Allergies in Children

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• QWhat triggers my child's allergies?

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  A RealAge answered

  

  Most allergies are passed on to children from their parents. Kids inherit a tendency to be allergic, but not to any specific allergen. In addition, being exposed to allergens at certain times when the body’s defenses are low or weak, such as after a viral infection, also may lead to the development of allergies.

  From Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children by Jennifer Trachtenberg.

  

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• QWhat should I do if I think my child might have allergies?

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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  If you think that your child may have allergies, you should schedule an appointment with your child's physician. Discuss the symptoms your child is experiencing, any further evaluation that may be required to confirm the diagnosis, and treatment options.

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• QWhat are the signs and symptoms of allergies in children?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  When children who are allergic come in contact with allergens, their bodies release chemicals, including histamine, into the bloodstream to defend against them. It’s the release of these chemicals that causes the discomfort of allergy symptoms. Allergy symptoms, which usually come on suddenly and last as long as a child is exposed to a particular allergen, can include:

  • sneezing
  • itchy nose and/or throat
  • nasal congestion
  • clear, runny nose
  • coughing
  • itchy, watery and/or red eyes

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• QHow are seasonal allergies treated in kids?

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  A Dr. Michael R. Land, MD , Gynecology, answered on behalf of Duke Medicine

  The best way to get rid of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis would be to avoid the allergen that is triggering them. Reducing exposure to outdoor allergens is important when the pollen count is high. To avoid outdoor pollens, keep the windows closed in your home and car. Also, pollens are often emitted in the early morning hours (between 5:00 to 10:00 a.m.), so avoiding early morning outdoor activity can help extremely sensitive people.

  There is not enough strong evidence to recommend the use of herbal supplementation, acupuncture or "special diets" for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Some patients benefit symptomatically from nasal saline rinse, which washes out debris and pollens.

  Allergy shots are considered by some to be a natural way of dealing with allergies, although they are still a medical treatment given by a doctor. These injections actually expose your body to small amounts of what you’re allergic to. By starting with tiny amounts and gradually increasing regularly, these injections slowly change your immune system to be able to tolerate larger amounts of the allergens.

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• QHow will my child's allergy treatment change as she ages?

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  A Ms. Vandana R. Sheth , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, "Most children outgrow their food allergies to milk, eggs, soy and wheat, by the time they are 10 years old.  Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish are however lifelong. However, studies have shown that 20 percent of children may outgrow their allergies to peanuts and 10 percent outgrow their allergies to treenuts."

  This may cause changes in the treatment of their allergies.

• QHow do allergies affect a child's quality of life?

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  A Dr. Dale M. Valentine, MD , Pediatrics, answered on behalf of Intermountain Healthcare

  Allergies can make some people itch. Others get runny nose. Some feel stuffed up and get a headache. Severe allergies can trigger wheezing making it hard to breath. When kids don't feel well they may respond by not being as happy or cooperative. They may exhibit stress with poor behavior or even by being withdrawn.

• QWhat should I do if my child is diagnosed with an allergy?

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  A Dr. Daniel R. Spogen, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

  There are a number of different things you might do if your child is diagnosed with an allergy. For example, if your child is allergic to a food that, if eaten, causes a severe reaction (difficulty breathiing, throat swelling), not only should there be an EpiPen close by but the child and everyone else in the family should avoid eating that specific food. If your child has a severe allergy to cats your family most likely cannot have cats as pets. This depends on how severe your child's allergy is and if his or her symptoms can be well controlled with medication if your family is unable to make lifestyle modifications first. If your child's allergies are mild, he or she may only need to be on an antihistamine, and significant lifestyle modifications may not be needed.

   

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