Category: For General Public

Information for general public

When Skin Reactions Look Similar but Behave Very Differently

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Illustration comparing AGEP and GPP, highlighting shared immune pathways and key clinical differences.

AGEP vs GPP: When Skin Reactions Look Similar but Behave Very Differently Skin rashes can be alarming, especially when they appear suddenly and spread quickly. Two conditions that often cause confusion are acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) and generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). AGEP vs GPP is a comparison that often raises confusion among both patients and clinicians. These two skin conditions can appear strikingly similar at first glance, yet their causes, clinical behavior, and long-term management are very different. Understanding these differences is important — not only for accurate diagnosis,…

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Adult-Onset Immunodeficiency From Anti–Interferon-Gamma Autoantibodies: The Underrecognized Cause of Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Negative Adults

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Illustration of an adult man with multiple skin lesions representing clinical signs of adult-onset immunodeficiency.

This condition—often called Adult-Onset Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AOIDS)—is one of the most important but overlooked causes of severe opportunistic infections in HIV-negative adults with normal CD4 counts. Awareness remains low, especially outside Asia, despite an increasing number of global cases. 🔎 Quick Summary: When to Suspect Adult-Onset Immunodeficiency Adult-onset immunodeficiency due to anti–interferon-gamma (anti–IFN-γ) autoantibodies should be considered in HIV-negative adults—especially those with Asian ancestry—who develop unexplained, recurrent, or disseminated intracellular infections despite normal lymphocyte counts. Key clinical clues Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) can occur but is significantly less common than…

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Game Changer: FDA Approves Rhapsido (Remibrutinib), the First Oral BTK Inhibitor for Chronic Hives (CSU)

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FDA approval of Rhapsido (remibrutinib), the first oral BTK inhibitor pill for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).

For years, patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) who didn’t respond to antihistamines had only injections as the next step. On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved remibrutinib (brand name Rhapsido), the first oral BTK inhibitor for adults with CSU. This approval offers patients — and doctors — the first convenient oral option beyond antihistamines. What Is Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU)? Why an Oral Option Matters Until now, patients had only these alternatives: Patients have long asked for a safe oral treatment that avoids injections…

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Drug vs Food Allergy: Immediate & Delayed Reactions

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Infographic comparing drug vs food allergy: immediate (anaphylaxis) and delayed reactions; SJS/TEN uncommon with food.

Drug vs Food Allergy: Why Medications Can Cause Both Immediate and Delayed Reactions — While Foods Uncommonly Cause Severe Delayed Reactions This article is for educational purposes only. Always consult healthcare providers for personalized medical advice. Patients often ask:“Why can medications cause both rapid allergic reactions like hives or anaphylaxis and dangerous delayed reactions such as Stevens–Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), while food allergies almost always appear immediately?” The difference lies in how the immune system processes drugs versus foods — and in…

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Sulfa Allergy: Safe Drugs, Drugs to Avoid, and How to Think About Cross-Reactivity

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Infographic on sulfa allergies showing safe versus avoid drug lists, including furosemide, HCTZ, sulfonylureas, celecoxib, etoricoxib, and high-risk drugs like sulfamethoxazole, sulfadiazine, sulfasalazine, and dapsone.

Many patients search online for sulfa allergy safe drugs after experiencing severe reactions to antibiotics such as co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). When people hear the term “sulfa allergy,” confusion often follows. Some patients wonder if they must avoid every drug with “sulfa” in the name. The truth is: not all sulfa-containing medications are dangerous. The key is understanding the chemical structure—specifically whether the drug contains the N4 arylamine group. The Real Culprit: The N4 Arylamine Group The allergy risk in sulfonamide antibiotics comes from a specific chemical feature known as the N4…

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FDA Warns of Severe Rebound Itching After Stopping Cetirizine (Zyrtec) or Levocetirizine (Xyzal): What You Need to Know

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🛑 New FDA Safety Alert: Antihistamine Withdrawal Can Trigger Severe Itching In May 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new safety warning about rebound itching after stopping cetirizine (Zyrtec) or levocetirizine (Xyzal)—two of the most commonly used antihistamines. This severe itching reaction, often mistaken for allergy relapse, may occur especially in people who have taken the drug daily for several months. 🔎 Key Findings from the FDA Investigation Between April 2017 and July 2023, the FDA identified 209 confirmed cases globally—197 in the U.S.—involving moderate to…

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Sebetralstat: The First Oral Treatment for HAE Approved by FDA

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sebetralstat

Oral HAE treatment is now FDA-approved. On July 7, 2025, Sebetralstat (Ekterly®) became the first oral on-demand therapy for acute attacks in hereditary angioedema (HAE), marking a major shift in how this rare condition is managed. Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disorder that causes unpredictable, recurrent episodes of swelling, often affecting the face, throat, gastrointestinal tract, and extremities. If untreated, these attacks can be life-threatening. Until recently, on-demand treatment for HAE required injections only. While berotralstat (Orladeyo®) became the first oral medication approved for prophylaxis in 2020, acute…

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The Basophil Activation Test (BAT): A Game-Changing Tool for Food Allergy Diagnosis

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Basophil Activation Test (BAT) in Food Allergy

Diagnosing food allergies accurately remains one of the biggest challenges in allergy medicine. Traditional approaches like skin prick tests (SPT) and specific IgE blood tests can tell us if someone is sensitized to a food, but they don’t always predict whether that person will actually have an allergic reaction. Meanwhile, oral food challenges (OFCs)—the gold standard—are time-consuming, expensive, and carry real risks of severe reactions. Enter the Basophil Activation Test (BAT): a revolutionary diagnostic tool that’s changing how we approach food allergy diagnosis. 🧪 What Makes BAT Different? BAT is…

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Rethinking Drug Allergy Management: Finding Balance Between Caution and Access in SCARs

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Drug allergies present a complex landscape, demanding tailored management strategies based on the reaction’s nature and severity. We’ve witnessed significant progress in “de-labeling” allergies to common drugs like penicillin through careful testing, allowing many to safely access essential treatments. However, the approach to severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) – encompassing Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), and Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP) – often stands in stark contrast: a broad and often indefinite avoidance of all potentially implicated drugs. While the…

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Seafood Allergy: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Prevention

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Seafood allergies are a serious and potentially life-threatening condition affecting millions worldwide. Whether you’re allergic to fish, shellfish, or both, understanding the causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies is crucial for managing your allergy safely. This comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to know about seafood allergies, including diagnosis, myths, and emergency preparedness. What Causes Seafood Allergies? Seafood allergies occur when the immune system mistakenly identifies certain proteins in fish or shellfish as harmful, triggering an allergic reaction. The primary allergens are: Fish vs. Shellfish Allergies: What’s the Difference? Symptoms…

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