Soon many of us will travel to see family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. These travels could lead to various exposures that could worsen underlying allergies. From hidden food allergens in the mom's famous stuffing, to Aunt Edna's pet cat, and from Uncle Ed's cigars to Grandma's dusty spare bedroom, your allergies could be in for more than you bargained for this Thanksgiving. Learn how to be prepared to prevent and treat food allergies, cat allergy, reactions to cigarette smoke and dust avoidance measures.

Read more:

• Preparing for Hidden Food Allergens
• How to Deal with Grandma's Four Cats
• How to Survive a Dusty Spare Bedroom
  

Allergies are becoming more and more common in children. For example, allergic rhinitis is extremely common in children, and is far more than just a runny nose. Allergies of all kinds can have a major effect on a child's quality of life, including effects on mood and behavior, activities such as school and sports, as even effects on sleep. Learn about ways that allergies have affected children's lives, as well as how allergy treatments have improved these children's lives.

Read about:

• Recognizing Allergies in Children
• How Allergies Affect a Child's Well-Being
• Allergies at School

Millions of vaccinations are given every year in the United States; allergic reactions from these vaccines are extremely rare. However, some people with certain food allergies may be at higher risk for allergic reactions as a result of vaccines containing certain food proteins. Many routine immunizations contain traces of egg protein or other food ingredients. As a result, there is the possibility that a person with food allergies will experience a severe allergic reaction as a result of receiving a vaccination.

Learn more:

• Basics of Food Allergies and Vaccines
• H1N1 Vaccine and Egg Allergy
• Vaccine Allergy Desensitization

The swine flu is front page news on a daily basis. And now that the swine flu vaccine is available, there seems to be a huge demand for the vaccine, but also concerns from some people that the vaccine may not be completely safe. Do you intend to receive, or have your children receive, the swine flu vaccine? Would you want to receive the nasal form, shot form, either one or neither one? Share your opinion, and read about others' thoughts.

The swine flu is here, and more and more people are becoming infected. It appears that people, especially children, with asthma are at higher risk for complications from the flu. The new swine flu vaccine, in both injected and nasal forms, are becoming available nationwide. Learn how swine flu can be prevented and treated, and what to do about the flu if you have asthma.

Learn more:

• Swine Flu Prevention
• Swine Flu Treatment
• Swine Flu Vaccine and Egg Allergy

Later this month, our little ones will be out trick-or-treating. Many of these young children suffer from various allergies/asthma that could flare up as a result of food allergies, exposure to cold air, or from latex containing costumes. If your child has a severe food allergy, especially to nuts, don't allow them to eat any treats until you've examined them. Consider banning any chocolate and home-made treats which may contain nuts and other hidden ingredients. If you know food-allergic kids on your street, consider handing out non-food items such as stickers, pencils and quarters.

Learn more:

• Halloween Food Allergies
• Latex Allergy from Halloween Costumes
• Asthma from Cold Air on Halloween Night

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a cold, the flu, and allergy symptoms, particularly in kids. This is especially true during the fall months, when allergies are still common in most parts of the country, and cold/flu season is starting. Check out the articles below to learn the differences between allergies and a cold, find out about other signs that could be a clue that you have allergies, and get the facts on the flu, especially if you have asthma.

Read more:

• Is It a Cold or Is it Allergies?
• Could It Be Allergies?
• Asthma and the Flu

Itching is a common reason for people to see an allergist. Many of those with itching have a rash, others do not. Some people suffer from itching for many years, while others have symptoms for only a few days or weeks. So, what causes an itch to occur? Why do some people itch from head to toe, while others itch only in certain areas? If you, or someone you know, has a problem with itching or a rash that won't go away, read the following articles, then see your doctor. You too can be itch free in no time!

Read more:

• Nuts and Bolts of Itching
• Pictures of Itchy Skin Rashes
• Types of Allergic Skin Rashes

Back to school time brings various thoughts to mind - including autumn leaves, school buses and children excited about being back at school. But it also means cold and flu season, and asthma attacks for those children with asthma. It's very common for asthmatic children to have worsening symptoms when they develop viral respiratory tract infections. Unfortunately, many of these children have taken a "summer holiday" from taking their asthma medications, so their asthma may not be optimally controlled when they catch a cold or flu bug. This often results in more severe asthma symptoms, including emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

Learn about:

• Would taking an asthma education class help your child's asthma?
• What to do for your child's asthma at school
• Is your child's asthma controlled?

Most people are looking to reduce their reliance on medications as a way to treat their allergies, and are turning to natural remedies instead. While natural remedies are generally safe, this isn't always the case -- therefore, I'd recommend that you check with your personal physician prior to using any natural remedy to treat a medical problem. That being said, there are a number of natural remedies that may be helpful for treating seasonal allergies.

Learn about:

• Eating Local Honey for Nasal Allergies
• Acupuncture for Allergies
• Nasal Saline Washes for Allergies