Allergy

The January/February 2014 Vitamins and Supplements Ingredient Guide breaks down the indication, ingredients, purpose and dosage of Vitamints Immune, Centrum Specialist Immune Support, Alive! Children's Multi-Vitamin Gummy, Natrol's Melatonin, VitaMelts Multi, TruBiotics, Align and Culturelle Digestive Health Capsules.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — The Food and Drug Administration will hold a public meeting of the Allergenic Products Advisory Committee on Tuesday to determine the safety and efficacy of Ragwitek, a short ragweed pollen allergen extract tablet for sublingual use, which is manufactured by Merck and indicated for immunotherapy for diagnosed ragweed pollen induced allergic rhinitis, with or without conjunctivitis.

PITTSBURGH — Four school districts have won a competition sponsored by Mylan to raise awareness about dangerous allergic reactions, the company said Wednesday.

Mylan, whose Mylan Specialty division makes the EpiPen injector pen for severe allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis, announced the winners of the Raise Your Hand for Anaphylaxis Awareness competition, for which it hired actress Julie Bowen as a celebrity spokeswoman.

The November/December 2013 Cough, Cold and Flu Ingredient Guide breaks down the indication, ingredients, purpose and dosage of Robitussin Maximum Strength, NyQuil Severe Cold & Flu, Theraflu Warming Caplets, Coricidin HBP Cold & Flu, Tylenol Cold & Flu Severe, Hyland's Defend Severe Cold & Flu, Similasan Mucus Relief and Splintek Night Guard.

WESTPORT, Conn. — Skeeter Snacks, an allergy-friendly food, will launch its product in 212 Walgreens locations in the New England area.

Skeeter Snacks provides a variety of snack options for children and adults with tree nut and peanut allergies, and are available in six different cookie options: Chocolate Chunk, Chocolate Cubed, Golden Oatmeal, Skeeter Doodle, Chocolate Chip Minis and Cinnamon Graham Minis.

NEW YORK — New legislation signed into law Wednesday encourages states to adopt laws allowing schools to maintain a supply of emergency treatments for life-threatening allergy attacks.

Barack Obama signed the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, under which schools could maintain a supply of epinephrine, which is the only first-line treatment for life-threatening allergic reactions, also known as anaphylaxis.

The legislation received praise from Mylan, a drug maker that produces EpiPen, a popular epinephrine injector pen.

BALTIMORE — A study being presented this week at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology found hay fever is more prevalent in children living in the southeastern and southern states, ACAAI announced Friday.

FAIRFAX, Va. — Cockroaches and rodents are common allergy and asthma triggers in the wintertime, according to a statement released Tuesday by the National Pest Management Association. 

Citing the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, NPMA reported that cockroach allergens are present in 63% of American homes and mouse allergens in 82%. The number of homes containing cockroach allergens increases to as many as 78% to 98%, respectively, in urban areas.