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Allergy

Allergies, such as hay fever, happen when a person's immune system over-reacts to an "allergen." Allergens are found in household pets, dust mites and other insects, pollen, food, such as nuts, and medication.

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All Content on this topic

Wespe

When a simple wasp sting becomes life-threatening

For those with insect venom allergies, a wasp sting can cause fatal anaphylactic shock.
ScienceJuly 10, 202400:44 min
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Fighting an invisible enemy

Princess Mahogo battled celiac disease for 19 years before she was diagnosed.
SocietyJune 14, 202425:20 min
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Allergies, hay fever and asthma

An allergy is a reaction to something that's normally harmless. How can we protect ourselves?
ScienceApril 19, 202426:06 min
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New guidelines to help kids overcome food allergies

A new study provides safe guidelines for clinicians and families training children to overcome food allergies.
ScienceApril 8, 2024
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Strong and healthy lungs - In Good Shape

How can you keep your lungs healthy and strong – especially in the face of lung disease, allergies, asthma or colds?
HealthMarch 29, 202426:06 min
Microscope image of marigold pollen from a flowering plant

Can we treat autoimmune disease with 'inverse' vaccines?

Inverse vaccines stop the immune system from attacking healthy cells, and may help treat multiple sclerosis or diabetes.
ScienceSeptember 28, 2023
Magnified and colorized image of different pollen shapes.

Hay fever: Why it impacts tropical travelers

Many people who have lived allergy-free lives in their tropical home countries develop hay fever after moving to Europe.
ScienceJune 9, 2023
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More allergies due to climate change?

By 2050, half the world's population could be affected by at least one allergy. Is global warming to blame?
Nature and EnvironmentMay 26, 202324:49 min
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How does our immune system function?

How does our body differentiate between potentially dangerous invaders and harmless microbes?
ScienceApril 13, 202302:18 min
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Allergies and the immune system

Allergies: Why does the body overreact to something that's normally harmless?
HealthFebruary 10, 202304:25 min
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How can children ward off allergies?

Gut bacteria play a key role in whether or not children develop allergies.
HealthFebruary 10, 202304:25 min
Symbolbild I Erkältung I Nasenspray I Medizin

Treating allergies with Desensitization

Desensitization therapy is an effective way of 'curing' an allergy.
HealthFebruary 10, 202304:25 min
Atemwegserkrankung

From hay fever to asthma

Medicines called biologics are an effective treatment for allergic asthma.
HealthFebruary 10, 202304:05 min
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Alert dogs for life-threatening allergies

Specially trained dogs can detect potentially life-threatening allergens and warn their owners.
HealthSeptember 16, 202204:01 min
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Flight carries baby formula from Germany to US

Due to a shortage of baby formula in the US, a plane carrying urgent supplies from Europe has landed in Indianapolis.
HealthMay 22, 2022
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How climate change is making allergy season worse

Pollen season can already be miserable if you suffer from allergies. But climate change is making the situation worse.
Nature and EnvironmentApril 7, 2022
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The rise of allergies

By 2050, half the world's population could be affected by at least one allergy. Is climate change to blame?
Nature and EnvironmentFebruary 11, 202226:10 min
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Small mite, big problems

How to treat a dust allergy.
ScienceJanuary 14, 202204:12 min
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In Good Shape - You make me sick!

Fellow human beings can annoy us and bully us, making life difficult and even affecting our health.
ScienceDecember 11, 202126:01 min
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What is a sperm allergy?

Occasionally, people have an allergic reaction to the bodily fluids of another.
HealthDecember 10, 202103:21 min
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A mysterious meat allergy

Thanks to some scientific detective work, the cause of a meat allergy has been discovered.
ScienceOctober 1, 202104:23 min
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COVID vaccine may cause allergic reaction

People with allergies will not get a COVID vaccine in the UK after two patients showed allergic reactions.
ScienceDecember 11, 2020
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FDA approves remdesivir despite doubts about effectiveness

Although remdesivir reduces the mortality rate and the duration of COVID-19, it's not the much-celebrated silver bullet.
ScienceOctober 23, 2020
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Tomorrow Today - The Science Magazine

Learning about the sun and its storms, plus the health benefits of cows
ScienceJanuary 31, 202026:06 min
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7 things you'd never imagine climate change could impact

DW presents seven of the most unexpected ways climate change will impact life on Earth.
Nature and EnvironmentAugust 2, 20197 images
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Navalny: 'I've never had allergies'

Navalny said his eyebrows had swollen to the size of "ping-pong balls" before he was taken from jail and hospitalized.
PoliticsJuly 29, 2019
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Fake lashes with side effects

Artificial lashes are on the rise, but they come with health risks.
ScienceJune 17, 2019
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Help for Parkinson's Sufferers

The symptoms of Parkinson's include tremors, stiffness and balance difficulties.
ScienceMay 31, 201826:00 min
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The truth about food

Are cow's milk and wheat unhealthy? Complete nonsense, nutritionist Martijn Katan told DW.
HealthMay 17, 2018

Pollen calling

Hayfever sufferers always know when pollen season starts. Here's a look at this diverse, remarkable process of nature.
Nature and EnvironmentMay 3, 2018
Bee flying in front of sunflower

Pollen calling

Hayfever sufferers always know when pollen season starts. Here's a look at this diverse, remarkable process of nature.
Nature and EnvironmentMay 3, 201810 images
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'Peter Rabbit' makers sorry for allergy bullying

Sony Pictures has apologized after a furor erupted over a scene in which the main character causes an allergic reaction.
CultureFebruary 12, 2018
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Let Delhi breathe

Many Delhi residents long believed smog was the price of economic growth. But that view is changing.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 10, 201705:34 min
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Hay Fever: Relief from Pollen Allergies

Dr. Ralf Hartmann explains how to identify a pollen allergy, why it should be treated, and what the best treatments are.
ScienceJune 29, 201707:01 min
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10 incredible climate change effects

Be prepared for surprising effects of climate change - among them greater mood swings and even more volcanic eruptions.
Nature and EnvironmentMay 5, 2017
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Cheaper EpiPen to be launched after price backlash

Mylan has said it will offer a generic version of the life-saving syringe, but some say the price is still too high.
August 29, 2016
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Relief from pollen allergies

Dr. Ralf Hartmann explains how to treat allergies.
ScienceJuly 7, 201603:37 min
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Allergies: Finding the cause

Dr. Ralf Hartmann explains the methods used to find the cause of an allergy.
ScienceJuly 7, 201603:23 min
Erdnüsse

Peanut allergies

Peanut allergies are on the rise worldwide. In rare cases it can be lethal, for others, it's merely bothersome.
ScienceMay 23, 201609:12 min

Allergic to sperm - when sex becomes dangerous

If an allergic reaction to a partner's sperm sounds bad, know that men can even become allergic to their own ejaculate.
May 12, 2016

Warning: this bag of peaNUTS may contain nuts

Peanut allergies are on the rise, not only in high-risk nations like the US or Australia. New therapies are coming too.
March 4, 2016
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Shot against Hay Fever ?

A new vaccine against pollen allergies may be effective after as little as two months.
ScienceDecember 20, 201503:39 min
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Peanut allergies be gone?

Researchers in Australia may have found a treatment for peanut allergies, but warn more tests are needed.
January 29, 2015

Interview: Allergen Immunotherapy

Dr Ralf Hartmann explains how allergen immunotherapy can be used to treat pollen allergies.
ScienceMarch 13, 201403:34 min

Interview: Tips on pollen allergies

Dr. Ralf Hartmann discusses alternative treatments for pollen allergies, how to diagnose hay fever and cope with the condition in daily life.
ScienceMarch 13, 201403:29 min

Natural remedies for pollen allergies

As well as traditional medication, alternative treatments like acupuncture, eye baths and nasal irrigation are believed to relieve the symptoms of hay fever. We take a look at what's involved.
ScienceMarch 13, 201402:42 min
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Surviving the elimination diet

Food allergies and intolerances affect millions of people. Perhaps you too. But how would you know?
December 20, 2013
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Borkum Island - Allergy-friendly vacations

Discover Borkum, the largest and westernmost of the East Frisian Islands in the North Sea.
November 20, 2013

The Global Rise of Allergies

We speak with our studio guest Dr. Philippe Stock about the global rise of allergies.
LifestyleApril 18, 201303:21 min

Explaining Allergies

An allergy is an over-reaction by the body’s immune system against specific substances that it has misidentified as harmful. The immune system responds to substances that don’t actually present a risk to health.
LifestyleApril 18, 201302:53 min