THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- A child's risk of developing allergies increases by up to 50 percent from pollution caused by traffic, a rate that increases the closer the child grows up next to major roads, a new study says.

The findings, published in the June issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, revealed significant links between the distance to the nearest road and asthmatic bronchitis, hay fever, eczema and allergic sensitizations.

Gesundheit!

Lexington, Ky., sits atop the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America's 2008 ranking of the leading 100 spring allergy capitals.

Trailing Lexington on the annual list are: Greensboro, N.C.; Johnson City, Tenn.; Augusta, Ga.; and Jackson, Miss.

Least likely to make you sneeze and wheeze among the top 100 is Spokane, Wash, preceded by the California cities of San Francisco and Bakersfield, Sarasota, Fla; and Lancaster, Penn.

My toddler was just diagnosed with eczema, but it's strange and not "acting" like "regular" eczema, so I'm wondering if anyone can tell me the different types of eczema? I understand there is a chronic type, that appears around 6 months, and most kids outgrow around 2-5 years of age. (My nieces both have eczema from food allergies, and they have red bumps and scars over most of their bodies).

(HealthDay News) - Allergy shots help sensitize your body to allergens -- things to which you're allergic. While the shots are safe and effective for most people, not everyone should have them, the American Academy of Family Physicians warns. Here's the academy's list of people who probably shouldn't have allergy shots: * People with severe asthma. * People who have heart problems. * People who take a beta blocker for a heart condition. * Children under age 5. * Pregnant women.