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Articles

This section contains articles about allergies and related conditions written by doctors, specialists, journalists and individuals from professional bodies and organisations.

Most recent articles

The obesity and allergy link

It is thought that around one in four adults in the UK are obese. In addition, the number of people affected by one or more allergies is thought to be more than one in fo...
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EPD - Enzyme potentiated desensitisation

Enzyme Potentiated Desensitisation (EPD) is a form of Immunotherapy (a form of treatment which involves introducing you to small amounts of the substance which you are al...
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Information about Surcare laundry range suitable for people living with allergies

Information about how using Surcare, a non-biological, dermatology tested range of washing products for laundry, can help and benefit allergy sufferers.
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Eye allergy including conjunctivitis information

Conjunctivitis is a medical term used to describe redness and inflammation of the eye. There are three main types of conjunctivitis; infective, allergic and irritant conj...
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What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)?

Chemical Injury, Chemical Sensitivity, Environmental intolerances are all phrases used to describe the debilitating and dominating condition called Multiple Chemical Sens...
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Chemical sensitivity

Chemical sensitivity refers to an abnormal bodily response to chemicals in the environment. A sensitivity to chemicals has become an increasing problem in recent years a...
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Urticaria and angioedema

I work in a busy NHS allergy clinic in central London and in a full day of seeing patients in the out-patient clinic, I will typically see 10 new referrals.
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Information on testing for allergies

Allergy testing can be done both privately and through the NHS and the type of test that is carried out will depend upon your symptoms or the condition of your skin. The ...
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Potential new vaccine for bee stings

If you’ve ever been stung by a wasp or other insect, then you’ll know how painful this can be. Symptoms of a sting can include localised pain, swelling, and i...
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Sulphite allergy

Sulphites are preservatives used in the production of some food and drinks and in the UK sulphites are now considered one of the twelve potential allergens.
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New treatment shows promise in the treatment of peanut allergies

A small wearable patch may be the solution peanut allergy sufferers have been looking for. In a press release published by The National Institute of Health Skin, it was f...
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Nut and Peanut Allergy Information

The most common food allergy in adults and children is an allergy to peanuts and tree nuts (such as walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, macadamias, brazils and ...
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Further articles

Babies should be given peanuts early research suggests by talkhealth
According to new research published in the US, babies should be given peanuts as early as 4 months old in order to reduce their risk of allergies. Researchers believe that early exposure may cut the risk of an allergy to peanuts by as much as 80%. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have issued new guidelines for parents in the US which says:
Pollen problems: Increase in sick days for hay fever sufferers by talkhealth
Hay fever is putting a strain not just on our sinuses, but on our economy as well. A study recently conducted by the Met office has found that hay fever costs the UK 29 million working days a year, which equates to 11 working days a year per hay fever sufferer.
Giving Allergenic Foods to Babies May Prevent Allergies by talkhealth
A major new study into the effect of introducing allergenic foods into infants’ diets has found that giving babies small amounts of allergens such as peanut and eggs from the age of 3 months may help to prevent the development of allergies.
New MI Allergy Resource Launched by talkhealth
Methylisothiazolinone (MI) and other isothiazolinones are preservatives commonly found in cosmetics, wet wipes, household cleaning products, paints, varnishes, and air fresheners.
Action Against Allergy Supports Two Innovative Programmes for Allergic Children by talkhealth - adapted from AAA press release
Patient support charity Action Against Allergy (AAA) is funding two innovative allergy schemes to help children. Evelina London Children�s Hospital within Guy�s and St Thomas� NHS Foundation Trust already has the schemes underway.
Increase in hair dye and fragrance allergies in children by British Association of Dermatologists
A study by the British Association of Dermatologists has found a substantial shift in the allergens causing skin reactions in children over the last decade, with some allergies becoming less common and with others, including to hair dye ingredients, on the rise.
Legal levels of common preservative are �not safe for consumers� by BAD
Legal limits of a preservative causing an epidemic of skin allergy are not safe for use in everyday products, according to new research in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Food allergies costing NHS �68m a year and food allergy hospital admissions up by 500pc in 25 years by Pegasus
An estimated 10 million people in the UK are living with one or more food allergy or intolerance. Hospital admissions resulting from food allergies have risen by more than 500% since 1990, giving rise to an estimated �68 million a year in allergy-related hospital admissions.
Eating peanut at an early age prevents peanut allergy in high-risk infants by King's College London
New evidence shows that the majority of infants at high-risk of developing peanut allergy are protected from peanut allergy at age 5 years if they eat peanut frequently, starting within the first 11 months of life.
Swansea University study into common triad of diseases published by Swansea University
Academics from Swansea University’s College of Medicine, have taken part in a worldwide study into the common diseases of asthma, eczema and hay fever, which is being published in the renowned Nature journal today (Wednesday 18th February 2015).
Management of food allergy: emerging research by Dr Helen A Brough
Food allergy is common, affecting 6-8% of children. Food allergy is most common in infants and toddlers, with 1 in 40 infants suffering from cow's milk allergy and allergies to egg, nuts, soya, wheat and fish/shellfish also being common.
EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation by Dr Chun-Han Chan, Food Standards Agency
The EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation (No. 1169/2011) (EU FIC) was published at the end of 2011, bringing together general and nutrition labelling regulations into a single framework. The new law gave food businesses three years to get on board with the changes required on product labelling as well as the provision of allergen information required for loose foods.
New Survey In the UK found that a fifth of allergy sufferers have taken time off work due to their allergies by sterimar
The number of hay fever sufferers has risen dramatically, with 18 million people suffering in the UK according to Allergy UK. However, new research by St�rimar sea water nasal spray has revealed that the UK population aren't treating their nasal allergies, such as hay fever, as seriously as they might other health conditions.
Anaphylaxis campaign welcomes MHRA recommendations regarding the use of adrenaline auto-injectors by Anaphylaxis Campaign
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has recently issued revised guidance for the prescribing and use of adrenaline auto-injectors.
Bronchial Thermoplasty by Action Against Allergy
official scientific journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), has featured data from clinical trial examining the safety and effectiveness of the Boston Scientific Alair� Bronchial Thermoplasty
Understanding Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome � a potentially severe sensitivity affecting infants. by Dr Marie Wheeler MB ChB, MRCP, DCH
Food Protein induced Enterocolitis syndrome (known as FPIES), however, is different and as a result this makes the diagnosis far more difficult.
Nut allergic families distraught at Alpro's defensive 'may contain' warnings by Foods Matter
Families with nut allergic children are distraught as Alpro put 'may contain nut' warnings on their soya products thus, effectively, preventing these families from buying them.
Assessing the efficacy of oral immunotherapy for the desensitisation of peanut allergy in children by The Lancet
Small studies suggest peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) might be effective in the treatment of peanut allergy.
Anaphylaxis Campaign celebrate 20 year anniversary by Anaphylaxis Campaign
2014 Marks a very important milestone for the Anaphylaxis Campaign as they celebrate their 20 year anniversary. Founded in 1994 by a small group of parents led by David Reading OBE.
Desensitisation - An Alternative Treatment by Dr Damien Downing MBBS MSB, President BSEM
Over the past 30 years we have been living through an epidemic of allergies and autoimmune diseases (and cancers).
The Growing Problem With Fragrance by Action Against Allergy
A 2012 report suggests a rise in the fragrance allergens subject to compulsory individual labelling
New research on allergy information by Food Standard Agency
Research, published by the FSA, provides insights into the provision of information on food allergens used as ingredients on foods that are not prepacked
Allergy UK joins forces to call for improved NHS allergy services by Allergy UK
National charity, Allergy UK is urging millions of allergy sufferers across Britain to get involved in a new initiative to target their local MP as part of a new postcard campaign.
Eczema may play key role in development of food allergy in infants by King's College London
A breakdown of the skin barrier and inflammation in the skin that occurs in eczema could play a key role in triggering food sensitivity in babies, a new study reveals.
HOT TOPICS in Allergens, Allergies and Allergists by Action Against Allergy
New insights into the causes, effects and treatments of allergies were presented at the Lisbon international congress of more than 7,000 specialists from 95 countries.
New British coins bring greater risk of allergy by Karolinska Institutet
Information on how four times as much nickel rubs off on the skin from the new British coins as it did from the cupronickel coins, increasing the risk of allergy and eczema.
Facts about PPD in hair dyes by Action Against Allergy
An article about PPD, an ingredient used in permanent hair dyes and what you need to know about PPD and allergies.
Electricity key to an effective vaccine against dust mite allergy by Elsevier
Research published in Immunology Letters shows that new DNA vaccine technology could be improved with electric charge during vaccination
Agency Welcomes New Allergy Project by Food Standards Agency
Information about a new project into an international study into food allergy which has just launched.
Nickel allergy on rise despite EU directive by British Association of Dermatologists
An article about a study by a team of researchers in Denmark who looked at the incidence rate and persistence of contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis.
Neonatal sensitisation to latex - a medical hypothisis by Jennifer Worth
An article examining latex allergy and the possible sensitisation to latex caused by latex gloves at birth.
Contact with nature may prevent allergies by University of Helsinki
An article detailing a recent study on how diverse activities involving soil and plants decrease the risk of developing allergies.
Allergies are 'gender related' by Professor Hasan Arshad
An article about research undertaken by doctors which discovered that childhood allergies are linked to the sex of their parent.
Link between allergies and reduced risk of brain tumours by National Cancer Institute
An article into the research suggesting that there's a link between allergies and a reduced risk of brain tumours.
Egg allergy treatment by Consortium of Food Allergy Research (CoFAR)
An article about how giving egg-allergic children small amounts of egg over many months has been found to reduce severe reactions and help shed the allergy entirely.
Hay fever worse in early spring than summer by Letty de Weger, Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center
An article detailing information about research into why hay fever symptoms may be worse in spring rather than the summer.
House dust mite avoidance by Dr R G Turner, Hospital Practitioner to the Paediatric Allergy Clinic, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital
An article about dust mite allergy, what it is, how it is caused and what you can do around the home to help.
Dairy free infants and toddlers by Michelle Berriedale-Johnson
An interesting article written by Michelle Berriedale-Johnson about dairy allergy in newborn infants and toddlers.
Eczema, food allergy and tests by Dr R Turner, Allergy Specialist based in the North Hampshire Hospital
An article examining the various tests for food allergies and the links between allergies and eczema.
Food allergy and intolerance by Dr Michael Radcliffe
An article written by Dr Michael Radcliffe, Clinical Allergy Consultant, Royal Free NHS Trust and a Research Fellow in Allergy at the University of Southampton about food allergy and intolerance and the difference between the two.
Serious infant allergy going undiagnosed by Act on Cows Milk Allergy
An article on how a serious infant allergy, cow's milk, is often being undiagnosed.
Britons may be avoiding wheat unnecessarily by University of Portsmouth, commissioned by the Flour Advisory Bureau
An article following research at Portsmouth University regarding British people self-diagnosing wheat allergy and cutting wheat out of their diets unnecessarily.
Dr Chris Steele diagnosed with coeliac disease by Coeliac UK
An article about how Chris Steele, resident doctor on ITV's This Morning show, has been diagnosed with Coeliac's Disease.
An intolerance to gluten by the talkhealth team
Gluten intolerance, also known as coeliac disease or celiac disease, is the result of the immune system's response to the ingestion of gluten and is a life-long inflammatory disease of the upper small intestine.
Lactose Intolerance by the talkhealth team
Lactose intolerance, also known as lactase deficiency, is a common problem where the body is unable to digest lactose due to an inability to produce enough (or any) of the lactase enzyme in the small intestine.
Nickel Allergy by the talkhealth team
Allergies to nickel have become more common in recent years. This, in part, is due to the introduction of more affordable fancy jewellery where the underlying metal layer tends to consist of nickel.
Pet allergies by the talkhealth team
Pet allergies are very common, especially in people who have other allergies or asthma. Most pet allergies are associated with cats, dogs, rodents and horses however people can also have allergies to animals with feathers.
Wheat intolerance by the talkhealth team
More and more of us claim to suffer from a wheat allergy, so we shun bread and other wheat-based foods like pasta and cereals.
Antihistamines for allergies by the talkhealth team
Antihistamines are a group of medicines used to help relieve the symptoms of allergies.
An allergy to eggs by the talkhealth team
Egg allergies are now one of the most frequently reported types of allergy. They tend to be more common in children than adolescents and adults. Many children will outgrow their allergy to eggs as they get older. However, since eggs are used in many of the foods we eat, an egg allergy can pose many challenges.
Bee and wasp stings by the talkhealth team
Bee and wasp stings can be very unpleasant for the majority of us, and if you are stung you will experience some pain and perhaps some temporary swelling (often referred to as a weal).
Fish and shellfish allergy by the talkhealth team
Information about fish and shellfish allergies including potential symptoms and foods to avoid.
The problem of food additives by the talkhealth team
Information about the various types of food additives and how these may cause an allergy.
Could it be your hair dye? by the talkhealth team
Experiencing a reaction when using hair dye is not uncommon and there are various reactions a person may experience.
Dairy intolerance by the talkhealth team
Dairy Intolerance is one of the most common food intolerances to affect people, especially children. It is often also referred to as Lactose Intolerance as usually it is Lactose (the name of the sugar found in milk and milk products) which people are allergic to.
Allergic to penicillin by the talkhealth team
A Penicillin allergy is one of the most common drug allergies. Around one in every 15 people has an allergy to Penicillin.
Caffeine intolerance by the talkhealth team
Some people suffer an intolerance to caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant which means it can make you feel alert and less sleepy for a short period of time.
Allergic to latex by the talkhealth team
There are two types of allergic reactions to rubber. One to the latex protein, a natural component of rubber (NRL), and the other to the chemicals used in processing natural rubber products (this is known as a rubber chemical allergy).

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Talk Allergy

Articles

Most recent articles

The obesity and allergy link

EPD - Enzyme potentiated desensitisation

Information about Surcare laundry range suitable for people living with allergies

Eye allergy including conjunctivitis information

What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)?

Chemical sensitivity

Urticaria and angioedema

Information on testing for allergies

Potential new vaccine for bee stings

Sulphite allergy

New treatment shows promise in the treatment of peanut allergies

Nut and Peanut Allergy Information

Further articles

Articles

Most recent articles

The obesity and allergy link

EPD - Enzyme potentiated desensitisation

Information about Surcare laundry range suitable for people living with allergies

Eye allergy including conjunctivitis information

What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)?

Chemical sensitivity

Urticaria and angioedema

Information on testing for allergies

Potential new vaccine for bee stings

Sulphite allergy

New treatment shows promise in the treatment of peanut allergies

Nut and Peanut Allergy Information

Further articles

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