Tree pollen can travel hundreds, even thousands of miles in the air. This phenomenon adds to the protracted tree season here in Florida, as once our local trees have done their thing, we are buffeted by the pollen from northern climes.
During the spring the yellow green carpet of pollen is primarily from the pine and oak trees. The pine pollen is very large and easily seen, but it is the tiny oak pollen that stays airborne longer that causes most of the allergic misery.
No, preauricular pits are not the warm-up rooms for gladiators. They are actually the most common congenital abnormality involving the ear, occurring in one out of 200 Americans. The pits are small openings or dells in the skin just in front of the ear, slightly higher than the interior auditory canal (the normal ear hole). They tend to occur more on the right side of the head, but not in infrequently are bilateral. They do tend to run in families….
If you live in Florida you might develop paranoia about oak trees and allergy. Our prodigious oak tree population accounts for the most severe form or our pollen seasons – spring tree season. They also provide a home for a special type of fire ant that can drop down on people to sting them. Finally, they can also be a source of Pyemotes herfsi, the oak leaf itch mite. This mite belongs to the biological class Arachnida (which includes all…
A recent article in the journal Science discussed research on immunity based on gut function. The researchers focused on a gut protein receptor called AhR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor), which when activated, leads to the healthy development of lymphoid tissue in the GI tract. This receptor is turned on my phytochemicals found primarily in fruits and vegetables. The vegetables richest in these phytochemicals are cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts. On the other hand, processed foods and foods…
Dear Dr. K: In one of your old newsletters you wrote about a computer rash. I think I have developed it but I can’t remember the details. The condition is called Erythema Ab Igne. The rash is a lacy reticular redness that has a mild itch or burning sensation. It can also be mildly tender to the touch. It is caused by chronic exposure to an external heat source. In the article you mentioned I discussed how chronic laptop computer,…
Cow milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies and can lead to a variety of clinical symptoms affecting the respiratory, GI, GU, and dermatologic systems. It can even occur in infants who are exclusively nursed if their mothers are ingesting cow milk. Because of the frequency and potential severity of the allergy there has been great effort to find a vaccine for cow milk allergy. Recently, researches at Johns Hopkins University publicized the results of their work…
Mistletoe can be a contact allergen for some people, much like poison ivy.
Dear Dr. K: I heard there is work being done on a one-time flu shot. Is this true? Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and with any luck, there may also be a one-time flu vaccine. Before I discuss this new research let me review the current vaccine. Traditional influenza vaccines target the globular outer region of the viral hemaggluttinin protein. This part of the protein is constantly changing and accounts for the new strains of flu seen each…
Household HVAC (heating and air conditioning) systems use filters that are good for removing particles such as dust, mold and pollen, but have no benefit for removing volatile pollutants. There are chemical filters that are produced, but they are extremely expensive and beyond the budget of most private households. Such filters typically are used for special clean-room research or in NASA’s space vehicles. Indoor plants offer a viable alternative to man-made filters. The most common indoor pollutants that can cause…