Last month, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology held its Annual Meeting…. virtually. Among the lectures I attended virtually was a series about eye allergies, which are reported in a 2016 article of Current Opinions Allergy Clinical Immunology to occur in 64% of those who have nasal/sinus allergic symptoms. ...
On leap year day last year, I posted a blog about a respiratory-borne illness that had potential to be serious for some of those who have asthma or chronic nasal/sinus symptoms. By reviewing recommended hygienic measures, my expectations were that (a) this illness would just be a bit worse than the 1957-58, 1968, 1976 and 2009...
As 2021 starts, COVID-19 continues. But, so does the rollout of the two vaccines—one from PfizerBioNTech and one from Moderna-- that have been developed from the messenger RNA (mRNA) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The PfizerBioNTech vaccine is under emergency use authorization (EUA) for those 16 and older. The Moderna vaccine is...
Approximately 50% of households have pets based on statistics from animal food suppliers. The dander from the pet is the major culprit that causes allergic symptoms. Dander is composed of microscopic skin cells shed by cats, dogs, rodents and birds. The American Lung Association describes pet allergens as light in weight and jagged in...
More than a few patients ask us if buying an air cleaner or air purifier helps control allergic symptoms. Running an air purifier can help to improve indoor air quality by filtering the air to remove odors and animal dander. The Air Purifier Buying Guide of March 2020 from Consumer Reports states that portable air purifiers with HEPA...
Last month, one of my patients who has an immunodeficiency said she takes melatonin and asked me if there is a beneficial effect of melatonin on the immune system. The subject came up a few weeks later—around October 1st--in the media when melatonin was mentioned as part of a certain individual’s initial treatment for COVID-19. Since...