From claycord.com:

Children

Hello again, this is the second article in the three part series on Colds/Flus. This article will focus on Children and is longer than the adult article because it can be more complicated to try and figure out what is wrong with little ones…

Even though flu season is not “officially” upon us for us adults (meaning that the number of diagnosed “flu” hasn’t reached 10% in the doctor’s office) we have officially entered RSV season for children. What is this? Well, there are over 200 viruses that cause colds and flus every year but for children one stands out as being the most problematic and actually causing children to be admitted to the hospital. This virus is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and is the major winter respiratory virus for children. RSV starts out like typical cold symptoms with runny nose, fever, cough…

Please click here to read this article in full at claycord.com.

From claycord.com:

As a Registered Nurse who deals with the cold/flu season every year, I wanted to write up some information for people that may help us get through this time of year as healthy as possible. I’m going to introduce the information regarding cold/flu, very simply, then follow up with two more articles, one in regards to children and the second for adults. Knowledge is power when it comes to colds and flus…

What’s the difference between a cold and a flu?

Cold symptoms are: runny nose, sore throat, cough, feverish/chills, yellow/green mucus…

Flu symptoms are: This is a virus and causes sudden onset of fever, headache, fatigue, sore throat, body aches, and the every famous yellow/green mucus…

Please click here to read this article in full at claycord.com.

From examiner.com:

Country music star and “American Idol” alum Kellie Pickler announced a few days ago that she gave away her cat, Pickles, because of her husband’s cat allergies. Guess she had not heard the good news from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) that removing the pet from the home is not the only option.

Environmental changes to help control allergy symptoms in conjunction with allergy immunotherapy helps many committed pet owners keep companion animals in the home.

Bringing a pet into the home is supposed to be a lifetime commitment, not a commitment until—until you have a child, until you marry someone who is allergic, for instance…

Please click here to read this article in full at examiner.com.

From gastongazette.com:

DEAR DOCTOR K: Every winter I come down with sinusitis. Is there anything I can do to prevent it?

DEAR READER: A lot of people suffer from periodic sinus infections (sinusitis). I’m one of them. The symptoms are aggravating: headache, pain or pressure in the face and head, where the sinuses are, and thick mucus clogging the nose.

The good news is there are many things you can do to reduce your risk of sinusitis.

One of the simplest, cheapest and most effective ways to prevent and treat sinus problems is nasal irrigation…

Please click here to read this article in full at gastongazette.com.

From bostonherald.com:

In about six weeks we’ll be in the midst of February school vacation — and hip-deep in flu season.

Which means if you’re going to get on a plane, it’s smart to think ahead about keeping everyone healthy.

Those lung-clogging, head-splitting maladies aren’t picky. They can strike seasoned road warriors as quickly as the casual vacationer. Commercial flights can be a moving petri dish thanks to sneezing, coughing seat mates. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Massachusetts is reporting flu activity.

So who’s at fault? Flight crews passing colds from one side of their route to the other? Runny-nosed kids putting their hands all over anything within reach?

Call it a little bit of everything…

Please click here to read this article in full at bostonherald.com.

From webmd.com:

You vacuum your house religiously to get rid of all the dust, dirt, and bacteria and make sure your indoor air is up to snuff.

But new research suggests that some vacuum cleaners may actually be making things worse, not better.

Certain vacuum cleaners spit fine dust and bacteria back into the air, where they can spread infections and trigger allergies.

Australian researchers tested 21 vacuum cleaners from 11 manufacturers, including two commercial models. The vacuums were six months to 22 years old, and ranged from less than $100 to almost $800. Brands included Dyson, Electrolux, Hoover, iRobot, and Sanyo. The researchers measured 62 different air emissions…

Please click here to read this article in full at webmd.com.

From medpagetoday.com:

Thinking of getting a cat? European researchers found that acquiring kitty as an adult can lead to allergies to cat dander.

The risk is lower if you had a cat as a child but higher if you already have some other allergies, according to Giuseppe Verlato, PhD, of the University of Verona in Verona, Italy, and colleagues.

On the other hand, adults who get a cat but don’t let it in the bedroom appear to be unlikely to become sensitized to the animal, Verlato and colleagues reported online in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

The bottom line, the researchers concluded, is that “acquiring a cat increases the risk of cat sensitization in adulthood, particularly when the cat is allowed in the bedroom.”

The findings come from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS)…

Please click here to read this article in full at medpagetoday.com.

From huffingtonpost.com:

As parents of children who’ve experienced an allergic reaction know, it can be difficult to determine exactly what is going on in your son’s or daughter’s body and what it means for you all going forward. Now, a new report from two leading allergists tries to cut through that confusion, warning that the most common allergy tests should not be used as a crutch by doctors and should never serve as the sole means of diagnosing an allergy…

Please click here to read this article in full at huffingtonpost.com.

From todayhealth.today.msnbc.msn.com:

It sounds like the setup to a really corny joke: Every time I run, my nose runs, too! (You’d better go catch it, etc.) But it’s a real nuisance for runny-nosed runners — including TODAY’s own Kathie Lee Gifford, who wondered aloud on Wednesday’s broadcast why jogging left her congested and miserable. (You can watch that video here — it’s at 1:45.) So what’s going on?

It’s called exercise-induced rhinitis, and it’s a lot like allergic rhinitis — also called hay fever or nasal allergies. For the unlucky people with EIR, as it’s called, a good workout triggers allergy symptoms: congestion, sneezing, runny nose, itchiness, general misery…

Please click here to read this article in full at todayhealth.today.msnbc.msn.com.

From foxnews.com/health:

Do you find yourself constantly reaching for a tissue during the holiday season? Your coughing and sneezing may not just be symptoms of a winter cold – they could be a sign of what I like to call ‘Christmas Tree Syndrome.’

Believe it or not, there are documented cases of people who suffer allergic reactions to their Christmas trees. Certain molds that are prevalent in conifer trees can irritate people who suffer from those allergies.

These molds, as well as the spores and other fungi present, can increase the risk of wheezing, persistent cough and allergic sensitization.

And of course, your symptoms will only be exacerbated when the tree is inside a confined space like your home…

Please click here to read this article in full at foxnews.com/health.