When to Suspect an Allergy

Some allergies are easy to identify by the pattern of symptoms that invariably follows exposure to a particular substance. But others are more subtle, and may masquerade as other conditions. Here are some common clues that could lead you to suspect your child may have an allergy:

• Patches of bumps or itchy, red skin that "weeps" or oozes clear fluid, and forms a crust.
• Development of hives, intensely itchy skin eruptions that usually last for a few hours and move from one part of the body to another.
• Repeated or chronic coldlike symptoms — that last more than a week or two, or develop at about the same time every year. These could include a runny nose, nasal stuffiness, sneezing and throat clearing.
• Nose rubbing, sniffling, snorting, sneezing and itchy, runny eyes.
• Itching or tingling sensations in the mouth and throat. Itchiness is not usually a complaint with a cold, but it is the hallmark of an allergy problem.
• Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and other respiratory symptoms.
• Unexplained bouts of diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and other intestinal symptoms.

How to Manage Hay Fever

Many children are allergic to pollens and molds, both of which are found everywhere outdoors and cannot be completely avoided.

• Exposure to plant allergens can be minimized by keeping your child indoors on days with high pollen and/or mold counts. It's helpful to use air conditioners, where possible, to reduce exposure to pollen in both your home and your car.
• Dust mites congregate where food for them is plentiful. They are especially numerous in upholstered furniture, bedding and rugs. Choose blankets and pillows made of synthetic materials. Padded furnishings such as mattresses, box springs, pillows and cushions should be encased in allergen-proof, zip-up covers which are available through catalogs and specialized retailers. Wash linens weekly, and other bedding such as blankets, every 2 to 3 weeks in hot water, then put them through the hottest cycle of a clothes dryer. Pillows should be replaced every two to three years.

Common Allergens on the Home Front

• Dust (contains dust mites and finely ground particles from other allergens such as pollen, mold and animal dander)
• Pollen (trees, grasses, weeds)
• Fungi (including molds too small to be seen with the naked eye)
• Furry animals (cats, dogs, guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits, and other pets)
• Clothing and toys made, trimmed, or stuffed with animal hair
• Latex (household articles such as rubber gloves, toys, balloons, elastic in socks, underwear, and other clothing, airborne particles)
• Seed dusts (beanbag toys and cushions)
• Bacterial enzymes (used to manufacture enzyme bleaches and cleaning products)
• Foods such as cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat and gluten, and corn
• Airborne dust from grain elevators, barns and haylofts (in rural areas)

Medications to Suppress Symptoms

Your child's allergy treatment should start with your pediatrician, who may refer you to a pediatric allergy specialist for additional evaluations and treatments.

• Antihistamines — Dampen the allergic reaction.
• Decongestants — Cover the range of symptoms.
• Corticosteroids — Highly effective for allergy treatment and are widely used to stop symptoms.
• Allergy Immunotherapy — Immunotherapy, or allergy shots, may be recommended to reduce your child's sensitivity to airborne allergens. Not every allergy problem can or needs to be treated with allergy shots, but treatment of respiratory allergies to pollen, dust mites, and outdoor molds is often successful.

Common Triggers of Asthma

• Allergies — Molds Pollen Dust Mites Cockroaches Animals (especially cats and dogs)
• Tobacco Smoke
• Infections — Viral respiratory infections, including colds Sinus Infections
• Outdoor Air Pollution
• Indoor Air Pollution
• Aerosol sprays
• Cooking Fumes
• Odors
• Smoke (wood fires, wood-burning stoves)

Managing Eczema

• Food allergies play also play a role in about 25 percent of cases of eczema in young children.
• Antihistamine medication may be prescribed to relieve the itching, and help break the itch-scratch cycle.
• Long-sleeved sleepwear may also help prevent nighttime scratching.
• As long as steroid creams are used sparingly, at the lowest strength that does the job, steroid creams are very safe and effective.
• A cortisone medication may be prescribed to reduce inflammation.
• Soaps containing perfumes and deodorants may be too harsh for children's sensitive skin. Use laundry products that are free of dyes and perfumes and double-rinse clothes, towels and bedding.
• Warm (never hot) showers may be preferable to baths. Gently pat your child dry after the shower or bath to avoid irritating the skin with rubbing.
• Launder new clothes thoroughly before your child wears them.