people have allergies, according to the American College of Allergy,
Asthma, and Immunology. These allergies usually show up in infancy or
childhood. Allergies can get in the way of your child’s ability to sleep well,
play normally, and function in school. Here’s what to look out for and when,
and how to determine if your child’s symptoms may signal an allergy.
Growing Prevalence
The prevalence of skin and food allergies jumped between
1997 and 2011 in children, the
CDC says. The rate
of respiratory allergies, the most common type among children, remained stable
during this period. You may see skin symptoms in your little ones, and your
older children may tend to hack and wheeze. The CDC data shows varying prevalence
by age, with younger children more likely to have skin allergies, and
respiratory allergies more prevalent among older children.
What Happens
In an allergic reaction, an overly sensitive immune system
kicks in to defend against what is considered a normal substance, acting as if
it’s fighting off a foreign invader. The culprit can be food, pet dander, or
pollen from grasses or trees. The allergen, or offending substance, may trigger
a host of reactions. Keep a watchful eye on your child for these signs and
symptoms.
The Basic Signs
If you
suspect that your child has allergies, watch to see if runny, itchy, red, or
swollen eyes persist beyond a week or two. The same goes for a runny nose. Is
it chronic? Does your child say that their mouth or throat itches or tingles? Do
they scratch their ears? The
American Academy of
Pediatrics notes that these may be allergy symptoms,
possibly of hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, the most common form of allergy
among children. Note the timing, too. Do these symptoms appear at the same time
of year each year?
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 signal an allergy. These red welts on the skin can range in
size from tiny (the size of a pen tip) to very large (as big as a dinner plate)
according to the
American
Academy of Dermatology.
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 pediatrician. A dry, hacking cough
with clear mucus is another sign of allergies.
Observe your child at play carefully. If they seem to tire easily or
more quickly than other children, this may signal that allergies are involved.
Tummy Problems and Other Signs of Allergies
Allergies can set off intestinal symptoms in children. If
your child often complains of stomach cramps or has repeated attacks of
diarrhea, this may be an allergy clue. Other signs of allergies in children can
include headache or excessive fatigue. Allergies can also affect your child’s
behavior, producing unusually crabby or restless moods. Consider keeping a symptom
log to share with your pediatrician. Note the symptom and what happened right
before onset (pet exposure, foods eaten, etc.).
The Allergy Gang of Eight
According to the Mayo Clinic, these eight foods contribute
to
90 percent
of food allergies:
- milk
- eggs
- peanuts
- almonds, cashews, walnuts, and other tree nuts
- fish (bass, cod, flounder)
- shellfish (crab, lobster, shrimp)
- soy
- wheat
In addition, some children can’t tolerate citrus fruits. You may have to become a food label detective
to confirm a possible link between something your child has eaten and allergy
symptoms. The connection isn’t always obvious. Traces of peanut can lurk in cereals,
and soy can hide in flavorings or thickeners found in processed or frozen
foods.
Pet Allergies
The presence of household pets can provoke allergy symptoms
in children, including both furry friends and shorthaired animals that don’t
shed. It is not the pet itself that causes allergies—rather, it is the dander,
dead skin cells, that can cause them, as well as saliva, urine, and fur. If
your child sneezes and wheezes after playing with or holding a pet, consider
having them tested for animal allergies.
Allergy Assistance
Your pediatrician
can help you sort out whether your child’s symptoms are allergy-related,
and
can assist you in formulating a management plan. Easing skin,
respiratory, or intestinal allergy symptoms may require antihistamines
or other medication. You can teach your child strategies to avoid or
decrease exposure
to allergens that trigger the reaction. These may include passing up
certain
foods, playing outdoors when pollen counts are lowest, and washing hands
right
after touching a pet.
Recommended for You
An estimated 50
million people have allergies, according to the American College of Allergy,
Asthma, and Immunology. These allergies usually show up in infancy or
childhood. Allergies can get in the way of your child’s ability to sleep well,
play normally, and function in school. Here’s what to look out for and when,
and how to determine if your child’s symptoms may signal an allergy.
In an allergic reaction, an overly sensitive immune system
kicks in to defend against what is considered a normal substance, acting as if
it’s fighting off a foreign invader. The culprit can be food, pet dander, or
pollen from grasses or trees. The allergen, or offending substance, may trigger
a host of reactions. Keep a watchful eye on your child for these signs and
symptoms.
If you
suspect that your child has allergies, watch to see if runny, itchy, red, or
swollen eyes persist beyond a week or two. The same goes for a runny nose. Is
it chronic? Does your child say that their mouth or throat itches or tingles? Do
they scratch their ears? The American Academy of
Pediatrics notes that these may be allergy symptoms,
possibly of hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, the most common form of allergy
among children. Note the timing, too. Do these symptoms appear at the same time
of year each year? 
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 signal an allergy. These red welts on the skin can range in
size from tiny (the size of a pen tip) to very large (as big as a dinner plate)
according to the American
Academy of Dermatology. 
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 pediatrician. A dry, hacking cough
with clear mucus is another sign of allergies.
Observe your child at play carefully. If they seem to tire easily or
more quickly than other children, this may signal that allergies are involved.
Allergies can set off intestinal symptoms in children. If
your child often complains of stomach cramps or has repeated attacks of
diarrhea, this may be an allergy clue. Other signs of allergies in children can
include headache or excessive fatigue. Allergies can also affect your child’s
behavior, producing unusually crabby or restless moods. Consider keeping a symptom
log to share with your pediatrician. Note the symptom and what happened right
before onset (pet exposure, foods eaten, etc.).
The presence of household pets can provoke allergy symptoms
in children, including both furry friends and shorthaired animals that don’t
shed. It is not the pet itself that causes allergies—rather, it is the dander,
dead skin cells, that can cause them, as well as saliva, urine, and fur. If
your child sneezes and wheezes after playing with or holding a pet, consider
having them tested for animal allergies.
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