Is My Child Allergic?

Almost anything can cause an allergic reaction and allergies can arise at any time. The natural tendency for childhood allergies is for an allergy to build up for a few years, to level out and then to drop off around the ages of 10 to 15 years.

Common Allergies in children ~

The most common allergies in childhood are asthma, eczema and hay fever. Asthma can be triggered by a number of allergens including pollen, house dust, animal hair and pollution. Attacks of asthma can vary in severity ranging from slight breathlessness to wheezing and respiratory problems. Asthma tends to start in childhood and has been found sometimes to improve in adulthood.

Atopic eczema occurs in families where there is an inherited tendency towards allergy. A child who develops eczema may be related to someone who suffers from hayfever or asthma. Eczema, which is an extremely itchy rash on the face, inner elbow or inner knees is most common in babies and can clear up as they grow older although this is not necessarily always the case.

Like eczema, prickly heat can cause an itchy rash resembling tiny, red blisters and this can be mistaken for an allergic reaction. Prickly heat is a disorder of the sweat glands and the condition will settle quite quickly when the skin is cooled down, or with traditional remedies such as applying eau-de-Cologne which imitates natural perspiration. Calamine lotion too is an effective soothing lotion.

How to recognise signs of an allergy in children ~

Allergic reactions vary from person to person. Even children within the same family can display different symptoms depending on the allergen. Some reactions can be instant which makes it easier to recognise the cause, others can develop slowly.

An allergy to dogs, horses or other animals for instance can show itself through a skin rash, itchiness, a runny nose, swollen eyes or sneezing. If these symptoms ease when the child is not in contact with the trigger but show themselves whenever the child visits a certain home with a dog or cat, a farm or goes horse-riding, it is highly likely he or she is allergic to certain animals.

Other symptoms can be very similar to the common cold but if you notice your child has a lingering cough, a constant sore throat or complains of headaches or what seems like a sinus infection and this makes them irritable, interfering with their sleep, there is a chance that these are symptoms of an allergy.

Asthma for instance is an allergy that can sometimes be mistaken for a cold as the symptoms can often be coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. A child is more likely to develop asthma if someone in the family has allergies or also suffers from asthma.

Food allergies can be confused with an intolerance to certain foods. Food intolerances can show themselves through diarrhoea, vomiting and skin rashes. It usually occurs because of a deficiency of the enzyme lactase and because it does not involve the immune system, it is not really an allergy.

Signs and symptoms of a food allergy in children include:

Eczema which is a common symptom of milk, egg, fish and wheat allergy, swollen lips, stomach pains and nausea and anaphylaxis which is a whole body allergic reaction. This can cause breathing difficulties due to swelling of the airways and a rapid drop in blood pressure. This allergic reaction is the least common but will require immediate medical treatment.

Nausea, constipation and diarrhoea can be symptoms of a food allergy (but also signs of food intolerance)

Children displaying allergic symptoms may also have dark rings under their eyes or a sore nose from constantly rubbing this area. Even on realising a child has an allergy it isn't always easy to work out the exact trigger. Guard against assuming, for instance, that a child with a runny nose and watery eyes has hay fever when there might be a chance they are allergic to a pet in the family, or a friend's pets. Professional advice should be sought for any child who you suspect is suffering from an allergy.