How  do you know your child has allergies ?

Here are some signs that may indicate that your child has allergies.

• Environmental allergies or hay fever : Symptoms may include the following :
  • chronic cold-like symptoms that lasts more than a week or two or develop around the same time every year
  • itchy runny nose
  • nasal stuffiness
  • throat clearing
  • itchy, watery eyes
• Asthma : Symptoms include the following
  • recurrent coughing
  • wheezing
  • chest tightness
  • difficulty breathing
  • other respiratory symptoms
  • Coughing may be an isolated symptom. Symptoms may also get worse at night or with exercise
• Eczema : Look out for the following signs
  • recurrent red, dry, sometimes scaly rashes in the creases of the elbow and /or the knees, back of the neck, buttocks, ankles and wrists
• Food allergy : Symptoms may occur immediately after eating a particular food. This may include :
  • hives
  • swelling of face or extremities
  • coughing, gagging or wheezing
  • vomiting
  • abdominal pain
• Oral allergy syndrome : You may have this if you have tingling or itching sensation in the mouth, throat or ears during certain times of the year or after eating certain foods especially fresh raw fruits.

Common allergens found in and around the home

• dust mites
• furred animals such as dogs,  cats and rabbits
• pests such as cockroaches , mice and rats
• pollen from trees, grasses  and weeds
• molds and fungi including molds too small to be seen with he naked eye
• foods such as cow’s milk, hen’s egg, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish

How to manage nasal allergy symptoms

• Nasal allergy symptoms  can be caused by a variety of environmental allergies such as indoor allergies ( dust mites, pests and pets) and outdoor allergies such as pollen. Indoor and outdoor molds can also  cause these symptoms .
• You should do allergy testing to find out if the child is allergic to environmental allergens
• If your child is allergic to pets, it is not recommended to have pets at home. If you have pets at home that your child is allergic to, you have to find the pet a new home
• Dust mites accumulate where moisture  is retained and where human skin scales is plentiful. To prevent them, you have to  wash linens and other beddings  such as blankets every couple of weeks in hot water.
• If your child is allergic to outdoor allergies , it may help to  use air conditioning whenever  possible. It can also help when you shower or bath at the end of the day to remove allergens from body surfaces and hair. If you have grass pollen allergy, you need to stay indoors when the grass is being mowed. You should  also avoid playing in the fields of tall grass  during grass pollen season. If your child is allergic to molds, they should avoid playing in a pile of dead leaves  in the fall

Medications used to control symptoms

Some medications that can be used to curb your symptoms include the following :

• • Antihistamines : This is taken by mouth for symptoms such as
    • itchy watery eyes
    • runny nose
    • sneezing
    • itchy skin
    • hives
  • Nasal corticosteroids :  This is highly effective for allergy symptom control and widely used to stop chronic symptoms. It must be used daily for maximum effectiveness
  • Allergy immunotherapy  or allergy shot :  This will be recommended to reduce your child’s allergy symptoms. They are only prescribed for patients with confirmed allergies. This is done if there is no way to prevent allergies and if medications haven’t worked. Using it for respiratory allergies ,  pollens, dust mites, cat and dog dander, and molds can help decrease the need for daily medication.

How to manage eczema

• you need to apply moisturizers frequently ( at least twice daily)
• Steroid creams are very effective. They are safe when used appropriately
• Oral antihistamines may be recommended to relieve the itching and help break the itchy scratch cycle
• Dont use soap containing perfumes and deodorants for children’s sensitive skin. They can be too harsh for them
• Wearing long sleeved sleepwear can help prevent nighttime scratching
• Wash new clothes thoroughly before you let your child wear them. Avoid fabric softners
• Use laundry soaps that are free of dyes and perfumes and double rinse clothes, towels and beddings
• Soaking in lukewarm baths  10 to 20 minutes are good ways to treat the dry skin of eczema. Gently pat your child’s skin dry after washing to avoid irritating the skin with rubbing. Apply moisturizer right away while the skin is still dry.