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AllergiesAllergies are an overreaction of the body's immune system to typically harmless foreign substances called allergens. Some of the most common allergens include pollen, food, household dust, pet dander, and mold. Over 100 million Americans suffer from allergies, with a price tag of more than $27B annually in combined medical and societal costs.
Allergy symptoms occur when immune system defenders called immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies mistakenly label an allergen as a threat and bind to it. This leads to actions including the release of a chemical called histamine and the development of allergy symptoms, such as rashes, sneezing, swelling, or a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Symptoms can arise within minutes to hours after exposure to an allergen.
Allergies now affect more than 20% of the world's population. Strict avoidance of allergens remains the primary way to prevent reactions, followed by epinephrine injection and emergency care if a severe reaction occurs. However, researchers and policymakers have also been finding new ways to help navigate allergies, including developing the first-ever peanut allergy treatment and issuing new guidance that encourages earlier life exposure to certain potential allergens.Explore Allergies
What we've found
Seasonal allergies don't always show up in childhoodThe human immune system may become sensitized to pollen and develop an allergic reaction to it after prolonged exposure. Other triggers for new seasonal allergies may include exposure to new environments and changing climate conditions that affect allergy season length and conditions for various pollens. TED-EdOne-third of kids with food allergies report being bullied because of it, surprising parentsResearch published in 2021 surveyed how more than 100 kids with food allergies were treated by their peers. About one-third of the surveyed kids had their allergies used against them. Bullying tactics included that their allergens were sometimes intentionally put in their food or thrown at them. Parents usually had no idea this bullying was happening. Children's National HospitalEmbracing poor hygiene in early life won't stave off allergiesThe hygiene hypothesis, first proposed in 1989 by British immunologist David Strachan, suggests that early life exposure to microbes—like those from farm dust or pets—properly trains our immune systems to respond to threats. But sometimes the idea is misinterpreted: It doesn’t mean that poor hygiene—like failing to wash hands–will help ward off allergies; that type of behavior leads to infections and won’t help with allergy prevention. National Library of MedicineWichita is the worst US city to live in if you suffer from seasonal allergiesMore than 100 million people in the United States suffer from allergies each year. But Wichita, Kansas, tops the charts year after year as the worst city in America for those suffering from seasonal allergies. Longer and more intense pollen allergy seasons, however, are increasing the burden of living with seasonal allergies in numerous locations across the country. Asthma & Allergy Foundation of AmericaInhalers, antihistamines, immunotherapy, and more have made allergies a multimillion-dollar marketMarket research suggests that the allergies market will continue to grow in the years ahead as the number of allergy diagnoses increases, identifying new patients. Areas of growth include the increasing interest in immunotherapies designed to retrain the immune system through regular exposure to potential allergens via injections and under-the-tongue medical formulations, among other approaches. Cognitive Market Research & ConsultingPeanut allergies dropped by 43% after doctors reversed avoidance guidance, but questions remainThe study’s data appear to confirm the policy shift. Still, since the study did not include an examination of infant diet, researchers can’t definitively say that the guideline shift led to dietary changes and thus directly caused the decline. American Academy of PediatricsGut microbiome rewrites may help reduce allergiesResearchers are investigating different strategies to determine if one day they could give people a combination of gut microbes to set them up for fewer allergies. In animal research, scientists have already prevented severe allergic responses in allergy-prone mice—supplying them with gut microbes from healthy, non-allergic human babies. Knowable MagazineAdults are developing food allergies that they didn’t have as childrenResearch published in 2019 found that almost half of 40,000 surveyed adults with food allergies developed a new food allergy as adults, underscoring that our immune systems may newly misclassify substances later in life. JAMAResearchers are investigating if nanoparticle treatments could combat allergiesIn rodent work, Northwestern University’s Evan Scott (now at the University of Virginia) and his colleagues have been trying to attack allergies with specially designed nanoparticles—miniscule lab-made objects that can penetrate cells. They stud the nanoparticles with a tiny bit of the allergen specific to the allergy (i.e. cashew protein for cashew allergy) and antibodies that shut down allergic response processes. National Institutes of HealthKids often grow out of allergies to milk and eggsBetween 60% and 80% of kids with allergies to milk or eggs outgrow them by age 16. The immune system doesn’t always recognize and respond to baked forms of these allergens, so when kids eat muffins and other cooked food products, their immune system may become more habituated to them and overcome food sensitivities. Aging out of other allergies is less common. Healthline MediaZoo animals have developed allergies, tooAlthough scientists do not know if allergies manifest among wild animals—and if animals can survive with them—in a zoo setting, veterinarians have observed zoo animals with common allergy symptoms, including itchiness, crusty skin, and runny eyes. Veterinarians have identified Asian elephants with pollen allergies and at least one jaguar with an allergy to fleas. Discover MagazineAmish kids have far fewer allergies than the general populationOnly about 7% of Amish children in a northern Indiana community have tested positive for common allergens in routine skin prick tests, whereas half of the general US population tests positive for them. Asthma is also extremely uncommon among the Amish, even when compared with other farming communities. Researchers are interested in exploring if approaches like exposing kids across the general population to Amish farm dust might stave off some allergies. The Washington PostMore than 90% of America’s food allergies are triggered by 9 foodsMilk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish and most recently, sesame, are recognized as the most common food allergies in the US. Together, they are responsible for at least 90% of the serious food allergy responses in the country. Allergy & Asthma NetworkFood allergies were first documented more than 4,000 years agoAlthough food allergies are on the rise in modern times, they have been documented in written records for thousands of years. More than 3,000 years ago, Chinese emperors advised patients to avoid certain foods, and Hippocrates noted in his work that food could cause serious harm to certain individuals, and even lead to death. National Library of MedicineAllergies occur when our immune system mistakenly considers a substance a threatImmunoglobulin E antibodies, or IgE antibodies, may bind to an allergen, effectively labeling it as a threat. That triggers a cascade of actions in the body, including the release of histamine, which causes the characteristic itching and hives of allergies. Sometimes a cooked version of an allergen—like a cooked carrot—may look different enough from its raw form to the immune system that antibodies ignore it, and no allergic response takes place. Allergy & Asthma NetworkWhy some people have allergiesWhy do some people have allergies while others don’t? One theory suggests allergies are a relic of our evolutionary past. Our immune system, once primed to fight parasites, now mistakes harmless substances for threats. 1440The science of food allergiesWhy do certain substances trigger an immune response while others don't? Listen to researchers explain the science in this five-minute video. Food allergies affect around 8% of children and 2% of adults in the US, and—unlike sensitivity or intolerance—they involve the immune system mistaking certain harmless proteins in foods as dangerous invaders, triggering a rapid and sometimes severe defense response. SeekerA gallery of medical illustrations from NIHThe National Institutes of Health provides educational materials for broad use. The institute hosts a Flickr account with many different image galleries, including this one (with over 70 images to date) that illustrate and annotate curious phenomena, from the life cycles of a malaria parasite to the comparison of male and female bladders. Explore the gallery here. National Institutes of HealthKeith Haring was inspired by graffiti's accessibilityThe visual artist—known for his vibrant pop art—loved how graffiti was a democratic form, available to everyday people who wouldn't otherwise visit museums or galleries. He began drawing chalk murals in New York subway stations, remarking that it was an ideal venue because it attracted a diverse audience. TateLeonard Thompson was the first human to receive an insulin injection for diabetesIn January 1922, the 14-year-old was the first person to receive an insulin injection to treat diabetes, just months after insulin was isolated in dogs and used to treat their induced diabetes. Thompson had an allergic response to an apparent impurity in the injection, but his second dose, 12 days later, was a success. UMass Chan Medical SchoolPeruse a running sale of collectible checksThe George H. Labarre galleries hold regular auctions of collectible checks, along with other numismatic items (such as coins, paper money, and so on). See the antiquated iconography on old checks from railroads, regional banks, and businesses. George H Labarre GalleriesWatch a guided video tour of the Museum of Malware ArtThe site includes installations, sculptures, textiles, musical pieces, and galleries inspired by malicious software and related technologies, including the ILOVEYOU virus, encryption protocols from ransomware attacks, and the Industroyer malware framework used by Russia to cut power to Ukraine. Florian DalwigkGenetic engineering has accelerated millennia of altering various crops' genesAlthough farmers have long cross-bred crops to obtain plants with specific colors, sizes, and other characteristics, these processes took significant time. Today, genetic modification in agriculture involves scientists altering an organism's DNA for various purposes, including enhancing pathogen resistance, removing allergens, and delaying spoilage. FDAThe American Veterinary Medical Association advocates for vaccinations for pets to extend their livesThe American Animal Hospital Association provides guidelines, while many states legally require certain vaccines, such as rabies. Vaccinating healthy pets—even indoor-only pets—prevents outbreaks and protects other vulnerable animals, and adverse effects, such as allergic reactions and injection-site irritation, are rare. (Some readers may experience a paywall.) The New York TimesBlack mold isn’t more worrisome than other colors of moldBlack mold typically refers to Stachybotrys chartarum, a mold that commonly appears in damp or water-damaged areas of the home. Black mold—and other molds—won’t typically make otherwise healthy people ill, and all molds should be treated the same with respect to health risks and removal. If you have mold allergies, mold can cause an allergic response, and it can trigger asthma attacks for people with asthma. If you have a compromised immune system, then black mold exposure can also cause a fungal infection in your airways or elsewhere in the body. Cleveland ClinicFind dozens of allergen-free recipesThis collection of allergen-free meal and snack recipes, designed by celebrity chefs and others, was curated by the nonprofit Food and Allergy Research & Education group. It includes items like taquitos, pizza, chickpea burgers, various desserts, and more. FAREAllergy tests identify antibodies, but not whether allergy symptoms may appearSkin prick tests and blood tests, the two most common allergy tests, both detect the presence of allergen-specific antibodies. But just because the body has those antibodies doesn’t mean that a person is “allergic” to a substance or that they will develop symptoms of an allergy when encountering the substance. Allergists work with families to interpret the results and sometimes combine that data with approaches including exposure challenges—giving someone a tiny bit of the food or substance they may be allergic to—under medical supervision. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & ImmunologyModern conveniences may be contributing to allergy increasesA combination of genetics and how the environment changes our genes are likely contributing to the rise in allergies. But daily conveniences, such as dishwashers and packaged baby food, also change the level of bacterial exposures in early life, with potential implications for allergy development, experts from Mount Sinai Health System state in this video discussion. Mount Sinai Health SystemFDA approved the first ever peanut allergy treatment in January 2020This new medication, called Palforzia, is designed to stave off severe reactions from accidental peanut exposures with a daily dose that is increased over time under an allergist’s supervision. It’s not a treatment that should be administered during an allergic reaction, however. Epinephrine, usually administered via injection, remains the intervention for severe reactions. FDAPollen and other allergens that are inhaled rarely cause anaphylaxisFood allergies, insect stings, medications, and latex exposure are the main causes of the life-threatening allergic response called anaphylaxis. To reverse this severe reaction, a patient must typically receive an injection of epinephrine, otherwise known as adrenaline, a hormone that can relax some of the body’s muscles and increase heart rate, among other effects. Pollen allergies typically fuel a more localized reaction that isn’t as severe. Cleveland ClinicKnowing how to use an EpiPen is a life-saving skill—learn how with this videoIf someone has a severe allergic response, including trouble breathing or two or more allergic symptoms, it may be necessary to administer epinephrine, usually through an injection. Epinephrine autoinjectors—often called EpiPens—should be injected into the mid-outer thigh, even through clothing, for about 10 seconds, depending on brand. Sometimes another injection with a separate EpiPen is required if the patient does not get better after a few minutes. Nationwide Children's HospitalTick bites can fuel an allergy to a sugar molecule in red meatAlpha-gal syndrome is on the rise globally as ticks spread due to climate shifts. Bites from some ticks can trigger a sensitivity to a sugar molecule called alpha-gal found in mammal meat, which can lead to allergic responses to hamburgers and steak, among other products. Listen to an expert’s tips for avoiding this allergy, including quickly removing any ticks to limit exposure to their saliva or vomit. Scientific AmericanCRISPR technology is removing allergens from common foodsProteins responsible for allergies to eggs, milk, wheat, peanuts, and other foods can be genetically edited out of foods to reduce the risk of life-threatening reactions. The technique has also been used to produce caffeine-free coffee beans, spicier tomatoes, allergen-free pets, and more nutritious fish. Labiotech.eu'Waiting for Godot' was inspired by a Friedrich paintingSamuel Beckett was an admirer of art and, while touring German art galleries in 1937, saw Caspar David Friedrich’s Two Men Contemplating the Moon. A directorial notebook for the original production of “Waiting for Godot” notes that the end of the play’s first act was inspired by the 19th-century work. MaharamIntegrating mixed reality has made art galleries and museums more interactive and accessibleThe technology bridges the gap between history and modernity in such spaces by attracting new, younger audiences while preserving cultural heritage through risk-free immersion. Mixed reality experiences, such as visiting reconstructed historical scenes or seeing virtual twins of lost paintings, can be programmed with software features for visitors with disabilities. HidonixBasquiat helped move graffiti from the streets to the galleriesHe took graffiti's aesthetics—cryptic slogans, bold colors, and repurposed iconography—and placed them on his canvases, helping to create what some called "post graffiti." These short documentaries, produced in 1982 and 1983, capture the nascent movement as it emerged in the mainstream art world. The Museum of Contemporary ArtExplore a collection of galleries of pollinators found in national parksMany of the photographs were taken during pollinator inventories in national parks across the US. Although these inventories often focus on bees and butterflies, the collection also features beetles, moths, spiders, and birds that transfer pollen as they move from bloom to bloom. National Park ServiceJosé Raúl Capablanca lost only 34 games in his entire careerWorld champion from 1921 to 1927, Capablanca was famed for his near-invincible style and masterful endgames. His extraordinary record of just 34 lifetime losses across thousands of games earned him the nickname “The Human Chess Machine.” World Chess Hall of Fame & GalleriesMSG was first isolated from seaweed in Japan in 1908The compound monosodium glutamate has been identified in dairy, meats and vegetables, and provides an "umami"—Japanese for "tasty"—flavor to food. Studies in the late 1960s characterized MSG as harmful, but only when testing doses hundreds of times greater than what would be consumed in a typical diet. Compound InterestPhilip Roth once tried to correct details on one of his novel's Wikipedia pagesThe Wikipedia entry for Roth's 2000 novel "The Human Stain" alleges that the book was based on the life of Anatole Broyard, a Black American writer who "passed" for white, something he shared in common with the main character in Roth's novel, though Roth said that wasn't true. When Roth tried to correct the error, Wikipedia editors told him he would need a secondary source to back up his claim. The AtlanticMost penicillin allergy diagnoses are wrong A Freakonomics Radio episode investigates why so many people mistakenly believe they’re allergic to penicillin. This widespread misdiagnosis leads to costlier, less effective treatments and contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. FreakonomicsBroken or neglected air conditioners are risky for respiratory healthA well-maintained air conditioner can typically keep out unwanted pathogens, but units that are dusty or water-logged can foster germs and cause harm. AC units also remove moisture from the air, potentially causing mucus membranes to dry out and become vulnerable to infection. The ConversationA set of wild fan theories about the 'Wizard of Oz'Both the 1900 book and the 1939 film have become iconic classics beloved for decades. The story's mostly undefined symbolism of a yellow brick road, ruby red slippers, and more has left it open to wild interpretation. Some theories suggest the Wizard of Oz is the father of Willy Wonka, or that Dorothy was the Wicked Witch of the East. Mental FlossView galleries of images taken by the Hubble Space TelescopeWith more than 1.7 million observations made since 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has captured images of space missions, planets, stellar nurseries, interstellar comets, star clusters, galaxies, and more. This search tool allows users to sort and filter across these celestial objects to explore over 35 years of Hubble's astrophotography. NASA ScienceTattoo inks are largely unregulated by the FDAWith hundreds of ink manufacturers, all unregulated by the FDA, it’s hard to determine the exact ingredients in tattoo inks. Some pigments may contain carcinogenic chemicals, such as heavy metals and aromatic hydrocarbons, or even bacterial contaminants. Red ink often causes allergic reactions and may even contain lead or mercury. The ListTattoos are made by injecting pigments into the skinTattoo ink is injected under the skin, which can leave the body open to infections and allergic reactions. While many tattoo artists are licensed professionals who follow sanitary guidelines, that’s not always the case. Mayo ClinicYou can be allergic to grass—but there are other reasons it can make you itchGrass is a common allergen, but a skin's reaction to its touch is not always a result of an allergy. Many grass species have trichomes, little hairs which help protect the plant from insects and sunlight. These bristles can poke your skin, and your skin—an organ integrated with your pathogen-fighting immune system—reacts, potentially making the area red and itchy. Learn more about this common confusion here. The ConversationMany journalists are shying away from sharing mug shots when reporting crimeNews outlets used to cover crime with mug shots of the accused. Some outlets even published mug shot photo galleries, collections of easily acquired content that drove clicks and, hopefully, advertising dollars. However, this practice has fallen out of favor as journalists question the lasting impact of immortalizing mug shots of accused perpetrators, at least some of whom are ultimately cleared of the alleged crime. Poynter & The Marshall ProjectAlpha-gal allergy is a problem for red meat lovers, and that same sugar is an issue for xenotransplants, tooIn recent years, researchers have discovered ticks can induce spontaneous meat allergies in people they bite, a particularly problematic condition for previous meat lovers. This 18-minute podcast from RadioLab breaks down the cause. RadiolabA photo gallery of underwater shipwrecksTobias Friedrich is a German scuba diver specializing in underwater photography. Check out this stunning gallery of shipwrecks as well as other galleries on conservation, sharks, and more. Tobias Friedrich