Issue date: March 21, 1999

In this article:
Insects: Beware a biting fire ant.
Pollen: you may not be able to move away from it.
New prescription antihistamines considered safer than old over-the-counter.
Allergy shots, hay fever, food allergies and labels

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Ouch! Fire ants cause more allergic reactions in the South than bees or wasps.

or residents of California and Maryland, fire ants are a new allergic worry. The hot-tempered imported flesh eaters are working their way west and north along the coasts and have been found in both states.

"They're projected to reach the [western] Canadian border in the next decade," says Chester T. Stafford, professor of medicine and pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Fire ants are one of many allergy-causing insects in America, where about 2 million people are allergic to the venom of stinging insects such as fire ants, bees and wasps; each year, 50 people die from the allergy.

Every time a person is stung, the chances of having a serious reaction increase, says Theodore Freeman, chairman of the Department of Allergy and Immunology at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio. "In places where there are fire ants," he says, "it's frequent to get stung several times during the year." So it's vital to get proper medical treatment when first stung.

Even if you don't live in fire-ant country, having a general knowledge can't hurt - particularly if you travel to the South.

TO SOFTEN THE STING ...

Know what it feels like. Pain and discomfort are normal reactions to insect stings. Allergic people also can develop hives, dizziness, weakness, breathing problems, nausea and abdominal cramps. The worst reaction is potentially deadly anaphylactic shock, which causes a sudden drop in blood pressure and constriction of the throat. Being allergic to bees does not increase the risk of a fire-ant allergy, says Stafford.

Know why they sting. Stings usually occur when a fire-ant mound is unwittingly stepped on. The ants defend their turf, biting with their jaws and then stinging. "They'll pour out in the thousands," says Freeman.

Reduce the risk. If you live in fire-ant country, have your property scanned for fire-ant mounds, which can be destroyed. Mounds can be up to 4 feet high, though in sandy soil they can be nearly flat.

Get more fire-ant info at www.ceris.purdue.edu/napis/pests/ifa on the Web.

INVISIBLE BUG BATTLE
Microscopic dust mites are the secret agents of the allergy world, infiltrating mattresses, pillows and rugs. Cockroaches also are a cause of allergies. These creatures and their remains, common in house dust, help make dust the most common year-round cause of runny nose and sneezing.

TO REDUCE EXPOSURE:
-- Keep the bedroom clean. Don't eat there. Wash blankets, sheets - even pillows - at least every 10 days in hot water. Special plastic casings for mattress and pillow help.
-- Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier in the bedroom. Change filters frequently.
-- Get rid of carpets. If that's not possible, clean them with benzyl benzoate dry foam to kill mites.
-- Exterminate - regularly if you have cockroaches.
-- Dust and vacuum frequently; wear a dust mask while dusting.

By Patricia Braus

YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE AWAY FROM POLLEN
People allergic to local pollen may be tempted to move to another climate zone to escape. But experts say moving may create new problems and be "ultimately disappointing." Why? You may already be allergic to pollen in the new area. What's more, many patients develop new allergies a year or two after moving. To get current pollen levels in many locales:
1-800-976-5536 or www.aaaai.org

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Rx or over-the-counter? Experts debate which medicine is better.

lder antihistamine drugs, including the familiar brand names Actifed, Chlor-Trimeton and Benadryl, are sold over the counter because they have a long record of safety, says the federal Food and Drug Administration.

But a new report by 21 medical groups, including the National Institutes of Health, cautions against self-medicating with these antihistamines. Instead, it recommends newer prescription drugs, which the report says are non-drowsy and more effective. The report, written by independent experts, was funded by Shering Laboratories, maker of the allergy prescription Claritin. The report is the first unified approach to diagnosing and treating 13 allergy types.

Prescription drugs, the report says, are made of larger molecules that are less likely to enter the brain and cause unsafe drowsiness. Note to the 66 percent of allergy sufferers who use over-the-counter antihistamines: People are not always aware their judgment is impaired, says report co-author Mark Dykewicz of the St. Louis University School of Medicine.

SIDES OF THE DEBATE:

Anti-OTC. The new report cites a study in which drivers who took a normal dose of triprolidine, a substance in Actifed, drove as if they had drunk two cocktails. Research shows a higher incidence of work-related injuries in users of over-the-counter antihistamines.

Pro-OTC. But Warner Lambert, maker of Benadryl, the most widely used non-prescription antihistamine, points to research that finds no drowsiness link. It also makes a cost argument: "One month of the leading prescription allergy medicine can be up to 400 percent more expensive than Benadryl." OTC drugs work for many, says Lanny Rosenwasser, head of allergy and clinical immunology at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver. He says those who have side effects should see a doctor.

Alternatives. Rosenwasser suggests other allergy drugs can be effective, including cromolyn sodium and inhaled nasal steroids.

By Patricia Braus