Pain & Allergy
This field focuses on chronic pain conditions and immune-mediated allergic disorders.
- Allergies — IgE-mediated reactions, anaphylaxis, immunotherapy
- Alpha-Gal Syndrome (tick-driven delayed allergy to mammalian meat) — full article plus 8 deep-dive guides on tick-origin science, complete foods list, cross-reactive meds, anaphylaxis plan, testing, restaurant & travel, tick prevention, and natural history
- Chronic Pain — nociceptive, neuropathic, nociplastic pain; multimodal management
- Anaphylaxis — severe allergic reactions, epinephrine, biphasic reactions, emergency management
- Food Allergy — IgE-mediated reactions to the Big 9 allergens (peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, sesame); OAS, FPIES, oral immunotherapy (PALFORZIA), omalizumab (FDA 2024), early-introduction LEAP trial
- Drug Allergy — Gell-Coombs classification (Types I–IV); penicillin allergy de-labeling (90% tolerate on testing); DRESS syndrome; Stevens-Johnson / TEN; HLA screening (HLA-B*5801 for allopurinol); AERD/Samter’s triad
- Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) — C1-inhibitor deficiency; bradykinin-mediated swelling (NOT histamine); laryngeal edema risk; acute treatment (icatibant, C1-INH concentrate); prophylaxis (lanadelumab)
- Chronic Urticaria — wheals lasting >6 weeks; autoimmune IgE/IgG mechanism; UAS7 scoring; antihistamine stepwise therapy; omalizumab for refractory CSU
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) — chronic food antigen–driven esophageal inflammation; dysphagia + food impaction; eosinophil ≥15/hpf on biopsy; PPI, topical steroids (budesonide orodispersible tablet), elimination diet, dupilumab (FDA 2022)
- Mastocytosis — clonal mast cell proliferation; cutaneous (urticaria pigmentosa) vs systemic; KIT D816V mutation; tryptase >20 ng/mL; anaphylaxis risk; cytoreductive therapy for advanced SM
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) — formerly RSD; Budapest Criteria, mirror therapy, graded motor imagery, low-dose naltrexone
- Food Intolerance — lactose, histamine, elimination diets
- Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) — mast cell mediator release triad, SIGHI criteria, tryptase testing, low-histamine diet, quercetin, EDS/POTS connection
- Cluster Headaches — episodic vs. chronic, high-flow oxygen, verapamil, galcanezumab, hypothalamic pathophysiology
- Migraine — aura, triptans, CGRP antagonists, prevention
- Neuropathic Pain — peripheral vs. central sensitization, DN4 tool, gabapentinoids, duloxetine, topical lidocaine, alpha-lipoic acid
- Tension Headache — most common headache (70% of adults); episodic vs chronic; pressing/tightening bilateral pain; pericranial tenderness; NSAIDs for acute; amitriptyline for prevention; biofeedback & stress management
- Fibromyalgia — central sensitization / nociplastic pain; 2016 ACR criteria (WPI + SSS); duloxetine, pregabalin, milnacipran (FDA-approved trio); low-dose naltrexone; graded exercise (strongest evidence); fibro fog and comorbidities (IBS, ME-CFS, hEDS)
- Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever) — IgE-mediated nasal inflammation; seasonal (pollen: tree/grass/ragweed) vs perennial (dust mites, pet dander, mold); ARIA classification; intranasal corticosteroids (first-line); allergen immunotherapy (SCIT + SLIT tablets); united airway with asthma
- Contact Dermatitis — allergic (type IV / T-cell; 12-72h delay; nickel, fragrance, PPD, poison ivy) vs irritant (direct barrier damage; wet work; no prior sensitization); patch testing (gold standard); occupational skin disease; latex allergy; phototoxic vs photoallergic
All Pain & Allergy Articles A–Z
Every article in this specialty, listed alphabetically.
- Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)
- Allergies
- Alpha-Gal Syndrome: The Tick-Driven Allergy to Red Meat
- Anaphylaxis
- Chronic Pain
- Chronic Urticaria
- Cluster Headaches
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Contact Dermatitis
- Drug Allergy
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Fibromyalgia
- Food Allergy
- Food Intolerance
- Hereditary Angioedema
- Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
- Mastocytosis
- Migraine
- Neuropathic Pain
- Tension Headache