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February 13, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Some individuals have episodes of swelling or “angioedema” of various tissues that may occur without any known rhyme or reason. They may have 1 episode or they may have multiple or recurrent episodes. Most people with this condition are very surprised and nervous when they notice an area of their body swelling up right in […]
Read MoreJanuary 16, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Hives, also known as urticaria, is a very bothersome problem for those affected. They are usually quite itchy although they do not have to be. A hive is typically a raised welt, wheal, or bump on the skin that may have an accompanying red blotch surrounding the bump. Hives however can be flush with the […]
Read MoreNovember 19, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) has been a hot topic in recent years. It seems as though the prevalence is increasing over the last decade. Mast cell activation syndrome is caused by episodes of the abnormal release of mast cell mediators which can affect any organ system, but tends to involve the skin, nervous system, […]
Read MoreOctober 18, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
It is that time of the year again. Soon you will be seeing children (and some adults) trick or treating in your neighborhood searching for candy. For children, Halloween is a time to be with their friends, eat a lot of candy, and dress in scary costumes. For millions of parents however, Halloween can also […]
Read MoreOctober 15, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Immunizations are one of the most effective and safe ways of preventing or reducing the risk of serious illness from various infections. Vaccinations also prevent infections from spreading from one individual to another, thus protecting the health and well-being of the general population. One should always check with one’s primary care provider before getting a […]
Read MoreSeptember 24, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Milk is one of the most common foods to cause allergic reactions. Almost 3% of children younger than 3 years of age are allergic to milk. Notwithstanding, a vast majority of children spontaneously outgrow their milk sensitivities. CAUSES: In children with milk allergy, the immune system falsely identifies the protein in the milk as potentially […]
Read MoreSeptember 12, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Generalized itching (i.e., generalized pruritus) is a condition which can be quite annoying. It is when an individual has diffuse itching of the body usually without an associated rash. Approximately 20-25% of the general population experiences generalized pruritus at least one time in their life. The itching may be intermittent or it may be chronic in nature. “Acute” itching […]
Read MoreAugust 21, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Anaphylaxis is an acute, severe, and life-threatening allergic reaction. The most common triggers for anaphylaxis include allergenic foods, medications, and insect stings. Symptoms usually begin within a few minutes of exposure of the triggering agents. Initially, the symptoms characteristically involve the skin which typically causes itching and hives followed by swelling of the soft tissues. […]
Read MoreAugust 2, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
As the Summer marches on and we are now in the month of August, many allergy sufferers are about to get ready for another foe, namely ragweed. Usually about August 15th of every year, ragweed pollen begins to blanket the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area like clockwork. The dissemination of ragweed pollen […]
Read MoreJuly 31, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin triggered by a physical exposure to an allergen. These allergens are usually either chemicals or plants. There are 3 plants, (i.e., poison Ivy, poison oak and poison sumac) which account for a vast majority of plant-based allergens. The active allergen is the sap oil (i.e., urushiol) in […]
Read MoreJuly 31, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Now that it is Summer, mosquitoes are becoming more prevalent in the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland region. Mosquitoes are flying insects that tend to be more widespread where there is standing water. They are more active early in the morning and early in the evening. Female mosquitoes typically lay their eggs in stagnant […]
Read MoreJune 6, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Grass pollen allergy is a very common environmental allergy. Grass pollinates in at different time of the year depending on where in the U.S. one is located. In the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S., grass pollinates from the Spring through the Summer. In the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area specifically, […]
Read MoreMay 22, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
In order to understand conjunctivitis, one must first understand a little about the anatomy of the eye as well as a little physiology of the way eyes become lubricated. The conjunctiva is the thin transparent membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids (i.e., palpebral area) and the front of the eyeballs (i.e., bulbar area). […]
Read MoreMay 7, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Summertime in the metropolitan Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia area, brings a lot of allergies for allergy sufferers. For most of us, we see the coming of Summer as a beautiful event every year because of the warmer weather and longer days it brings us. People with allergies however see the coming of Summer […]
Read MoreApril 27, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the lower respiratory tract. The lower respiratory tract includes the muscular tubes that carry air in and out ofthe lungs as well as the tissues in the lungs where gas exchange takes place. The inflammation found in individuals with asthma is usually associated with inflammation of the upper […]
Read MoreApril 22, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
As we enter into Spring, not only should allergy-sensitive individuals be on the lookout for those annoying pollen allergy symptoms, but they should be aware of their surroundings for venomous flying insects. In the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia metropolitan area, the most common venomous flying insects are honey bees, wasps, yellow jackets, white-faced […]
Read MoreMarch 21, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Acute sinusitis is another way of saying an acute sinus infection. Acute, in this context, refers to a sinus infection that is less than 4 weeks old. Chronic, on the other hand, refers to a sinus infection that has persisted for more than 12 weeks. There is also a category called subacute. Subacute refers to […]
Read MoreMarch 20, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is an antibody that mediates allergic reactions. It interacts with the proteins (i.e., antigens, allergens) during an allergic reaction causing various chemicals and substances to be released into the bloodstream. It is those chemicals and mediators such as histamine, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, etc. that are responsible for the clinical manifestations of allergic reactions. […]
Read MoreFebruary 21, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) are a group of medications related to aspirin. The group includes commonly used drugs such as ibuprofen (i.e., Motrin, Advil), naproxen (i.e., Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (i.e., Voltaren), etodolac, (i.e., Lodine), among others. These agents are widely used in order to reduce inflammation (e.g., decrease pain and reduce swelling of joints in […]
Read MoreFebruary 14, 2024 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Well, it is almost Spring again. If you are one of those individuals with Spring allergies, you know that it is time for those miserable allergy symptoms to reappear unless you do something about it. The primary cause of Spring allergies is the tree pollen, although secondary allergens often include molds. The classic symptoms of […]
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