Prescription drug sharing among teens is becoming a great concern in the United States, where 1 in 3 self-reportedly loan or borrow medication.
According to a survey funded by the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), 20.6% of teens reported loaning drugs, most commonly pain relievers and allergy medications, and 19.4% reported borrowing them. Girls were almost twice as likely to give away prescription medications than boys (27.5% of girls, compared to 17.4% for boys).

Information for the study was gathered in malls, parks and public streets, in eleven urban and suburban locations in the United States. Researchers obtained data from 594 teens—289 male and 305 female—ages 12-17.

“Prior to our study, no one had asked adolescents how often they shared prescription medications,” said lead author Richard Goldworthy, Ph.D., director for research and development at Academic Edge, Inc.

Researchers first asked participants whether or not they had ever loaned or borrowed prescription medications. Those who responded positively were then asked what type(s) of drugs were borrowed, whether they gave or received written or verbal instructions, and whether or not they had shared to avoid a doctor’s visit—74% of borrowers said yes.

Of the 86 teens trying to steer clear of the doctor’s office, 32.4% ended up going anyway when the problem persisted. Herein lies the danger: 43 of them reported experiencing an allergic reaction or other side effect, but less than half of borrowers (about 40%) reported telling their doctors they had used the medication.

Drug sharing has a number of negative consequences. Conditions often worsen when not taken care of in a timely manner, and using medications improperly only increases the danger. Sharing antibiotics, for example, unnecessarily increases bacterial resistance to treatment.

“Other researchers have studied people selling prescription drugs,” said co-author Chris Mayhorn, an associate professor in the Human Factors and Ergonomics Psychology Program at North Carolina State University. “ but we looked at people with good intentions, trying, for instance, to help a friend who lacked money or transportation.”

Taking a friend’s acne medication may seem innocent to a teen, however, drugs such as Accutane increase risk of depression and can cause serious birth defects in he event of an unplanned pregnancy.

The study has provided a greater incentive to boost educational programs, pushing efforts to reduce the growing drug sharing problem by training both patients and providers about proper drug use.

Melissa Haddow, executive director of the Community Partnership of the Ozarks, says, "This work highlights the diversity of medications being abused this way, which had not been recognized (before)."

More about child health.

 The air quality in and around your home may have negative effects on your child’s intelligence, according to a study by Columbia University Center for Children’s Environmental Health (CCCEH).

The study, released a week ago by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), found that children exposed to chemical pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in the air, water, and soil scored lower on IQ tests than children with lower exposure.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are chemical pollutants that can be found in the air, water, and soil. PAHs are typically released from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, diesel, oil, gas, etc.), tobacco and other natural substances. Auto emissions are a major source of PAHs in the United States, especially in heavily trafficked urban areas.

Doctor Frederica Perera, lead author and professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, compares the exposure to such pollutants to low-level lead exposure. “These findings are of concern because these decreases in IQ could be educationally meaningful in terms of school performance,” she says. “IQ is an important predictor of future academic performance.”

A child’s developing fetal and nervous system is more vulnerable than an adult’s, and PAHs have been associated with higher cancer risk, asthma, allergies, low birth weight, and a reduced head circumference. Reduced head circumference, according to CCCEH, is connected with lower cognitive functioning and academic performance. In this study, the first of its kind, researchers hoped to study the relationship of in utero PAH exposure on a child’s intelligence.
 
Participants were non-smoking black and Dominican-American women, aged 18-35, residing in Washington Heights, Harlem and South Bronx, N.Y.—areas with higher pollutant exposure. During pregnancy participants regularly completed questionnaires and were asked to wear monitors that measured PAH levels.

Researchers followed the children, measuring IQ levels at age three and again at age five using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of the Intelligence. Of the 249 children, 140 had higher than the average 2.26 n/m3 level of exposure. The mean score for all children was 98.72, with a mean score of 96.6 for children whose exposure was classified as “high” and 101.6 for children with lower exposure. Scores differed by 4.67 on the verbal and 4.31 points on the full-scale test.

Researchers will continue to follow children to age 11 to learn more about the effects of PAHs on intelligence and child development. “It should serve as a warning bell to us all,” says Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., director of NIEHS. “We need to do more to prevent environmental exposures from harming our children.”

Want more information about health during pregnancy? Visit Healia's Pregnancy Community or take the Healia Pregnancy Quiz!

A little bee venom may be a good thing. Some people are so allergic to bee stings and other insect bites that they are in danger of potentially lethal anaphylactic shock. Such shock can be fatal if obstruction of the airway occurs, blood pressure drops, or heart rate or heart rhythms are interrupted. One method of treatment involves injecting small, periodic doses of venom from bees and other stinging insects to help the patient build up immunity. Venom therapy was developed in the 1970s at Johns Hopkins.

In a recent study by Johns Hopkins and published in the June 2009 Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the same venom shots can help treat non-fatal but serious allergic reactions to insect stings. While not dangerous, large local allergic reactions can be painful and inconvenient. People who have jobs or hobbies such as landscaping, gardening and golfing are likely to be adversely affected by painful reactions that may cause severe swelling that lasts for days. Until now, if the reaction was not life-threatening, they were typically denied venom therapy.

“We just didn’t know if venom therapy would work or cause problems for these patients,” says David Golden, M.D., an associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
To find out, he and his colleagues recruited volunteers who were subject to unavoidable frequent stings owing to outdoor jobs or hobbies. From that group, Golden selected those whose reactions were marked by extremely large swellings of at least 16 cm—about the size of a football.

Golden’s team subjected the subjects to an initial sting to rigorously measure their response, then separated them into two groups: 19 who would get venom shots once a week for seven to 11 weeks over a summer, and 10 who would get no shots. While the control group members’ responses to stings stayed the same, those in the treatment group showed 50 percent less swelling on average.

After the first summer, both groups received venom therapy for up to four years. Following two or more years of treatment, both groups had swellings about 60 percent smaller on average than initial measurements, though the response to treatment varied.

Golden and his team plan to investigate why some patients experienced almost complete elimination of their allergic reaction whiler others still experienced moderate swelling. Click to read more about the study.

Post your questions about allergies and chat with other allergy sufferers at Healia Allergy Online Health Community and Support Group.

If pollen and other outdoor allergens—rather than stinging insects—cause your allergic reactions, find out more about how to treat them in the Healia Outdoor Allergies Guide.

Bo Obama, the new “hypoallergenic” First Dog, was officially introduced to droves of eager reporters on the South Lawn of the White House yesterday. The six-month-old frisky Portuguese water dog was selected for the Obama children because one of them, Malia, has allergies. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog.

The great media coverage of Bo Obama and the Presidential quest to find a hypoallergenic dog has fueled a common public misconception about dog allergies. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma&Immunology (AAAAI), a truly hypoallergenic dog is a myth.

It turns out that people with allergies react to certain proteins found in animal dander (dead skin cells), saliva, and urine; they usually do not have allergic reactions to animal hair itself. All dogs secrete proteins that are dispersed via microscopic airborne particles in the home and they will trigger reactions when inhaled by allergic people. And while it is true that certain dog breeds produce less potentially allergenic dander, people may even be allergic to a hairless dog.

Beside the Portuguese water dog, other breeds that are marketed by breeders as hypoallergenic include poodles, schnauzers, certain terriers, and poodle hybrids largely because they do not shed as much as other breeds.  While reduced shedding may reduce the amount of dander that ends up in the home, the size of the dog and the ability of the owner to bath the dog regularly (and remove dander) may be just as or even more important in determining whether the dog will be problem in allergic households.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, approximately 15 to 30 percent of people with allergies have allergic reactions to cats and dogs.

If you have allergies and are looking for a pet, consider spending some time with the prospective pet before taking the animal. If you do not have an allergic reaction after prolonged contact with the animal, then subsequent allergic reactions are less likely.

The AAAAI recommends the following tips for dog owners who have allergies:

• Visit an allergist/immunologist to diagnose the allergy and discuss treatment, which may include maintenance medications or immunotherapy (allergy shots).
• Keep the pet out of the allergic person’s bedroom. Animal dander will collect on pillows, leading to worsened symptoms at night and morning.
• Bathe the animal weekly to reduce the amount of dander shed at home.
• Replace carpeting with hardwood or other solid-surface flooring for easy clean-up.
• Vacuuming may not be effective in decreasing allergen levels, but using a HEPA filter and double bags may help.
• Wash bedding and clothing in hot water. While animal allergens are not easily removed by high temperatures, these measures may help.

For more information, see the Healia guides on allergies and outdoor allergies and take our allergy quiz game. If you have a question about allergies, ask Healia’s allergy community and medical students.


_{Photo: Giles Douglas, Flickr, Creative Commons}

For people with springtime allergies, this time of year can be difficult to deal with. Fortunately, there are ways to help minimize your exposure to potential outdoor allergens and thereby reduce their aggravating effects. Yesterday, we provided a list of the top 5 "dos" for preventing outdoor allergy symptoms. Today we present a list of the top 5 don’ts for minimizing symptoms caused by springtime allergies.

• DON'T mow lawns or be around freshly cut grass, as mowing stirs up pollens and molds.
  
• DON'T rake leaves, as this also stirs up pollen and molds.
  
• DON'T hang sheets or clothing outside to dry, as they will collect pollens and mold.
  
• DON'T grow too many, or overwater, indoor plants if you are allergic to mold. Wet soil encourages mold growth.
  
• DON'T take more medication than recommended in an attempt to lessen your symptoms. If your symptoms are worsening, talk to your doctor or allergist about adjusting your medications.

To find out more about outdoor allergy treatments and prevention, see "What Treatments are Available for Outdoor Allergies?" and "How Can I Prevent Outdoor Allergies" in the Healia Health Guide to Outdoor Allergies.

 

_{Source: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Tips to Remember: Outdoor allergens. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/outdoorallergens.stm}

_{Photo: tanakawho, Flickr, Creative Commons}

It’s that time of year again. In many parts of the country, the snow has melted, the grass has resumed its growth cycle, flowers have started to appear… and springtime allergy season has begun.

For people with springtime allergies, this time of year can be difficult to deal with. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help minimize your exposure to potential outdoor allergens and reduce their aggravating effects. The following tips include the top 5 things you can do to help avoid symptoms caused by outdoor allergens. Tomorrow’s list will give the top 5 "don’ts."

• DO keep your windows closed at night to prevent allergens such as pollens or molds from drifting into your home. If you live in a warm climate, use air conditioning, which not only cools the air but also cleans and dries it.
  
• DO minimize your activity during 5 and 10 a.m. when pollen is usually emitted.
  
• DO keep your car windows closed when traveling. Use the "re-circulate" setting on your vehicles’s vent system to keep allergens from getting in.
  
• DO try to stay indoors on days when the pollen count or humidity is reported to be high, and on windy days when dust and pollen can be blown around.
  
• DO take your allergy medications as prescribed by your allergist/immunologist regularly, in the recommended dosage. If your current regimen isn’t working, make an appointment with your allergist to have your medication adjusted.

To find out more about outdoor allergy treatments and prevention, see "What Treatments are Available for Outdoor Allergies?" and ""How Can I Prevent Outdoor Allergies" in the Healia Health Guide to Outdoor Allergies .

_{Source: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Tips to Remember: Outdoor allergens. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/outdoorallergens.stm}

_{Photo: spakattacks, Flickr, Creative Commons}

As allergy season is already underway in many places, today we provide a list of the states that have the best policy record regarding school-based management of asthma and allergies. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) created the 2008 State Honor Roll of Asthma and Allergy Policies for Schools to help encourage states to recognize and develop better state-wide school-based policies and practices for students with asthma and allergies.

AAFA researchers identified 18 "core policy standards" related to asthma and allergies policy that are currently in place in states across the U.S. The policy standards formed three broad categories: medication&treatment, awareness, and school environment. The states with the most of these 18 policy standards in place were considered to be states to be at the forefront asthma and allergy school advocacy. Six states with a minimum of 15 out of the 18 policy standards in place were named "Honor Roll" states for their leadership in mandating comprehensive state-wide school policies that address the needs of students with asthma, food allergies, anaphylaxis and other related allergic diseases in primary and secondary schools. These states appear below, followed by the number (out of 18) policy standards they currently have in place. Thirteen other states made honorable mention, having 14 of the 18 policy standards in place, while the remaining 31 states still have some work to do to catch up.

The top 6 "Honor Roll" states for school asthma and allergy policies are:

1. Connecticut (17 of 18 policy standards)
2. New Jersey (17)
3. Vermont (17)
4. Rhode Island (16)
5. Massachusetts (15)
6. Washington (15)

For more information about seasonal allergies, consult the Healia Health Guide to Outdoor Allergies. For information on other types of allergies or asthma, see the Healia Health Guide on Allergies, or the Healia Health Guide to Asthma. Share your own experiences with asthma or allergies in the schools at the Healia Health Community for Asthma or the Healia Health Community for Allergy.

_{Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2008 State Honor Roll of Asthma and Allergy Policies for Schools, 9/08. Available at: http://aafa.org/pdfs/FINALv2_STATE_HONOR_ROLL%20Full%20Report%202008.pdf}

_{Photo: The TruthAbout..., Flickr, Creative Commons}

With spring just around the corner, some people may already be experiencing symptoms of outdoor allergies or "hay fever." While such allergies can occur anywhere in the nation, some cities are more challenging than others to live in for people with with seasonal allergies. Each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) ranks the 100 cities that are the most difficult to live in if you have spring allergies based on analysis from 4 factors: allergy prevalence, seasonal pollen, allergy medicine utilization per patient, and the number of board certified allergists per patient. The results for 2008 are listed below, while 2009 results will not be available until after spring is well underway. Each year’s "Spring Allergy Capitals" are listed by the AAFA to help consumers recognize, prevent, and safely treat allergy symptoms.

The top 10 worst cities to live in with spring allergies are:

1. Lexington, KY
2. Greensboro, NC
3. Johnson City, TN
4. Augusta, GA
5. Jackson, MS
6. Knoxville, TN
7. Birmingham, AL
8. New Orleans, LA
9. Little Rock, AR
10. San Diego, CA

So what can you do about your own spring allergies? See "What treatments are available for outdoor allergies?" and "How can I prevent outdoor allergies?" in the Healia Health Guide to Outdoor Allergies. Share your experiences living with allergies in your part of the country by joining the Healia Health Community for Allergy.

_{Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2008 Spring Allergy Capitals, 4/09. http://aafa.org/pdfs/FINAL%20public%20LIST%20Spr2008.pdf}

_{Photo: My aim is true, Flickr, Creative Commons}

Food allergies are relatively common in the United States and are reported to be on the rise. Up to 8% of children and 2% of adults in the United States are estimated to have food allergies. Food allergies occur when the immune system mistakes an element of food for a foreign invader and mounts an immune response against it. This can lead to symptoms such as an itching sensation in your mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, throat tightness, trouble breathing, and in rare cases, a potentially deadly reaction called anaphylaxis.

Not all foods can cause food allergies. For unknown reasons a short list of only eight foods is responsible for more than 90% of all food allergies in the U.S. Food allergies are related to how common a particular food is in the diet and as a result, tend to be cultural: rice allergies are common in Japan and codfish appears on the list in Scandinavia. Below is a list of the most common foods that cause food allergies, along with a discussion of their prevalence in adults and children.

The top foods that cause food allergies are:

• Cow’s Milk
  The most common food allergy in children, milk allergy affects 2-3% of infants in developed countries. Up to 90% of these children grow out of the allergy by the time they reach 4 years of age. Note that an allergy to cow’s milk is not the same thing as lactose intolerance. The former is a true allergy and causes symptoms such as hives and breathing problems as well as stomach problems, while the latter is not an allergy but a food “intolerance” and causes only digestive problems.


• Eggs
  Eggs are another very common food allergy among children and this allergy persists into adulthood for some. Most kids will outgrow an egg allergy by age 5. Something to be aware of if you or your child has egg allergies is that some vaccines, including the flu vaccine, contain egg proteins which may provoke a serious reaction in allergic individuals.


• Peanuts
  Peanut allergies are common in both children and adults with about 1% of each group affected. Only about one-quarter of children with peanut allergies outgrow them. Peanut proteins in seem especially adept at provoking the immune system into a lethal attack on the body, and indeed peanut allergies are the leading cause of food-related death. However, these deaths are still quite rare.


• Tree nuts
  Tree nut allergies are more common in children than adults but a fair amount of adults are affected as well. Tree nuts include most familiar nuts except peanuts, including almonds, walnuts, cashews, Brazil nuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, and others.


• Wheat
  Wheat allergies are quite common in adults, accounting for as much as one-quarter of all food allergies. Many children also have wheat allergies. There is a related problem called celiac disease, in which the immune system attacks the small intestine whenever the protein gluten is ingested. Gluten is present is large amount in wheat, rye, and barley. For people with either celiac disease or wheat allergies, a wheat-free diet is essential.


• Soy
  Soy allergies are more common in children than adults. Think babies don’t eat soy? Actually, many infant formulas contain soy protein and soy allergy often starts with a reaction to a soy-based infant formula. Although most children outgrow soy allergy by age 3, soy allergy may persist and is becoming more common in adults. Other foods that contain soy include tofu and many bread products, which may contain soy flour.


• Fish
  Seafood allergies, which include allergies to fish and shellfish, are the most common cause of food allergy. Seafood can be a powerful allergen for certain people, causing life-threatening reactions. Seafood allergies are life-long, but don’t affect children as much as adults because kids don’t eat as much seafood. Most people who are allergic to fish are not allergic to shellfish and vice versa, but it is not a good idea to test that for yourself unless under the supervision of a doctor.


• Shellfish (i.e. crustaceans and mollusks)
  As with fish, shellfish allergies are very common, especially among adults. Interestingly, people tend to be allergic to either crustaceans (e.g. crabs, lobsters, and shrimp) or mollusks (e.g. squid, clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops); only 14% of seafood allergy sufferers are allergic to both.

For more information about food allergies, see the Healia Health Guide on Allergies. To share stories and tips about how to live with a food allergy, join the Healia Health Community for Food Allergy

_{Sources: Ameican Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, TIps to Remember: Food Allergy. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/foodallergy.stm; Seafood Allergy, Allergy and Asthma Advocate, Winter 2006. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/advocate/2006/winter/seafood.asp}

_{Photo: wEnDaLicious, Flickr, Creative Commons}

 

‘Tis the Season for Asthma and Allergy Flare-ups. While “seasonal allergies” usually refers to the hay fever many people experience during the spring and summer, the holiday season can also be a difficult time for asthma and allergy sufferers. Thanks to all the time spent indoors with the windows closed, allergens and asthma triggers can accumulate in the home and cause severe reactions. The American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology (AAAAI) has compiled the following tips to help keep your allergies and asthma under control this holiday season:

• When attending holiday parties or family gatherings, inform the host about your food allergy and ask about the ingredients used to prepare the meal.
• Carry an auto-injectable dose of epinephrine when attending a holiday party where unrecognized food allergens could be hiding. Homemade items do not have ingredient lists and could be contaminated with trace amounts of allergenic foods through contact with storage containers or kitchen utensils.
• If visiting relatives' homes who own pets, take your allergy medication before arriving in order to minimize a possible reaction.
• Evergreens often carry microscopic mold spores. You might think you are allergic to your Christmas tree, but it is likely that it is the mold spores that are causing those allergy or asthma symptoms.
• Clean decorations and artificial trees outside before decorating. They can gather mold and dust while in storage. Wash fabric decorations in hot, soapy water before displaying them to remove mold and dust.
• When spraying artificial snow on windows or other surfaces, be sure to follow directions. These sprays can irritate your lungs if you inhale them.
• The holidays can be a stressful time of year. Pay attention to your stress level, which can sometimes lead to an asthma attack. Deep breathing and relaxation can help.
• Take along your own pillow with an allergen-proof cover and request down-free pillows if staying in a hotel or at a relative's house. Dust mites can be especially troublesome if traveling away from home.
• Ask your relatives and friends to avoid burning wood in the fireplace. The smoke can trigger an asthma attack.

If you are taking asthma medication but are still experiencing asthma or allergy symptoms or if you find yourself needing to use your fast-acting inhaler more often, your asthma may not be under control. Medications are available that may help manage your asthma symptoms better and allow you to lead a normal life. To find out how much you know about asthma control, take the Healia Asthma Quiz Challenge. To find out more about asthma control, read the Healia Uncontrolled Asthma Health Guide.

If you are not sure whether or not you have asthma or allergies, you can visit your family doctor or see an allergist/immunologist. An allergist is also a good source for education and guidance in techniques for managing allergies and asthma, such as making an asthma action plan. If your symptoms are not under control, consult with an allergist to discuss the treatment options that are available. To learn more about asthma, see the Healia Health Guide on Asthma. For more about allergies, read the Healia Health Guide on Allergies.

_{Source: AAAAI, www.aaaai.org}

_{Photo: *_filippo_*, Flickr, Creative Commons}