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Article: Allergy shots work, not needed for life
- Article from:
- Sun-Journal Lewiston, Me.
- Article date:
- April 21, 2006
CopyrightCopyright 2006 Sun-Journal Lewiston, Me. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: For the past two springs, my 13-year-old son has
had what I think is hay fever. He sneezes and rubs his nose
constantly. What would make him more comfortable? Do allergy shots
work? I don't want to commit him to an entire life of shots. - B.W.
ANSWER: Hay fever's typical symptoms are sneezing, a runny nose
and itchy, watery eyes. The nose and throat often itch. Because the
nasal linings are swollen, breathing through the nose is difficult.
Hay fever is an allergic reaction. When an allergen - in your
son's case, pollens - lands in the nose, a series of things happen
that culminate in the release of histamine and other body chemicals.
The chain of events begins with ...