Cochrane

Review question We planned to review evidence about the effect of treatments to fight fungal infections which cause allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in people with cystic fibrosis. Background Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an allergic lung reaction to a type of fungus (usually Aspergillus fumigatus) in some people with ...

Review question In infants, does supplementation of the diet with oil high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) result in a decreased risk of developing allergies such as asthma, dermatitis/eczema, hay fever (called allergic rhinitis) and food allergy in infancy and childhood? Background Allergy is responsible for a substantial health burden in ...

Background At least one in seven children and one in 50 adults suffer from atopic eczema, a skin condition characterised by an itchy red rash. People with atopic eczema are allergic to things in the environment, such as house dust mites, and exposure to what they are allergic to may make their eczema worse. Specific allergen immunotherapy is a treatment ...

Background A blood transfusion is when blood is taken from one person and given to another person. Blood transfusions are given to solve life and health-threatening medical conditions on a short-term basis. However, blood transfusions have adverse events, some of them potentially related to an immune system response or due to the transmission of infectious ...

Review question and background We reviewed the evidence about the effect of oral and sublingual immunotherapy in people with a food allergy to fruit. Food allergy is an abnormal response to a food, usually after eating it. The main treatment for food allergy is to avoid the food, but in people with food allergy, accidentally eating the food can cause ...

Review question We reviewed the evidence about the effect of anti-IgE therapy for treating allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in people with cystic fibrosis. Background Cystic fibrosis is a genetically inherited disease which is not uncommon in the Western World. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a lung disease caused by extreme sensitivity ...

Review question: Are glycerin laxatives (enemas/suppositories) safe and effective for prevention or treatment of feeding intolerance in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants? Background: Preterm babies are at increased risk of feeding intolerance. Factors that contribute to feeding intolerance are many and include immature motility of the gut and increased ...

Review question We assessed the evidence on the use of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for people with asthma compared with placebo or with normal treatment for asthma. We focused on whether SLIT is a good treatment for asthma and whether it is safe. Background Asthma is a long-term condition that causes breathing problems and cough, which sometimes ...

Fish and fish oil are the major sources of omega-3 long chain fatty acids. Dietary marine omega-3 fatty acid supplements during pregnancy may change the immune system of the newborn before allergic responses are established, particularly for those with a genetic predisposition to the production of the immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody. Individuals with ...

Review question Are treatments with eye drops of antihistamines and mast cell stabilisers, alone or in combination, effective and safe in people with seasonal and allergic conjunctivitis? The main outcome measure was eye symptoms reported by participants, including eye itching, irritation (burning sensation), watering eyes (tearing), and photophobia ...