House Dust Mite
The most common type of dust mite found in Australian homes is Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, which tends to prefer coastal rather than inland areas. This mite has been associated with dermatological and respiratory allergies in humans, such as ... [... more]
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Aspergillus
The lungs are inside the chest, protected by the ribcage and wrapped in a membrane called the pleura. The windpipe (trachea) splits into two tubes, called bronchi, that service one lung each. The bronchi divide into smaller tubes called ... [... more]
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Asthma And Allergens
Most people with asthma are atopic; that is, they have a general tendency to develop allergic diseases. More than 80 per cent of people with asthma find their symptoms get worse when they are exposed to allergens. Managing your asthma includes ... [... more]
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Hives Explained
The immune system of a person with hives will react to certain substances, such as particular foods, by producing antibodies. These specialised proteins trigger a variety of immune system responses, including the release of mast cell chemicals - ... [... more]
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Food Additives
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is responsible for the approval of food additives that are allowable in Australian foods. All food additives used in Australia undergo a safety assessment, which includes rigorous testing, before they ... [... more]
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Hayfever
Hay fever is the common name for a condition called allergic rhinitis, which means an allergy that affects the nose. Most people associate hay fever with spring, when airborne pollens from grasses are at their peak. However, hay fever can occur ... [... more]
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Allergy Testing
Elimination diets and challenge testing - an elimination diet is used to isolate foods that may be causing an allergic reaction. This usually takes a number of weeks and involves avoiding foods identified as common causes of food allergy. No ... [... more]
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Lactose Intolerance
Many Australian babies are unnecessarily weaned because their irritability is wrongly assumed to be lactose intolerance. In reality, the severe form of this condition - known as primary lactose intolerance (where the infant does not produce ... [... more]
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Latex Allergy
Irritant dermatitis - characterised by crusty skin lesions. Irritant dermatitis isn't the same as latex allergy, because it can be caused by a wide range of other factors including washing with harsh soap or the action of sweat inside rubber ... [... more]
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Asthma And Allergens - Q & A
Vegemite is a food that is high in salicylate. Around 15 per cent of people with asthma have salicylate sensitivity, although it is rare in children. Aspirin is made of salicylate, and salicylates are found naturally in very small quantities in ... [... more]
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Food Allergy And Intolerance
It can be difficult to tell the difference between the symptoms of food allergy and food intolerance. Usually symptoms caused by food allergy develop very soon after consuming the food but, while symptoms caused by food intolerance can be ... [... more]
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Allergies
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