Why Colds and Flu Seldom Strike at Same Time

TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 -- If you already have a cold, you're less likely to get the flu, and vice versa, a large new study shows.

That finding could lead to improved prediction of cold and flu outbreaks as well as new ways to control the diseases' spread, British researchers said.

Indoor Pollutants May Raise Allergy Risk in Toddlers

FRIDAY, Dec. 13, 2019 -- Toddlers have an increased risk of allergies if they are exposed to multiple indoor pollutants in their first years of life, a new study finds.

It included 108 mother-child pairs. Researchers assessed exposures to various household pollutants such as pet dander and tobacco smoke while the women were pregnant, then when children were aged 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.

Penicillin Allergy Less Common Than Thought: Study

MONDAY, Nov. 25, 2019 -- Millions of Americans think they're allergic to penicillin, but they're not, a new study reveals.

Experimental Injection May Protect Against Peanut Allergy

THURSDAY, Nov. 14, 2019 -- People with peanut allergy must be constantly vigilant to avoid a life-threatening allergic reaction. But researchers report that a new drug injection might offer at least temporary protection against the most severe reactions.

Just one shot of an experimental antibody treatment allowed people with severe peanut allergy to eat about one peanut's worth of peanut protein two weeks later, the study found.

What to Do If You Have a Bad Reaction to Cosmetics

MONDAY, Oct. 21, 2019 -- One consequence of the government's limited role in regulating cosmetics is that questionable products may stay on store shelves and e-commerce sites despite complaints. Even when consumers report problems, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can't issue a recall -- it can only recommend one.

Also, the FDA doesn't require cosmetics companies to tell it about consumer complaints, and people who experience problems may not realize that they should contact the FDA as well as the cosmetics company. This explains how one manufacturer received 21,000 direct complaints about a hair care product, yet the FDA got only a fraction of that number.

Antihistamines Linked to Delayed Care for Severe Allergic Reaction: Study

MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2019 -- Giving antihistamines to a child suffering a potentially fatal allergic reaction may do more harm than good if it causes a delay in emergency treatment, a new study warns.

Researchers reviewed the medical records of young patients, aged 8 months to 20 years, who were admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit for treatment of anaphylaxis between July 2015 and January 2019.