Interesting facts
THE CAT AND ITS ALLERGENS
Allergens are proteins which most commonly originate from pollen in the air. But also in dust mites, their excrements or even in animal hair. So far, eight different allergens have been found in cats. Of these, Fel d 1 (Felis domesticus) is the most common and important biomarker – it is the most likely to […]
read moreMORE CATS – MORE ALLERGIES?
According to a standardised market research survey, there were over 15 million cats in Germany in 2021. As the number of cats in German households continues to rise, so does sensitisation to them – in both children and adults . Common symptoms are allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis through to asthmatic symptoms or skin irritation, itchy […]
read moreParticulates – more dangerous than previously thought
Particulates can damage the lungs even more than previously thought. Particulate limits may not have been strict enough until now.
read moreUpdate: EU and FDA approve peanut protein treatment for peanut allergy
When children and teenagers with a peanut allergy ingest peanut protein in controlled doses, their allergy symptoms improve.
read moreOne grain to rule them all
Einkorn, emmer and spelt. People with wheat intolerance are often recommended to eat these three ancient wheat varieties. But einkorn has one advantage.
read moreCooked carrots can trigger allergies
Allergies to raw carrots are common. But cooked carrots can also trigger allergies, as researchers in Bayreuth have recently discovered. People who are allergic to carrots should therefore avoid carrots altogether.
read moreWhen the body confuses apple and birch, the result is cross reactivity
With an apple allergy, the immune system confuses two tiny substances that are very similar. One is in birch pollen, the other is in apples. This is why an apple allergy often comes after a birch pollen allergy – a ‘cross reaction’ has occurred.
read moreOak Processionary Moth: Symptoms Can Occur Well Beyond the Summer
When hiking in the forest during the summer, areas with any remaining nests of the oak processionary moth should be avoided. The irritating hairs of the caterpillars can cause itching, papules and even allergies well into the autumn.
read moreWho pays for emergency treatment in other EU countries?
How expensive is emergency treatment in other EU countries? National contact centres provide answers.
read moreAtopic dermatitis and allergic reactions of the eyes
Atopic dermatitis does not affect only the skin. The disease can also cause itching and burning in the eyes. Allergy medications can relieve the symptoms.
read moreEdible insects pose some risk to people with allergies
Eating insects is healthy and protects the environment. But people with allergies should proceed with caution.
read moreCold allergy is not an allergy
Some people develop a skin rash when exposed to cold temperatures. But it is not an allergy in the classical sense. Cold does not contain any allergens and the body therefore cannot develop antibodies against it.
read moreVitamin D in pregnancy does not affect childhood asthma risk
In 2016, an American study inspired hope that children would be protected against asthma if their mothers took vitamin D while pregnant. The recently published long-term results do not support this theory.
read moreIncorrect use of nasal sprays for asthma treatment
Nine in ten asthma patients are unable to use corticosteroid nasal sprays correctly. A Dutch working group is therefore calling for improvements to be made to user instructions and for patients to be provided with better guidance.
read moreIodine allergy: myth or reality?
Some people believe that they are allergic to iodine. But the chemical element is so small that it cannot trigger any allergic reactions whatsoever. So if exposure to iodine leads to itchy skin or dizziness, what is the cause?
read moreTattoo needle particles can enter the skin
Certain tattoo inks cause very small nickel particles to be abraded from the tattoo needle. This can lead to a sensitisation or allergy to nickel.
read moreDon’t let allergy triggers spoil the holidays
The ACAAI gives advice on how to protect yourself against hidden allergy triggers over the Christmas season.
read moreIntestinal bacteria and cow’s milk allergy
One in 200 children under the age of two in Europe has a cow’s milk allergy. The microorganisms in the gut may be a factor. An article summarising the available evidence and remaining questions was published in mid 2019.
read moreExercise can trigger allergic reactions
Yes, it’s a fact: Allergic reactions can be triggered by exercise alone. Hiking, working out at the gym or gardening can induce symptoms such as a rash and itchy skin.
read moreComic: anaphylaxis quickly explained
What is anaphylaxis and how to deal with it? Our comic answers these questions.
read moreFamily doctors often fail to recognise cortisone-induced diabetes
Long-term cortisone use can lead to a specific type of diabetes that is often not recognised right away, according to the German Diabetes Association (DDG).
read moreEczema increases food allergies in children with eczema
Infants with severe rashes (eczema) that are also colonised by a certain type of bacteria develop fewer food allergies than children without this bacteria.
read moreMunich researchers test gluten sensor
A portable gluten sensor for home use has been available in Germany for around one year. Food chemist Katharina Scherf has received €20,000 in research funding from the German Coeliac Society (DZG) in order to test whether it really works.
read moreBabies with perceived food intolerances are breastfed longer
Newborns who develop allergic reactions when transitioning to solid food are usually breastfed longer than babies without symptoms. This was the finding from a study led by American allergist and paediatrician Karen A. Robbins.
read moreFlying nuisance: How dangerous are insect stings?
Whenever bees and wasps buzz around nearby, panic often breaks out – in most cases without reason. But people who are allergic to insect venom should be prepared for the worst.
read moreAsthma attacks related to (summer) thunderstorms
High winds can blow grass pollen around during thunderstorms in summer. As a result, an increasing number of people end up seeking emergency medical treatment for breathing difficulties.
read moreWalnuts can trigger severe allergy symptoms
Allergies are caused by antibodies against specific storage proteins in walnuts. Children are more susceptible than adults and develop more severe reactions. This was the conclusion of a study by the University of Zurich, Switzerland.
read moreThe mechanic’ and the police of the immune system
The immune system must destroy enemies from outside without attacking the body’s own cells. A research team in Regensburg, Germany investigated how it achieves this balance.
read moreHow grief affects the immune system
The loss of a life partner damages the immune system of the bereaved person.
read morePenicillin allergy diagnosis is often false
Significantly fewer people are allergic to penicillin than previously assumed, according to Deutsche Gesellschaft für Infektiologie (German Society of Infectious Diseases – DGI). One in ten adults in Germany believe they are allergic to the antibiotic. But in many cases, the diagnosis does not stand up to testing.
read moreFine Particulates Put Children’s Health at Risk
Paediatric allergy specialists in Germany are calling for a lowering of the threshold value for fine particulates. Prior to this, a group of pulmonologists in Germany disputed the scientific basis of the upper limit for fine particulates.
read moreNanoparticles from Food Mask Gut Bacteria
Nanoparticles in food can cover bacteria like a sort of mask. This is what Shirley Knauer from the University of Duisburg-Essen and her team discovered. They observed the nanoparticles within the different environments of the gastrointestinal tract simulated in the laboratory.
read moreFast Food Increases Allergy Risk
People who eat fast food at least three times per week are more prone to shortness of breath, asthma, allergic rhinitis and skin rashes.
read moreAtopic Dermatitis: New Therapies Help the Skin
The initial results are promising: One tablet containing a substance that inhibits certain histamine receptors alleviates skin changes in atopic dermatitis twice as effectively as a placebo.
read moreWho Will Benefit from Immunotherapy against Hay Fever? New Test Provides Answers
Who will benefit from specific immunotherapy? A new procedure could reveal who will benefit from the three-year treatment right after the first treatment phase.
read moreNutrition: Fast Food Increases Allergy Risk
Convenience foods can be found in every supermarket and ready-to-eat industrial food products are available at many fast food restaurants. But the ingredients are often of poor quality. People who eat them are likely harming their health.
read moreEczema in the Elderly Is Not Atopic Dermatitis
Inflammatory skin conditions not caused by bacteria or viruses can occur at any age. People 55 and older are most commonly affected. An international research team has now investigated the possibility of ‘elderly-onset atopic dermatitis’.
read moreTattoos Can Trigger Allergies
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has investigated how the substances and pigments in tattoo inks are distributed in the body.
read moreAsthma Can Also Begin After 60
Argentinean researchers have discovered that as many as ten in 100 people over 60 may develop asthma. People with allergies are especially at risk.
read moreAdvanced Age Is Not Protective Against Allergies
“Only children and young adults develop allergies.” That’s what many believe, but the reality is different: Nearly one in ten people over 65 will experience allergy symptoms for the first time.
read moreAllergies during Christmas Time
People with hay fever usually look forward to the colder months as the pollen season comes to an end and allergy symptoms subside. But the winter season brings its own share of allergens. Our Advent and Christmas traditions include many things that can trigger allergies or make them worse.
read moreComic: What happens inside my body when I have an allergy?
Why do some people have allergies?
read moreIvy Helps Reduce Fine Dust
Building facades covered in ivy regulate the indoor climate while also filtering out fine dust particles, according to scientists in Cologne and Jülich, Germany.
read moreThe right tomato for people with birch pollen allergy
Certain varieties of tomatoes contain less allergy-triggering proteins (allergens) than others. A team at the Technical University of Munich discovered which ones.
read moreNon-Allergenic Laundry
The all-clear has been given for people with contact allergies: the preservative MIT from laundry detergents is undetectable in laundered textiles. For the first time, researchers investigate whether the substance leaves residues in laundry.
read moreAnimal Hair Allergy quickly explained
Daniela Schreiter of Fuchskind made understanding animal hair allergy easy with this comic: For further information click here.
read moreFocus on Hay Fever – What Are the Latest Research Findings?
In the coming days and weeks, more and more birch pollen will be released into the air, and many people with hay fever will feel it.
read moreTeddy in the Freezer: How Much Cold Can Mites Tolerate?
Soft toys are delicate. Most of them can’t be washed at high temperatures without losing their shape. Parents of children with house dust mite allergies are therefore advised to put soft toys in the freezer on a regular basis. The cold temperature kills the mites and the allergens can then be rinsed out at a low temperature. But how long should soft toys be left in the cold? There was previously no research on how much time it takes for mites to freeze and stop laying eggs.
read moreIs It a Cold or an Allergy?
Whenever they feel run down and get a runny nose and scratchy throat during the winter, many people assume they have a cold. But allergic rhinitis can cause similar symptoms. How do you know which one it is?
read moreVitamin D protects against allergic asthma attacks
Vitamin D is like a miracle vitamin for the prevention of many diseases. It is often impossible to confirm the assumption that the vitamin has a protective effect. But it does appear to have a positive effect on allergic asthma.
read moreMajority of People Want Allergen Labelling
In Germany, 67 per cent of the population believe it is important to provide information about potential allergy-triggering ingredients on food packaging. This was the conclusion of the 2018 food report issued by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. However, there is no clear legal regulation on the labelling of traces of allergens.
read moreMACVIA-ARIA Allergy Diary
The Allergy Diary by MACVIA-ARIA enables you to keep a daily digital record of your hay fever and asthma symptoms and medication use.
read moreAllergy App Review: Allergy Journal
We test allergy apps for you on smartphones and tablets. Allergy Journal is the second application in our review series. Allergy Journal is a food and symptom diary that helps users identify intolerances. Allergy Journal is currently only available in English. Overview of the app The app opens in entry mode, where the user can […]
read moreAllergy App Review: The Pollen App
We test allergy apps for you on smartphones and tablets. The Pollen app is the first application in our review series. The Pollen app offers much more than just pollen forecasts. It allows users to log their symptoms. The app could make diagnosis and therapy easier. Overview of the App When the app is opened, […]
read moreBook Review: Hannes Hase (Hannes the Rabbit)
Many people feel left in the dark when newly confronted with an allergy. The symptoms come and go. Hay fever can be mistaken for a cold. Or the skin starts to itch and an external trigger is suspected. Hannes the Rabbit and the doctor go looking together for the triggers. His family and friends help him find creative solutions to avoid the allergens.
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