loratadine, the generic version of Claritin.
Here's a novel approach to preventing allergies: Get a cat or dog, and be a little more relaxed about your housekeeping. Those are the possible take-aways from a growing body of research that suggests that some exposure to bacteria, viruses, and other microbes early in life may help build immunity and cut the risk of developing hay fever and other allergies.
Of course, for the one in four people who already have hay fever or a related allergy, that advice isn't much help. Allergy control usually starts by limiting exposure to triggers. But as the box below details, the research does raise the prospect of some interesting new approaches to allergy prevention. Here is our take on the more established strategies for hay fever, including which drugs to try and which to usually avoid.
This article first appeared in the May 2009 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.
