of allergies in the…

It is allergy season once again. If you are one of the 81 million Americans with hay fever, spring is a mixed blessing. Yes, the days are longer, but they are accompanied by itchy eyes, runny noses, and an endless hunt for antihistamines. On days when the pollen count is highest, seasonal allergies are like an assault—from the outside world, but also from our own bodies’ immune systems going into overdrive.There are growing numbers of allergy sufferers, too. In 1997, around 0.4 percent of US children were reported to have…

Chicken eggs are one of the most common food allergens, especially among children. Many people outgrow their egg allergy, but for those who don’t, avoiding eggs and all of the products that contain them can be a lifetime challenge. Adding to the difficulty: Some vaccines are produced using chicken embryos and contain egg proteins as a result, and they can’t be administered to people with egg allergies. But genetic modification could offer a solution.Won’t Virtual Reality Make Me Sick?Using a targeted gene-editing enzyme…

It’s a nightmare for any dog or cat owner: suddenly developing an allergy to their pet. Belly rubs and cuddles bring red eyes and a runny nose. Some people can no longer even be in the same room as a pet without their respiratory system sounding the alarm. Medical professionals’ advice in such cases is unanimous: it’s best to find the animal a new home because the odds of an allergy disappearing are extremely low. In fact, living with the animal increases the risk that allergic rhinitis, commonly known as “hay fever,”…

A woman sunbathes in a roped-off distancing zone on a beach in La Grande Motte, southern France, on May 21, 2020.Photo: CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP (Getty Images)Everyone knows you can be allergic to things like peanuts, bees, and cats. For people with such allergies, they can often get through life in relative safety by simply avoiding their triggers. But some unfortunate folks have rare allergies to things that are nearly impossible to avoid, like water and sunlight. Here are a few of the weirdest triggers known to drive…