Tagged: Allergic Reactions

Jan 15

Warning On ADHD Medication And Cough And Cold Medicines



For those of you parents, especially those who have children taking ADHD medications, we want you to be aware of the following information.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) just startled everyone by reporting on a study that estimates that each year cough and cold medicines send about 7,091 children to hospital emergency rooms, which accounts for 5.7% of all emergency room visits for medications in this age group.

The CDC does not know if there were any deaths as a result. The information was simply not available to the. But past studies have uncovered a number of deaths in very young children who were inadvertently given too much of the medicines.

For the children whose symptoms were reported, allergic reactions like hives and itching were most common, and neurological symptoms like drowsiness and unresponsiveness were next. Most of the medicines involved were liquid combinations of cough and cold treatments, CDC researchers said.

They report that about 4,600 children took the medicines unsupervised, and that about 3,500 of those children were ages 2 – 5. Another 1,500 were children under the age of 2 years old who were given over-the-counter cough and cold medicines that the FDA considers to be too dangerous for such young children.

The CDC offers this advice to parents:
Don’t leave medicines where your child might be able to reach them. Don’t tell children that medicine is candy. Don’t take adult medications in front of your child. Don’t give children younger than age 2 medicines intended for older children. Throw away cold and cough medicines for children less than age 2.

There are two important warnings here for parents:
Cough and Cold medicines for children taste like candy, or better. I love the taste and so do you. And so do your children. It makes it all too easy for our children to take medication, even when we are not around; These medicines are not candy. They are medicines that are not to be given to infants. That little warning on the label that says “for children 3 and under – consult your doctor” are NOT saying, “Oh, just go ahead and give it to them.”

Of even greater concern is the message that there were over 1,000 cases in which parents gave the proper dosage and an allergic reaction or some other problem developed.

We have to remember that Cough and Cold medicines can have an effect on the Central Nervous System, and sometimes that effect is unpredictable. We all know children who go to sleep when given Benadryl, and other children who spin up like a top. Parents, we have to be careful.

Parents must consider the drug interactions between Cough and Cold medicines and any other medication that the child might be taking, especially medications for ADHD, depression, or anxiety. Always consult your doctor. Or better yet, talk to the pharmacist. Parents, we have to be more careful.

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Posted in Medicine

Nov 28

Help I Am Allergic To Puppies



If you are allergic to dust dogs then you suffer from Allergies Type 1, also called Contact Allergies. You can be allergic to dander, saliva, or urine. Pet hair itself does not product allergic reactions in individual, but the dog dander that will stick to the dog hair will.

The allergy producing proteins called allergens are products in the dogs skin. When the dog licks themselves this sticky protein is deposited on the hair along with dead skin cells. When the dog hair comes into contact with dust, clothing, furniture, curtains, or you, the protein will stick to the surface of the object.

Allergy symptoms include nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy and water eyes, skin rashes, headaches, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

All animals product allergens but just because you are allergic to dog allergens does not mean that you will be allergic to cat or bird allergens. If you are not allergic to dogs today is no guarantee that you will not develop allergies tomorrow. Many contact allergies develop over time. If you are susceptible to becoming allergic to dogs, then the more you are exposed to the allergens the more likely it is that you will develop symptoms.

If you are allergic to dogs then some precaution need to be taken to help control the allergy attacks.

Never allow dogs on the bed or even in the bedroom.

Use a HEPA room air cleaner in all bedrooms and in the family room. Air cleaners can make a really big difference in the severity and frequency of allergy attacks. The central heating system should have an electrostatic air filter to distribute clean air through out the house. These electrostatic air filters trap microscopic allergens.

Hard wood floors are easer to clean than carpets. If you do have carpets then invest in a quality vacuum. Most vacuums will blow the smaller particles of dust back into the air through the exhaust. You will need to get a vacuum that has some type of HEPA filter that traps microscopic particles of dust from being blown back into the air.

Leather furniture is easer to clean than cloth covered ones. Cover all cloth furniture with sheets to help prevent dog dander from being deposited on them and wash the sheets frequently. You may want to reserve a specific chair for yourself and not sharing your chair with your dog.

Wash your hands after petting or playing with your gods and avoid touching your eyes or face beforehand.

Allergy shots to hyposensitize or build up an immunity to dog allergens will work on some people but not others. The reason is unknown and more research is needed.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

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Posted in Allergy

Feb 18

Allergies – Forms and Treatment



It is estimated that about fifty million Americans are allergic to one or more things. Our body’s immune system produces antibodies when it mistakes any harmless substance or allergen as an intruder. These antibodies are produced to defend the body against the substances mistakenly regarded as offenders. The cells around the affected areas also produce histamine and other chemicals. The release of histamine can result to sneezing, hives, itchiness and other known allergic reactions. These allergic reactions usually appear in areas of the body where the allergen comes to.

Among the most common types of allergies are food allergies, allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma and allergic contact dermatitis. Each of these types has its own specific symptoms and probable form of treatment.

It is estimated that about 100 Americans are killed each year due to food allergies. Studies show that only 1 to 2 percent of all adults with allergies are suffering from true food allergies. The most common food allergens are milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, almonds and cashew. It is estimated that about 3 million Americans are allergic to peanuts and tree nuts – the number one causes of food allergy deaths. People suffering from food allergies may experience swelling and tingling of the lips. There may be itchiness, hives or rashes occurring in any part of the body. Additionally, those suffering from food allergies may also feel bloating, abdominal cramps, gas, diarrhea and vomiting.

In severe cases, food allergies can be life threatening. Fortunately, this is rarely the case. If you have known food allergies, the best treatment is to avoid the offending food sources. Otherwise, antihistamines may be administered for mild reactions. Corticosteroid creams may be used to treat skin rashes. For life-threatening reactions, an injectable epinephrine such as EpiPen may save your life. Allergy shots can also be administered especially if drugs don’t work, or if you are unable to avoid the allergens.

Allergic rhinitis is a form of allergy which affects one in seven Americans. This form of allergy may occur during a specific season as in hay fever. This can also be perennial, meaning it can be a whole year round condition. Both types however, exhibit similar symptoms. Hay fever is commonly caused by pollen from trees (usually during the spring season), grasses and ragweed. On the other hand, perennial allergies are triggered by indoor allergens like dust mites, feathers, mold spores and pet dander. The most common symptoms of allergic rhinitis are itchiness, watery eyes, sneezing, sore throat and stuffy nose. Allergic rhinitis is commonly treated with antihistamines, decongestants and inflammatory sprays.

Allergic asthma is perceived to be a potentially hazardous disease. Once a person with allergic asthma is exposed to offending allergens, breathing difficulty may commence. This is often elicited by allergens such as pollen, spores, mold, feathers, pet dander and cockroach droppings. Allergic asthma is characterized by coughing, wheezing, tightness of the chest and shortness of breath. Bronchodilators are the treatment of choice during allergic asthma attacks. These function to widen the patient’s airways and cease sudden attacks.

Skin contact with allergens like poison ivy, skin care products, jewelries and a person’s saliva can trigger allergic contact dermatitis. Common symptoms are itchy, dry, red skin patches with blisters. Corticosteriod creams are used to treat the mild forms of contact dermatitis. Oral corticosteroids may be administered for severe cases.

Finally, allergies affect both children and adults. It is observed that adults hardly ever outgrow their allergies completely. However, the symptoms may become lesser and less severe with time. Others also develop allergies as they grow older. The best defense against allergies is through avoidance of the known allergens.

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Posted in Allergy

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