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Springtime is allergy season, and this week on "Healthwatch" we'll talk about those problems that are all in your head - stuffy sinuses, runny noses and itchy ears.
While springtime pollen is a major cause of hay fever, it's not the most serious cause of allergies and asthma in children. Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that cockroach allergens have a bigger impact on children with asthma than dust mites or pet dander do.
Dr. Rebecca Gruchalla, UT Southwestern's chief of allergy, says children with allergies to cockroaches had more asthma symptoms and missed more school because of asthma. Inner-city children who live in apartments or in New York and the Bronx are most likely to be exposed to cockroaches. Dust mites are more of a problem for children who live in houses or in the Southwest.
Next: creating an allergy-free environment.
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March 2005
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