Allergy - Questions and Answers

Medical experts from Harvard University answer common questions about allergy.

QUESTION: Hives and Insects
My son, who is 2, was playing in our neighbor's yard in a plastic pool in the shade with a tank top on. A few hours later, he developed hives on his side, back, legs, arms and forehead. I read that fire ants can cause hives. Is this true? If so, would hives only appear at the site of the bite, or all over?
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QUESTION: Allergy Shots and Impotence
I have been getting allergy shots for bee stings for three years. I have developed impotence in the last year-and-a-half or so. Is there a possible connection between the shots and my problem?
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QUESTION: Mold Allergy Symptoms
What symptoms do you have when you are exposed to mold in your home?
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QUESTION: Excessive Watering of the Eyes
What is the cause of excessive watering of the eyes? Allergy medication and Visine-A don't seem to alleviate the problem.
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QUESTION: Lactose Intolerance
Our 13-year-old daughter has developed an intolerance for drinking milk since being on large doses of antibiotics. However, she can eat yogurt and some ice cream. If she takes Lactaid she has occasionally vomited. Why would this happen? And why can she apparently tolerate lactose in some dairy foods but not others?
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QUESTION: Exercise-induced Hives
What is the best way to treat exercise-induced hives? Also, is this a condition that will eventually just go away? I've been living with it for about four years now -- I get hives everyday when I work out if I don't take an over-the-counter antihistamine.
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