CHILD ALLERGIES

Parents and pediatricians are very particular on child allergy. Peanuts and tree nuts are among the common allergens of child allergies. Kid allergies are more likely to develop among children if their parents or siblings suffer from allergies to legumes or nuts, but even those with no family history of allergies are susceptible.

Pediatricians recommend that nursing mothers should not consume peanuts and tree nuts if the families have history on this. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology also recommends that children under the age of three not eat peanuts. Read on for a better understanding on child allergies, their causes and preventions.

Symptoms

Allergies can be notice in early months of life, it is evident as nasal congestion, cough, rash, or diarrhea following the ingestion of certain food. Allergies affect all races and have been found in all parts of the world. Allergy is the term used to describe our immunologic sensitivity to an allergen.  This sensitization may occur by inhaling airborne allergens or eating food that contains allergens. The consequence of allergens entering into our body involves the release of chemical messengers that bring about the well-known symptoms of allergy such as: sneezing, stuffy nose, watery nasal discharge, itchy eyes, tearing and red eyes, cough, palatal itch and wheezing.

Causes

Genetic factors have also been intensively researched in recent years and what has emerged is that the genetics of allergy are quite complex, involving interactions between our environment and inherited tendencies. The exact genes that account for our allergies have not been fully identified.

If your child develops allergies, the cause will have been a combination of the genes he or she inherited from you as well as their environmental exposures. As parents, if one of you has a history of allergies, then each child will have about a 40% chance of developing allergies. If both of you have allergies, the risk increases to about 80%.

In contrast to the genetic influences, the influence of environmental exposure has been well-established. The presence of pets, such as cats and dogs, in homes clearly affects whether your susceptible child will be reactive to these allergens. It is also true, however, that children can still become sensitized to allergens that have been eliminated from the home environment. Exposure to allergens, such as animal dander, is hard to avoid in school or day care and in outdoor areas as these allergens may be on the coats and clothing of children from homes with pets.

There are many possible causes of child allergy, but studies have nevertheless shown that certain measures like maintaining a pet-free home, breastfeeding, or soy formula feeding for at least six months or more, along with the late introduction of solid foods can delay the onset of allergic symptoms in susceptible children.

Preventions

      Removing carpet, encasing bedding with breathable covers, hot laundering of linens, and keeping windows closed at night and in the early morning hours can minimize your children's allergic burden and exposure. Also decreasing the prevalence of dust mites in the bedrooms of your children who are allergic to dust mites and are asthmatic can have a major improvement in their lung function and result in a reduced need for concomitant medications to treat their flare-ups.

     Avoidance of allergy triggers, which may include such irritants and odors as perfume, tobacco smoke, and colognes, will also help your allergic children. Unfortunately, since viruses, particularly rhinoviruses, are the most common stimulant of childhood asthma, and there are as yet no specific practical means available to deal with inactivating this virus or decreasing its penetration in the upper respiratory tract, we are powerless to prevent virus exposure. However, vaccination with flu vaccine and appropriate new agents, as they are released and shown to be safe for children, will be very worthwhile.

     Weather changes can be extremely provocative of asthmatic symptoms as are other seasonal factors, such as presence of pollen. Unfortunately, they are difficult to avoid.

     Scheduling outdoor playtime or exercise at non-peak pollen periods, such as afternoons or early evening,   can be effective.

     Having your child wear a mask when helping with gardening, vacuuming, or dusting can be very helpful.

      Medications

      Non-sedating antihistamines available in liquid form and rapidly dissolving tablet form can be very beneficial.

      Sodium cromolyn, which is an over the counter product, used as a nasal spray to prevent nasal allergy symptoms has also been shown to be effective.

      Inhaled nasal corticosteroids have been also shown to be quite effective in ameliorating allergic inflammation.

       A leukotriene antagonist, a new class of drugs, has been approved for the treatment of childhood asthma and is available in a chewable form. Such agents can decrease asthma symptoms and also improve the quality of life.