What Diabetics Need to Know About Over-the-Counter Meds

SATURDAY, Aug. 5, 2017 -- It can be tough for people with diabetes to choose appropriate over-the-counter medicines for a cold, cough or headache, a pharmacist explains.

Many of these so-called OTC drugs contain carbohydrates (including sugar) that can affect blood sugar levels, or ingredients that can interact with diabetes medications, according to Miranda Wilhelm. She is a clinical associate professor at Southern Illinois University School of Pharmacy.

Does Your Child Really Have a Food Allergy?

MONDAY, July 24, 2017 -- Many people misunderstand what food allergies are, and even doctors can be confused about how to best diagnose them, suggests a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

It's common for people to think they have a food allergy, but the reality may be different, said Dr. Scott Sicherer, the lead author of the AAP report.

Scientists Gain Insight Into Allergies

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 2, 2017 -- Scientists report they've pinpointed which immune system cells trigger allergies.

The discovery may someday lead to a blood test that improves treatment, they suggest.

Too Few Children Get EpiPen When Needed: Study

WEDNESDAY, July 12, 2017 -- EpiPens are the go-to solution when a child has a severe allergic reaction. But many kids don't get this essential treatment, U.S. researchers found.

Even when the epinephrine-delivering device has been prescribed, parents or caretakers frequently fail to use it in the face of a potentially fatal allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, investigators found.

Is Your Child's 'Penicillin Allergy' Real?

MONDAY, July 3, 2017 -- Many children suspected of being allergic to the inexpensive, first-line antibiotic penicillin actually aren't, new research indicates.

The findings -- which echo similar research earlier this year in adults -- mean many patients are instead prescribed more expensive broad-spectrum antibiotics, experts said. These alternatives can come with greater side effects and contribute to a rise in antibiotic-resistant infections.

Could a Sweet Tooth in Pregnancy Spur Allergies in Kids?

THURSDAY, July 6, 2017 -- Bingeing on chocolate, pastries and soda during pregnancy might have an unintended downside -- setting kids up for asthma and allergies, new research suggests.

The study of more than 9,000 mother-child pairs in Britain can't prove cause-and-effect. However, the researchers found that children born to the 20 percent of mothers with the highest sugar intake during pregnancy were 38 percent more likely to have an allergy by the age of 7, and 73 percent more likely to have two or more allergies.