Treatment / What you should do
.What are allergies?
In people with allergies, the body's immune system misinterprets some things that are usually harmless as being foreign or potentially harmful. As a result, the immune system makes substances such as IgE antibodies and histamine, which are released into the blood stream to fight off these foreign or potentially harmful substances. This starts an inflammatory reaction in different parts of the body, and allergy symptoms develop.
Some examples of organs that can be affected by allergic reactions are the eyes, nose, skin, lungs and the digestive system.
The substances that "trigger" an allergic reaction of the immune system are known as allergens.
Common examples include foods (especially milk, eggs, nuts, soy, wheat, berries, fish and shellfish), venom from certain insects (for example, wasps, bees), pollen from trees and plants (such as ragweed and grass), animal dander (from dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.), house dust mites, mold spores, certain chemicals (for example, cigarette smoke), and some medications, especially antibiotics.
Allergies are extremely common; it has been estimated that more than 50 million Americans suffer from them.
Allergies tend to run in families, and are commonly seen in people who also have an allergic skin condition called eczema or an allergic lung condition called asthma.
Symptoms and signs
An allergic reaction may affect the skin, causing a rash. Hives are a common allergic rash that we see with itchy, raised red welts.
Allergies of the digestive system may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Babies and younger children may react with fussiness, irritability or lots of crying.
Allergies affecting the nose are the most common, and are usually due to allergens that are breathed in. Nasal allergies, called hay fever or allergic rhinitis, may cause a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, red watery eyes, and cough. Young children with allergies may have symptoms of asthma, which causes rapid, shallow breathing, wheezing (a whistling exhalation), and a dry cough.
Examples of allergic reactions:
Skin reaction
Skin reaction 2
Boy with red watery eyes
Allergic face reaction
Complications
This anaphylactic reaction can be severe and happen quickly, usually involving more than one part of the body. The condition can become life threatening if treatment is not started right away.
The first symptoms are often itching and a burning or tingling feeling in the mouth, lips and throat. In addition, there may be facial swelling around the eyes, mouth and lips, which often is followed by a generalized rash in the form of hives. The mucous membranes in the mouth and throat may swell, so that the person has difficulty swallowing and breathing.
Anaphylaxis can also affect the circulation, and the child's skin can become pale, cold and sweaty. The pulse increases as blood pressure falls, and the child will be in danger of fainting.
Other symptoms of anaphylaxis are stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, and extreme tiredness (lethargy).
Treatment / What you should do
In some cases, the doctor may order some blood or skin tests on the child to make a diagnosis of allergy. Sometimes allergists, doctors who specialize in allergies, will do these studies.
Pricktest
Pricktest 2
Identifying the allergy source
If there are signs of asthma, lung function testing might also be appropriate.
The best treatment for allergies is to avoid the thing that the child has an allergic reaction to in the first place. Often it is not possible to avoid something completely, but you can take a number of measures to reduce the child's exposure (see Prevention, below).
When symptoms persist despite these measures, various allergy medications are available. For example, some antihistamines block the immune system from releasing histamine into the blood, stopping allergic reactions before they start or slow them down once they have begun.
Steroids work to decrease the inflammation caused by the immune reaction. These medications can be in the form of nasal sprays, eye drops, and pills or liquids taken by mouth (oral).
Allergy shots, injecting tiny doses of an allergen, are helpful for some patients with allergies. This results in the production of antibodies against the allergen, preventing severe allergic reactions in the future.
Children who have previously had an anaphylactic or serious allergic reaction should carry a dose of epinephrine that can be injected by the child or by his/her parents in case of an allergic reaction.
How to self-administer an epinephrine injection
Epinephrine is a hormone that helps to open up the airways to improve breathing, improves blood pressure, and decreases the allergic reaction. Whenever this medication is used, the child should be taken to an Emergency Department immediately.
Prevention
In known cases of allergy to house dust mites, wall-to-wall carpets, curtains, and stuffed animals should be avoided in the child's bedroom. Use special allergy covers for pillows and mattresses. Clear away toys and store them in a cupboard so that they do not gather dust. Clean all rooms in the house regularly.
Children with allergies to dogs or cats should not have these pets indoors. In addition, keep the child away from such animals when the child is visiting friends and family.
Be sure to tell all relatives, friends and the child's school if the child is allergic to certain foods, so that the child is not offered such foods. This is especially important when the allergic food is peanuts.
Children allergic to pollen should not sleep with bedroom windows open during the pollen season. Air conditioning can be helpful during summer allergy season. They should shower and wash their hair before bedtime to remove as much pollen as possible from their bodies.
Keep all children with known allergies away from cigarette smoke, as this can worsen the child's allergy symptoms. Do not go to public places where people are smoking around you.
