Recently, Saturday Night Live aired a parody on the popular drug Claritin, an over-the-counter antihistamine used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria. The parody used the fictional drug "Flaritin," a medication used for the treatment of fake or made-up allergies. The skit then shows people claiming to have various allergic conditions in order to get attention and sympathy from other people. It certainly is humorous, but when you actually think about it, some people might take away from it the notion that allergies aren't real or aren't serious, potentially life-threatening medical conditions. It also shows the lack of knowledge on the part of the SNL writers that gluten sensitive enteropathy (celiac disease) and lactose intolerance aren't actually allergies. Take a look at the skit -- what do you think?
Read more:
- What Is a "Gluten Allergy"?
- Is Lactose Intolerance an Allergy?
- Can You Be Allergic to Cigarette Smoke?
