Allergies
Allergies, or allergic diseases, are conditions caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to food or substances in the environment. The body can react to allergens in a number of ways and symptoms can include sneezing, itchy eyes, coughing and rashes. A severe allergic reaction can result in anaphylaxis shock. Medicines such as antihistamines can be used to stop a reaction from occurring. Common allergies include: pollen, dust, nuts, animal dander and medicine.
Deadly peanut allergies could be prevented with simple new method
Adults with severe peanut allergies were trained to tolerate handfuls of peanuts in a new study
The end of food allergies is tantalisingly close. Here are the frontrunners for a cure
The number of severe immune reactions to food is reaching epidemic proportions, but a one-size-fits-all cure could be on the horizon.
It's not just you, hay fever season is getting a whole lot worse. Here's why
Hay fever sufferers may have noticed their allergies getting worse. What role is climate change playing?
Hay fever linked to exposure to pollution before and after birth
Babies are more likely to develop allergic rhinitis, a condition that includes hay fever, if they are exposed to higher levels of fine particulate matter before and after birth.
Researchers to explore link between coronavirus lockdown and allergies
The research project will involve 1,000 babies born in Ireland at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Feel-good Friday: three positive news from the world of science and tech - 1 May 2020
In this week's good news, hangover cures, coal-free energy and beetles that help with hay fever.
Peanut allergies: sleep good, exercise bad
The ‘threshold of reactivity’ – the amount of peanut needed to trigger a reaction – can be affected by both, study finds.
Tiny doses of peanut protein offers hope to allergy sufferers
A tiny dose of peanut protein under the tongue can offer safe and substantial protection against the allergy, scientists say.
Do other animals get allergies?
Woof-choo! Our pets can suffer from hayfever too, especially if they spend most of their time inside.
What causes eczema?
Although not fully understood, the answer could lie in its genetic link to both asthma and food allergies.
What causes allergies in some people?
Everything from hay fever to peanut allergies can make life a misery for those who suffer from them, but the reason we get them isn’t as simple as it first seems.
Can you be allergic to a smell?
Even if you are allergic to peanuts, the smell of peanut butter won’t set off a reaction.
An end to cat allergies?
If the sight of a fluffy kitten playing with a toy reduces you to tears, you’re probably not alone. If your tears are the result of an involuntary allergic reaction, however, soon you may be in luck.
Why are nut allergies so common?
From dietary habits to genetics... to moisturiser? Here, we dig into the theories behind why nut allergies are so common.
Could hygiene obsession cause allergies?
Is the modern world's obsession with hygiene responsible for a global allergy epidemic? Dan Cossins investigates.
Do allergies, such as hay fever, follow cycles?
It might seem like hay fever follows a seven-year cycle, but that's more to do with humans' love of patterns.
Do animals suffer from hayfever?
Our sneezy reaction to pollen is thanks to our 'adaptive immunity', but do animals share this allergy?
Could I be allergic to water?
An affliction which seems to affect teenagers disproportionately.