Category: Immunology
Are you really allergic to penicillin? There’s a good chance you’re not
People often get labeled as allergic to antibiotics as children when they have a reaction such as a rash after taking one. But skin rashes frequently occur alongside infections in childhood, with many viruses and infections actually causing rashes. If a child is taking an antibiotic at the time, they may be labeled as allergic even though the rash may have been caused by the illness itself.
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Why won’t my cough go away?
Sometimes, a cough that won’t go away could be the sign of a serious condition. Fortunately, these aren’t common.
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Gluten intolerance and coeliac disease can both cause nausea, bloating and pain. What’s the difference?
While gluten intolerance and coeliac disease share many similar symptoms, one can cause intestinal damage and malnutrition. So, what’s the difference?
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Are New Immune-Based Treatments for Kidney and Pancreatic Cancer on the Horizon?
New immune-based treatments for kidney and pancreatic cancer have shown promising results in two small clinical trials. In both trials, the treatments appeared to prevent cancer from returning in patients who had successful surgery to remove their tumors. The treatments are called therapeutic cancer vaccines because they help the immune system eliminate an existing cancer.
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If scratching is bad for you, why does it feel so good?
Researchers found how scratching can worsen allergic skin symptoms but also protect from infection.
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Playing in mud and dirt can boost your child’s immune system – here’s how
Evidence suggests that exposure to the microbes in dirt might actually help children develop stronger immune systems – and may even decrease their risk of developing allergies and autoimmune diseases.
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What are house dust mites and how do I know if I’m allergic to them?
House dust mite allergy symptoms often build up over months, or even years before people seek help. But an accurate diagnosis means you can not only access the right treatment – it’s also vital for minimising exposure.
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Brain waste-clearance system shown in people for first time
The scans showed cerebrospinal fluid flowing into the brain through distinct channels—along the perivascular spaces, the fluid-filled spaces that run alongside blood vessels in the brain. These findings match earlier imaging results seen in mice
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Health News Headlines
Needleless treatment for severe allergic reactions – US fertility rate at record low – Hunt for Adderall is On
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From immunotherapy to mRNA vaccines – the latest science on melanoma treatment explained
Sarah Diepstraten, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and John (Eddie) La Marca, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute More than 16,000
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Nightmares could be an early warning sign of an autoimmune disease flare-up – new study
Many patients could describe nightmares that happened just before their flares. Although patterns varied between different people, they were often similar in each person’s flare-ups. Patients often knew which symptoms were a sign that their disease was about to get worse.
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Yes, adults can develop food allergies.
Yes, adults can develop food allergies. Here are 4 types you need to know about
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Know Which Medication Is Right for Your Seasonal Allergies
An allergy is your body’s reaction to an otherwise innocent substance that it has identified as an invader. If you have allergies and encounter a trigger (allergen), your immune system fights it by releasing chemicals, such as histamine (hence the term “antihistamine”). Histamine causes symptoms, such as runny nose, itchy nose, sneezing, and itchy and watery eyes.
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Immune health is all about balance – an immunologist explains why both too strong and too weak an immune response can lead to illness
Many social media posts push supplements and other life hacks that “boost your immune system” to keep you healthy and fend off illness. However, these claims are not based on science and what is known about immune function. Healthy immune systems don’t need to be “boosted.” Instead, the immune system works best when it is perfectly balanced.
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Most people who think they are allergic to penicillin aren’t
About 6% of people in the UK are wrongly labelled on their medical records as being allergic to penicillin. This figure is concerning because being labelled as allergic to this class of highly effective antibiotics is associated with an extra six deaths per 1,000 patients a year after being treated for an infection. If patients received the right antibiotic for their infection, many lives could be saved.
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