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Jun

4

Insects That Can Cause Allergies

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beeNot only is spring the time of year people start to worry about spring seasonal allergies but its also the time of year that those pesky insects make their return and invade your backyard BBQ or picnic. There are a number of insects that can cause allergies from stinging or biting, the most common are bubble bees, wasps and fire ants.

Bubble Bees

Bubble bee stings can of course be dangerous to those allergic but luckily the bubble bee is not aggressive and most likely won’t attack unless it feels the need to defend itself. Bubble bees and honey bees are attracted to bright flower like colors, food (specially scents) and water. They will leave behind their stinger after stinging and can only sting once as they die after stinging.

Wasps, Hornets and Yellow Jackets

These speices tend to be more aggressive than the bubble bee and can sting multiple times leaving no stinger behind. You can find them nesting in and around wooded structures as well as eaves of houses. They are attracted more to sweet things like sugar or your can of soda pop on the picnic table.

Fire Ants

Fire ants were accidentally imported from South America and are quickly becoming a problem as they have spread through much of the United States. The ants live in mounds and can be very aggressive attacking and stinging 6-8 times even if not provoked. The sting can be very painful so shoes are a good idea even if you are not allergic to their bites.

Jul

14

Allergies and Genetics

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A recent issue of the British Medical Journal has found a link between a defective gene and allergies. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland looked at the results of 24 studies and found that those with mutations in the filaggrin gene had a much higher rate of developing allergies and sensitivities.

The filaggrin gene seems to be important in helping the skin function correctly. The skin is one of the bodies first defenses against fighting disease and bacteria. The universities Co-author Aziz Sheikh explained, “Restoring skin barrier function in filaggrin deficient people in early life may help prevent the development of sensitization and halt the development and progression of allergic disease.” The research also found that those with both asthma and atopic eczema were twice as likely to have the gene mutation while those with just asthma alone did not have significantly higher rates of the mutation.

The study may help explain why allergies seem to run in families and the importance of knowing ones family history, and while genetic background a lone may not be the only factor in determining if a person will suffer from allergies it definitely does play a factor. The study also makes us realize just how important the bodies skin is, something we for the most part take for granted.

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