May 24, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
The common cold is the most common cause of a cough. It usually subsides spontaneously after 2 to 3 weeks. However, a persistent cough may be the first sign of a more serious disease process. A chronic cough (defined as lasting for more than 8 weeks in adults and more than 4 weeks in children) […]
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April 13, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Now that it is officially Spring, many people will begin to feel the unwanted allergic symptoms of hay fever (i.e., allergic rhinitis). In the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area the allergens responsible for these symptoms are mostly due to the tree and grass pollens. If someone continually notices allergic symptoms throughout the year, then they […]
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March 19, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Now that it is March and the Spring has begun, many individuals will experience irritated eyes. The typical eye symptoms that allergic individuals may notice include itchy eyes, watery eyes, puffy or swollen eyelids, thick sticky discharge, eyelids sticking together especially in the mornings when awakening. In most cases, tree and/or grass pollen allergy is […]
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March 08, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
March is the month that many trees begin pollinating in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. As temperatures begin to climb, we will start seeing a light yellowish coating on our automobiles. For many allergy sufferers, this represents the onset of misery for many individuals who are sensitized to tree pollen. Birch, oak, cedar, elm, ash, […]
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February 20, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Excessive dryness of the skin is a feature of many chronic dermatological disorders and contributes greatly to itchy skin. Regular application of a moisturizer is critically important in the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis (i.e., eczema) or eczematous-like conditions such as contact dermatitis. There are hundreds of different moisturizing products available over the counter. A recent […]
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February 16, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Self-injectable epinephrine devices or epinephrine autoinjectors have been in the news quite a lot recently due to their high cost. In recent months, generic versions have become available which are much less costly. Epinephrine (i.e., adrenaline) is a medication that is used to treat individuals who have systemic allergic reactions (i.e., anaphylaxis) among other disorders such […]
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January 31, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
This is a very relevant subject now as we have had very cold temperatures so far over this last month in the Washington, DC, Northern, VA, and Maryland metropolitan area. And yes, you read it correctly. Individuals can be “allergic” to the cold. There is a condition known as “cold-induced urticarial” in which exposure to the […]
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January 19, 2018 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA) is defined as the onset of allergic symptoms during, or immediately after, exercise. The manifestations may include hives (i.e., urticaria), swelling of the soft tissues (i.e., angioedema), generalized itching (i.e., pruritus), wheezing, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, fainting, and/or a drop in blood pressure. In some individuals, these reactions occur only if exercise is undertaken […]
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December 11, 2017 | Black & Kletz Allergy
As we approach the festive holiday season, many individuals will be plagued with increased allergy and/or asthma symptoms. While most of us will not experience allergic symptoms this holiday season, there are a lot of people who have allergies that will be affected by various allergens during the Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa holidays. During the holidays, individuals […]
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December 11, 2017 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lungs. Genetics play a major role in the causation of the disease process. It is a characteristically variable disease with the severity varying from person to person. It also varies at different stages in one’s lifetime of an affected individual. Environmental factors such as exposure to allergens, irritants, […]
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November 20, 2017 | Black & Kletz Allergy
It is that time of the year again when families and friends gather together for the highly anticipated Thanksgiving Day holiday. Most people do not think about how Thanksgiving may affect one’s allergies, however, the holiday is full of potential triggers for many individuals prone to various allergies. The most obvious allergies in relationship to […]
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November 17, 2017 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Adverse reactions to medications are very common. Among the drugs associated with immediate hypersensitivity reactions (i.e., Type I allergy, IgE antibody-mediated allergy), penicillins are the most commonly observed. Penicillin allergy is reported in approximately 7 to 10% of community populations and up to 20% of hospitalized patients. What is amazing is that more than 90% of […]
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October 16, 2017 | Black & Kletz Allergy
“Flu” season is almost here and it is time to get prepared for its onslaught. Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection which is the cause of the “flu.” It impacts people of all ages. Though it can occur any time of the year, most cases are reported from October through March, with peaks between […]
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October 16, 2017 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Halloween is just around the corner and most individuals do not think of allergies when thinking of Halloween. They more aptly think of costumes, trick-or-treating, candy, bobbing for apples, skeletons and skulls, and Halloween parties. It is a festive time of the year and both adults and children enjoy the holiday. Even though adults enjoy […]
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September 27, 2017 | Black & Kletz Allergy
The most common type of food allergy is an “immediate hypersensitivity” reaction (i.e., Type I reaction), where the symptoms usually begin within a few minutes of exposure to the offending food. These reactions are mediated by an antibody called IgE which interacts with the protein (i.e., antigen, allergen) in the food. This interaction causes a […]
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September 19, 2017 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Recurrent infections occur in many individuals in the U.S., as well as around the world. In the U.S., malnutrition is not a common cause as it is in many undeveloped third-world countries. Parasitic infections are also not very common in the U.S. unless an individual travels to a developing country, consumes uncooked meat/fish, drinks tainted […]
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August 22, 2017 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Definition: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory condition caused by the abnormal accumulation of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in the lining of the tube carrying food from the throat to the stomach (i.e., esophagus). Cause: EoE is a relatively newly discovered condition and is being diagnosed with increasing frequency in the […]
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