tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265329332011-04-21T12:35:48.919-07:00Get rid of your allergies with a natural treatment for dust mites, hay fever, pet allergies, sinusitis, pollens and molds, hives, and insect bits and stingsjoel duvallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05480765158500279688noreply@blogger.comBlogger261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26532933.post-1148434472818170912006-05-23T18:33:00.000-07:002006-05-23T18:34:32.820-07:00

allergies in children can often go undiagnosed for many months, causing much worry for parents and health risks for infants and children. Many infants with milk and soy allergies can show signs of colic, blood in the stool, reflux, rashes and other harmful medical conditions. These conditions are often misdiagnosed as viruses or colic. Many children who are allergic to cow's milk protein also

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Various medical specialties have a differing view on food allergies. What is called irritable bowel syndrome by many doctors (a stress-related functional disorder) is often interpreted by allergists to be food allergy. In addition, many practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine ascribe symptoms to food allergy where most classically trained doctors would not find a causal

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For reasons that are not entirely understood, the diagnosis of food allergies has become more common in Western nations in recent times. (This trend seems to apply to asthma as well.) In the United States, it is believed that about 4% of the population suffers from food allergies. In children, this number is believed to be significantly higher. The most common food allergens include peanuts, milk

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The mainstay of treatment for food allergy is avoidance of the foods that have been identified as allergens. If the food is accidentally ingested and a systemic reaction occurs, then epinephrine (best delivered in an Epipen) should be used. It is possible that a second Epipen dose may be required for severe reactions. The patient should seek medical care. At this time, there is no allergy

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Generally, introduction of allergens through the digestive tract is thought to induce immune tolerance. In individuals who are predisposed to developing allergies (atopic syndrome), the immune system produces IgE antibodies against protein epitopes on non-pathogenic substances, including dietary components. The IgE molecules are coated onto mast cells, which inhabit the mucosal lining of the

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The best method for diagnosing food allergy is to be assessed by an allergist. The allergist will discuss the symptoms that occurred after the food ingestion. If the allergist feels the reaction is in keeping with a real food allergy, he/she will perform allergy skin tests. These skin tests are performed by a method called skin prick testing, which is a somewhat uncomfortable test tolerated by

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Patients present with skin symptoms, throat tightness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and/or stomach symptoms. The symptoms usually develop within half an hour of ingesting the allergen. Rarely, food allergy can lead to anaphylactic shock: hypotension (low blood pressure) and loss of consciousness. This is a medical emergency. Allergens commonly associated with this type of reaction are

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A latex allergy can also cause further reactions, to food items from the latex plant groups - banana, avocado, chestnut and kiwi. It can also cause reactions from foods touched by latex products in the most severe cases. There are some known cases of latex allergies being provoked from genetically modified foods such as tomatoes with latex proteins. It is also worth noting that some highly latex

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* Children with myelomeningocle. Between 40% to 100% will have a reaction. * Industrial rubber workers, exposed for long periods to high amounts of latex. About 10% have an allergic reaction. * Healthcare workers. Given the ubiquitous use of latex products in health care settings, management of latex allergy presents significant health organizational problems. Latex allergies are becoming

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Latex allergy is a medical term encompassing a range of allergic reactions to natural rubber latex. Type 1, the most serious and rare form, is an immediate and life-threatening reaction, not unlike the severe reaction some people have to bee stings. Such reactions account for a significant proportion of perioperative anaphylactic reaction, especially in children with myelomeningocele. Type IV,

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Another theory is the exponential use and abuse of chemicals in affluent nations since the second world war. Vast numbers of chemicals are introduced into our indoor and outdoor environments with little or no testing regarding their toxicity to living beings. Many believe that air quality is getting worse rather than better, particularly if one considers indoor air quality as well as outdoor. (

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One theory that has been gaining strength is the "hygiene hypothesis". This theory maintains that since children in more affluent countries are leading a cleaner and cleaner life (less exposure to dirt, extra use of disinfectants, etc), their immune systems have less exposure to parasites and other pathogens than children in other countries or in decades past. Their immune systems may, therefore,

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Some recent research has also begun to show that some kinds of common parasites, such as intestinal worms (e.g. hookworms), secrete immunosuppressant chemicals into the gut wall and hence the bloodstream which prevent the body from attacking the parasite. This gives rise to a new slant on the "hygiene hypothesis" - that co-evolution of man and parasites has in the past led to an immune system

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There is much evidence to support the genetic basis of allergy, as allergic parents are more likely to have allergic children, and their allergies are likely to be stronger than those from non-allergic parents. However some allergies are not consistent along genealogies with parents being allergic to peanuts, but having children allergic to ragweed, or siblings not sharing the same allergens.

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After the chemical mediators of the acute response subside, late phase responses can often occur. This is due to the migration of other leukocytes such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils and macrophages to the initial site. The reaction is usually seen 4-6 hours after the original reaction and can last from 1-2 days. Cytokines from mast cells may also play a role in the persitence of

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The difference between a type I hypersensitivity reaction against an allergen to the normal humoral response against a foreign body is that plasma cells secrete IgE as opposed to either IgM (against novel antigens) or IgG (against immunized antigens). IgE binds to Fc receptors on the surface of mast cells and basophils, both involved in the acute inflammatory response. When IgE is first secreted

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In alternative medicine, a number of treatment modalities are considered effective by its practitioners in the treatment of allergies, particularly homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine and kinesiology. However, none of these have been backed up by good quality evidence. On the contrary, they are generally criticised by mainstream medical researchers to be supported only by anecdotes, which

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Several antagonistic drugs are used to block the action of allergic mediators, preventing activation of cells and degranulation processes. They include antihistamines, cortisone, epinephrine (adrenalin), theophylline and Cromolyn sodium. These drugs help alleviate the symptoms of allergy but play little role in chronic alleviation of the disorder. They can play an imperative role in the acute

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Immunotherapy is a form of immunotherapy where the patient is gradually vaccinated against progressively larger doses of the allergen in question. This can either reduce the severity or eliminate hypersensitivity altogether. It relies on the progressive skewing of IgG ("the blocking antibody") production, as opposed to the excessive IgE production seen in hypersensitivity type I cases. In the

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There are limited mainstream medical treatments for allergies. Probably the most important factor in rehabilitation is the removal of sources of allergens from the home environment, and avoiding environments in which contact with allergens is likely. The trouble with them is that they have not all been proven. Therefore it could be seen as a placebo; however, it has helped people.

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Another method used to qualify type I hypersensitivity is measuring the amount of serum IgE contained within the patient's serum. This can be determined through the use of radiometric and colormetric immunoassays. Even the levels the amount of IgE specific to certain allergens can be measured through use of the radioallergosorbent test (RAST).

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While the skin test is probably the most preferred means of testing because of its simplicity and economics, it is not without complications. Some people may display a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction which can occur as far as 6 hours after application of the allergen and last up to 24 hours. This can also cause serious long-lasting tissue damage to the affected area. Fortunately,

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The typical and most simple method of diagnosis and monitoring of Type I Hypersensitivity is by skin testing, also known as prick testing, due to the series of pricks made into the patient's skin. Small amounts of suspected allergens and/or their extracts (pollen, grass, mite proteins, peanut extract, etc.) are introduced to sites on the skin marked with pen or dye (the ink/dye should be

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Allergy is characterised by a local or systemic inflammatory response to allergens. Local symptoms are: * Nose: swelling of the nasal mucosa (allergic rhinitis) * The distinctive behavior known as nasal salute, also known as allergy salute, is the habit of wiping of the nose in an upward direction due to itching. * Eyes: redness and itching of the conjunctiva (allergic conjunctivitis) * Airways:

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The term and concept of "allergy" was coined by a Viennese pediatrician named Clemens von Pirquet in 1906 [1]. He observed that the symptoms of some of his patients might have been a response to outside allergens such as dust, pollen, or certain foods. For a long time all hypersensitivities were thought to stem from the improper action of inflammatory immunoglobulin class IgE, however it soon

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An allergy can refer to several kinds of immune reactions including Type I hypersensitivity in which a person's body is hypersensitised and develops IgE type antibodies to typical proteins. When a person is hypersensitised, these substances are known as allergens. The word allergy derives from the Greek words allos meaning "other" and ergon meaning "work". Type I hypersensitivity is characterised

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