Allergies in Children
More than 40 million people in the United States experience some form of allergies, most people incur an allergy for the first time in infancy or during childhood. In fact, it is allergies that rank first among the most common types of childhood diseases.
What is an Allergy?
An allergy is an overreaction of the body's immune system to a substance that can be harmless to others. For a child suffering from an allergy, the immune system treats the allergen as a foreign invader and reacts in an inappropriate manner, resulting in a wide range of symptoms.
In a reaction designed to protect the body, the immune system produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies cause allergy cells in the body to release chemicals called histamines into the bloodstream, to defend against the allergenic substance.
It is the release of the histamines that cause a body to experience reactions such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, irritation of the lungs and hives (bumps on the skin). Sometimes an allergic response can also affect the gastrointestinal tract as well. If a child experiences future exposure to the offending substance, an allergic reaction will occur.
Who Can Get an Allergy?
The propensity to develop allergies is oftentimes hereditary, which means it is passed down to a child through genetics. However, this does not mean that everyone who has a family history of allergies will develop them.
Food Allergies in Children
In adults, the most common type of food that causes an allergic response is shellfish such as shrimp, crabs, lobster, crayfish and clams. However, allergy patterns in children are much different. The most common foods that cause allergies in children are peanuts, eggs, milk, soy, citrus foods, nut butters and wheat.
For those people who experience an allergy in adulthood most likely will always have that particular allergy, however, children can sometimes outgrow a food allergy.
Environmental/Airborne Allergies in Children
Anytime a child goes outside or into a different environment, the chance for an allergy developing increases. Some common causes of environmental allergies include the following:
- Dust Mites: Reducing the dust in the home can be helpful to the allergy sufferer. At school, children with a dust allergy should sit away from the blackboard in order to avoid chalk dust floating in the air. Washing the sheets and blankets a child sleeps on and regularly vacuuming of the furniture will help alleviate some of the symptoms of a dust mite allergy.
- Household or School Pets: Animals in the home or school can cause a child to suffer from an allergic response. If the child suffers from allergies to an animal in the home or at school, taking an antihistamine medication can help alleviate the symptoms experienced.
- Exercise Induced Asthma: A child who participates in sports can experience exercise induced asthma. A solution would be to check with a physician to make sure the child can physically handle the exercise and activities and make sure the child has access to a rescue inhaler at all times during periods of strenuous activities.
- Mold Allergies: Controlling the environmental humidity is imperative to reducing mold in the air.
- Smoke/Chemical Allergies: Do not smoke in the home. Do not burn wood in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Avoid strong odors from paint, perfumes, chemical cleaners, air fresheners and glues.
With frequent vacuuming, regular dusting, not smoking in the home and using a HEPA filter, a child who has an airborne allergy can experience significant relief. Controlling the environment a child is exposed to will decrease the likelihood of an allergic reaction occurring.
Overview
The first step in controlling an allergy is learning which foods or substances are causing the allergic response. Once the trigger has been discovered, it is recommended a child visit a physician to have a physical and history done. A physician will determine which medications and treatment protocol will work best and will relieve the symptoms of childhood allergies.
