“There is hardly a symptom or condition that is not
either caused, aggravated, or accelerated by allergies.”
Dr. Jay Wilson
Your child is not alone
An estimated 50 million Americans have allergies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Allergies affect 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children. These allergies usually show up in infancy or childhood. Allergies can get in the way of your child’s ability to sleep well, play, function in school, and even their behavior. Here’s what to look out for and how to determine if your child’s symptoms may be an allergy.
Allergy Occurrence Is Skyrocketing
The prevalence of skin and food allergies in American children jumped between 1997 and 2011, says the CDC. The rate of respiratory allergies, the most common type among children, remained stable during this period. The CDC data show varying prevalence by age, with younger children more likely to have skin allergies and older children more likely to have respiratory allergies. You may see skin symptoms in your little ones, and your older children may tend to hack and wheeze.
What Happens With An Allergic Reaction
In an allergic reaction, your child’s immune system kicks in to defend against what is considered a normal substance for most kids, but isn’t for their body and considers it to be a foreign invader. The allergen, or offending substance, can be food, pet dander, or pollen from grasses or trees. It can trigger a host of reactions. Their immune system will react as if it’s fighting off a foreign invader. Remember, there is hardly a symptom or condition that is not either caused, aggravated, or accelerated by allergies.
The Basic Signs
Your child may have allergies if they have runny, itchy, red, or swollen eyes that persist for more than a week or two. The same goes for a runny nose. Are the symptoms chronic? Does your child say that their mouth or throat itches or tingles? Do they scratch their ears? Hay fever and allergic rhinitis are common forms of allergies among children. Note whether the symptoms recur at the same time of year, each year. Always keep in mind that there is hardly a symptom or condition that is not either caused, aggravated, or accelerated by allergies.
Check Skin for Allergies
The skin, the body’s largest organ and part of the immune system, will sometimes react in protest to an allergen. Check your child’s skin for eczema, which shows up as dry, red, scaly patches that itch. Watch for hives, which may also signal an allergy. These red welts on the skin can range in size. They can be as small as the tip of a pen or as large as a dinner plate.
Respiratory Symptoms
Hay fever or other allergies can affect your child’s breathing. If you hear a noisy wheeze when your child breathes or if you notice rapid breathing or shortness of breath, have your child checked by their healthcare provider. A dry, hacking cough with clear mucus is another sign of respiratory allergies. Observe your child at play. If they seem to tire easily or more quickly than other children, this may be a sign of allergies. Again, remember, there is hardly a symptom or condition that is not either caused, aggravated, or accelerated by allergies.
Tummy Problems and Other Signs of Allergies
Allergies can commonly set off intestinal symptoms in children. If your child often complains of stomach cramps or has repeated attacks of diarrhea, this is a common symptom of an allergy. Other signs of allergies in children can include headache or excessive fatigue.
Behavior Problems
Allergies can also affect your child’s behavior, producing unusually crabby or restless moods. They may have difficulty concentrating and focusing in school. They may be hyperactive, ADHD. They may express aggressive or even mean behavior with other children and be difficult to control. Consider keeping a food and symptom log to share with your healthcare provider, noting the symptom and what happened right before its onset (e.g., exposure to a pet or eating a certain food).
The 8 Major Allergens
According to the Mayo Clinic, these eight foods contribute to 90 percent of food allergies:
- milk
- eggs
- peanuts
- tree nuts, such as almonds, cashews, and walnuts
- fish, such as bass, cod, and flounder
- shellfish, such as crab, lobster, and shrimp
- soy
- wheat
In addition, some children can’t tolerate citrus fruits. The connection between an allergic reaction and an allergen isn’t always obvious, so you may have to do some investigating to find the link. This is where the food and symptom log can be helpful. Traces of peanut can lurk in cereals, and soy can hide in flavorings or thickeners found in processed or frozen foods. I frequently tell patients that good allergy work means good detective work. This is why a food and symptom journal or log can be a very helpful thing.
Pet Allergies
The presence of household pets, even shorthaired animals that don’t shed, can provoke allergy symptoms in children. It’s not the pet itself that causes allergies, but its dander (dead skin cells), saliva, urine, and fur. If your child sneezes and wheezes after playing with or holding a pet, consider having them tested for animal allergies. If there are family pets in the household I always have the patient bring in a hair and saliva sample from their pet that I can then use for testing and treating to eliminate the reaction.
Allergy Assistance
You can teach your child strategies to avoid or decrease allergic reactions, including passing up certain foods, playing outdoors when pollen counts are low, and washing hands right after touching a pet. Your healthcare provider can help you sort out whether your child’s symptoms are allergy related and can assist you in formulating a treatment and management plan.
If you think your child may have an allergy problem, or if you want him/her tested for allergies, or they have a difficult, unresolved health problem, call now for an appointment (612) 866-7575. There is never a charge for the initial consultation.
Easing or eliminating skin, respiratory, intestinal, or behavior symptoms can usually be eliminated with an Allergy Elimination Program at Allergy Elimination Center of MN (www.AllergyElimination.org).
“There is hardly a symptom or condition that is not either caused,
aggravated or accelerated by allergies.”
Dr. Jay Wilson