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18 Allergy epidemic: fact or fiction?

Whenever the subject of allergies comes up, you can guarantee someone will say they didn’t know anyone affected when they were growing up. Is allergic disease really on the increase, or are we just better at diagnosing it? Allergist Dr Vincent St Aubyn Crump delves into the debate.

24 Another one bites the dust

They may be too small to be seen without a microscope, but these tiny creatures closely related to ticks and spiders affect close to half a million Kiwis. If you have hay fever symptoms all year round, asthma or eczema, dust mites could be the culprit.

30 Pollen’s in the air

Did you know when you sneeze, the muscles of your abdomen, chest, diaphragm, neck, face and eyes work together in the right order to blast out whatever is irritating your nose? That’s a lot of effort. So it’s little wonder those with severe hay fever are left feeling miserable and exhausted.

42 Rash reactions

You have sensitive skin and seem to break out in a rash whenever you use those lovely smelling lotions and shower gels. So you go for the ‘hypo-allergenic’ versions and, within minutes, you are covered in an itchy rash from head to toe. What on earth can it be, and what can you do?

54 A food allergy sufferer’s guide to hunting and gathering

Our lives revolve around food, so what do you do if you have been diagnosed with a food allergy? A quick look at the ingredients list can be depressing, and it may seem as though there are no safe foods available. But Allergy Today shows you how to navigate the shopping aisle and even to eat out.

2 Editorial
5 Feedback
6 Making headlines
10 Allergy New Zealand news
12 Your questions
52 Allergy research: a roundup of exciting research happening in New Zealand

Real people

14 Real Life: Onwards and upwards
64 Parting shot: I wish I had a dollar...

Food for thought

54 A food allergy sufferer’s guide to hunting and gathering
60 Recipes: Indulgent chocolate layer cake

Your health

42 Sensitive skin: a practical what is it and how do you treat it?
24 Healthy home: practical steps on how to wage war on dust mites
34 Hay fever: everything you need to know about pollen allergy, including low-allergen gardening and eye health

Allergy help

46 Directory
47 Giveaways
48 Marketplace
62 Classifieds