Adult Mystery: Sudden 'Allergy'

Teri Augustyn developed a runny nose and itchy eyes when she went near grasses, trees and even the dog she'd had for years. . At age 25, Kiley Gwynn started having headaches and stomachaches and one day her regular soy chai latte gave her a 20-minute coughing fit. Her allergist traced the reaction to soy, which she'd eaten all of her life without problem. Lauri Granoff was 53 when she opened a package of wet wipes and suddenly couldn't breathe. The fragrance set off an asthma-like reaction that made her throat close up and her chest tighten. Now, coming close to perfume, hairspray, hand lotion or other chemical fragrance will leave her gasping for breath. Severe reactions like these to foods, drugs, pollen and other substances can develop, seemingly out of the blue, at any age. The symptoms mimic allergy attacks, and the misery they cause can be just as severe. But many times, they aren't true allergies, experts say. The reactions involve different biochemical pathways than those in allergies, and they often respond to different treatments. . read more.

Mold Exposure During Infancy Increases Asthma Risk, Study Finds

Infants who live in "moldy" homes are three times more likely to develop asthma by age 7 -- an age that children can be accurately diagnosed with the condition. Study results are published in the August issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. "Early life exposure to mold seems to play a critical role in childhood asthma development," says Tiina Reponen, PhD, lead study author. "Genetic factors are also important to consider in asthma risk, since infants whose parents have an allergy or asthma are at the greatest risk of developing asthma." . . read more.