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Allergy Tips

10/9/2012

11 Comments

 
When to Suspect an Allergy

Here are some common clues that could lead you to suspect your child may have an allergy:

·  Repeated or chronic cold-like symptoms that last more than a week or two, or develop at about the same time every year. These could include a runny nose, nasal stuffiness, sneezing, throat clearing, and itchy, watery eyes.

·  Recurrent coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and other respiratory symptoms may be a sign of asthma. Coughing may be an isolated symptom; symptoms that increase at night or with exercise are suspicious for asthma.

·  Recurrent red, itchy, dry, sometime scaly rashes in the creases of the elbows and/or knees, or on the back of the neck, buttocks, wrists, or ankles.

· Symptoms that occur repeatedly after eating a particular food that may include hives, swelling, gagging, coughing or wheezing, vomiting or significant abdominal pain.

·   Itching or tingling sensations in the mouth, throat and/or ears during certain times of year or after eating certain foods, particularly fresh fruits.


Common Allergies on the Homefront

·         Dust mites (dust mites are microscopic and are found in bedding, upholstered furniture and carpet as well as other places)

·         Furred animal allergens (dogs, cats, guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits, etc.)

·         Pest allergens (cockroaches, mice, rats)

·         Pollen (trees, grasses, weeds)

·         Molds and fungi (including molds too small to be seen with the naked eye)

·         Foods (cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish)

How to Manage Allergic Nasal Symptoms

·         Nasal allergy symptoms can be caused by a variety of environmental allergens including indoor allergens such as dust mites, pets, and pests as well as outdoor allergens such as pollens.  Molds, which can be found indoors and outdoors, can also trigger nasal allergy symptoms.

·         Allergy testing should be performed to determine what, if any, of these environmental allergens your child is allergic to.

·         An important step in managing allergy symptoms is avoidance of the allergens that trigger the symptoms.

·         If your child is allergic to pets, the addition of pets to your family would not be recommended. If your child has allergy symptoms and is allergic to a pet that lives with your family, the only way to have a significant impact on your child’s exposure to pet allergens is to find the pet a new home.

·         If your child is allergic to pests, professional extermination, sealing holes and cracks that serve as entry points for pests, storing foods in plastic containers with lids and meticulous clean up of food remains can help to eliminate the pests and reduce allergen levels.

·         Dust mites congregate where moisture is retained and food for them (human skin scales) is plentiful. They are especially numerous in bedding, upholstered furniture, and rugs. Padded furnishings such as mattresses, box springs, and pillows should be encased in allergen-proof, zip-up covers, which are available through catalogs and specialized retailers. Wash linens weekly and other bedding, such as blankets, every 1 to 2 weeks in hot water. (The minimum temperature to kill mites is 130 degrees. If you set your water heater higher than 120 degrees, the recommended temperature to avoid accidental scald burns, take care if young children are present in the home.)

·         If your child is allergic to outdoor allergens, it can be helpful to use air conditioners when possible. Showering or bathing at the end of the day to remove allergens from body surfaces and hair can also be helpful. For patients with grass pollen allergy, remaining indoors when grass is mowed and avoiding playing in fields of tall grass may be helpful. Children with allergies to molds should avoid playing in piles of dead leaves in the fall. Pets tracking in and out of the house can also bring pollen and mold indoors.

Medications to Control Symptoms

Your child's allergy treatment should start with your pediatrician, who may refer you to a pediatric allergy specialist for additional evaluations and treatments.

·         Antihistamines – Ones taken by mouth can help with itchy watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing, as well as itchy skin and hives. Some types may cause drowsiness.

·         Nasal Corticosteroids - Highly effective for allergy symptom control and are widely used to stop chronic symptoms. Safe to use in children over long periods of time. Must be used daily.

·         Allergy Immunotherapy - Immunotherapy, or allergy shots, may be recommended to reduce your child's allergy symptoms. Allergy shots are only prescribed in patients with confirmed allergy. If allergen avoidance and medications are not successful, allergy shots for treatment of respiratory allergies to pollen, dust mites, cat and dog dander, and outdoor molds can help  decrease the need for daily medication.

·         Ask your doctor about additional therapies.

Managing Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis):

·         Steroid creams are very effective. When used sparingly and at the lowest strength that does the job, they are very safe.

·         Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory creams or ointments can be used for itching and redness and decrease the need for steroid creams.

·         Antihistamine medication may be prescribed to relieve the itching, and help break the itch-scratch cycle.

·         Long-sleeved sleepwear may also help prevent nighttime scratching.

·         Soaps containing perfumes and deodorants may be too harsh for children’s sensitive skin.

·         Launder new clothes thoroughly before your child wears them. Avoid fabric softener.

·         Use laundry products that are free of dyes and perfumes and double-rinse clothes, towels and bedding.

·         Lukewarm soaking baths are good ways to treat the dry skin of eczema. Gently pat your child dry after the bath to avoid irritating the skin with rubbing. Then, liberally apply moisturizing cream right away.

·         Eczema, particularly when severe, may be associated with food allergies (e.g., milk, egg, peanut).


© 2012 - American Academy of Pediatrics

Abstracted from Allergies and Asthma: What Every Parent Needs to Know, 2nd Edition.  For more information on allergies and asthma, visit the AAP Section on Allergy and Immunology web site at www.aap.org/sections/allergy.

11 Comments
Michael link
12/13/2017 02:58:49 pm

I appreciate everything that you mentioned here on the many different kinds of things in your home that are causing you to have allergy difficulties. Just like you said, dust mites, furred animal allergens, pests, pollen, mold, and even foods like dairy can cause allergy issues in the home. My son is allergic to peanuts, and so it is important for us to keep those kinds of foods out of the home. Thanks again for the post, and for some reason, I always have allergy problems in the spring and summer. That might be because of the high pollen count.

Reply
Burt Silver link
4/10/2018 12:00:48 pm

I like what you said about when to suspect an allergy. I have had many instances where my mouth would start itching to certain vegetables and I've wondered if I have an allergy or something less severe. I've also wondered if I'm allergic to bees or wasps because when I'm stung by them I begin to swell a lot and am in great pain for a long time. I'll have to see if and what antihistamines can help like you suggest in the article. Thank you!

Reply
Gerty Gift link
9/20/2018 08:34:55 am

I liked what you said about shots helping to lessen the need to use daily medication. My brother was telling me that he could have a series of shots to help him with his allergies when we were teenagers, but my daughters allergies can get so bad I didn't think that they would be able to help her. I'll be sure to bring this up with my husband and see if he thinks it's a viable idea.

Reply
Skyler Williams link
9/6/2019 11:39:57 am

Thank you for your recommendation to have allergy testing done to determine if anyone is allergic to environmental allergens. I think my daughter is allergic to bees and we want to keep her safe. I will take her to get tested right away so she can stay healthy.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
10/19/2020 10:10:49 pm

I was never aware that steroid can use to treat allergies, especially when it is severe. The other day I found out that my daughter has eczema and she flares up often due to dust mites. I think I will take her to an allergy doctor to see if steroid is the suitable remedy for her.

Reply
Hailey Miller link
1/17/2022 09:34:41 pm

Thanks for pointing out that recurrent coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and other respiratory symptoms may be a sign of asthma. This is helpful because my son has been having a hard time breathing since last night. We are hoping to find an allergy testing facility that can provide a range of treatment options and help us understand root causes.

Reply
Mold Remediation link
2/5/2022 02:33:32 am

Mold is a fungus that grows in water and can be found naturally in the environment. Mold spreads easily and should never be tolerated. It can cause asthma, allergies, and other respiratory infections. If you see any signs of mold or mildew, call a professional for removal or prevention measures.

Reply
Hay Fever Treatment link
4/26/2022 04:46:26 am

This is the best survival guide on spring allergies like hay fever. This guide helped me a lot to get complete knowledge about hay fever and effective solutions to it. Thanks for your support.

Reply
William James link
5/20/2022 04:56:01 am

Nice Article Thanks for sharing

Reply
Victoria Addington link
7/11/2022 04:04:04 am

It's good to know that allergy testing allows you to determine what environmental allergens your kid is allergic to. I think my child is allergic to flowers. I better let him take the allergy testing to ensure what causing his allergy.

Reply
Eli Richardson link
12/5/2022 02:17:47 pm

I visited my sister's house a few days ago, and her son had some sort of allergy, but my sister is not sure about what's causing it. I'm glad you talked about identifying allergy symptoms to prevent a major reaction, so I'll email this to my sister right away. I appreciate your insight on paying attention to what your child eats and his or her body's reaction after it.

Reply



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