Do healthy children need flu shots?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu (influenza) vaccine for all children ages 6 months to 18 years — ideally given in September or as soon as the vaccine is available. The flu vaccine is available in two forms, flu shots which can be given to children age 6 months and older and a nasal spray (FluMist) which can be given to children age 2 years and older. Whether you choose a shot or nasal spray, keep in mind that children age 8 and younger who are receiving the flu vaccine for the first time or who didn't receive at least one dose of the 2009 H1N1 flu (swine flu) vaccine last year need two doses of this year's flu vaccine given at least four weeks apart. One dose is adequate for children age 9 and older and younger children who've been vaccinated before. . read more.

Allergy to Dogs (and Cats and Dust Mites) May Worsen Ragweed’s Impact

Ragweed allergy season can be even more miserable for those with dog, cat or dust mite allergies, according to new research. These year-round allergies appear to “pre-prime” the immune system so symptoms hit harder. Hay fever (known as seasonal allergic rhinitis) begins around the middle of August, when ragweed blooms. The typical symptoms – sneezing, itching, stuffy nose and watery eyes – can make sufferers miserable. Hay fever sufferers who also are allergic to cats, dogs or dust mites develop symptoms faster and (early on) more severely, the research suggests. Treating the cat, dog or dust mite allergy year round may help make the hay fever more manageable. “People with hay fever react differently when ragweed allergy season arrives. Some start sneezing right away, and others don’t, so we wanted to determine what makes certain people develop symptoms more quickly,” said the lead author of the study. . read more.

Why are my asthma symptoms worse when I have a cold?

In both children and adults, infections with cold viruses are the leading cause of worsening symptoms and loss of control of asthma. One particular cold virus, the Rhinovirus, is most frequently associated with increased asthma severity. Within the past few years, two studies reported the same unexpected finding: Rhinovirus infections with wheezing in infants and young children are associated with a significantly greater risk for developing childhood asthma, especially in children who are prone to allergic disease. These findings should help to identify events that initiate and worsen asthma and aid the development of therapies and perhaps even strategies for the prevention of asthma, which is the ultimate goal of asthma research. However, a more immediate question is how can these advances in knowledge be used today? . read more.