Treating Children's Allergies
A number of children every year suffer from allergies making it a fairly common pediatric condition to deal with. The challenging part about dealing with this disorder is diagnosing it as in most cases, parents would not know that their child suffers from allergies until he or she has a reaction. The danger is that the reaction could sometimes be harmful and require immediate medical attention. At Village Pediatrics, we have been working with young people suffering from allergies for a number of years. We are very aware of the most common allergens and the associate reactions that result. With our help you will be able to effectively manage your child’s condition.
What are Allergies?
Allergies occur when a child’s immune system overacts to an external agent that would normally be harmless in most people. This external agent, called the allergen, could be anything ranging from milk, to seafood, to nuts and even pollen or dustmites in the air. For some reason, the body judges the allergen as dangerous and puts out all the stops to protect against it. This is what causes allergic reactions that could be a little troublesome or quite dangerous and anywhere in between. Allergic reactions could come in the form of excessive watering of the eyes, lung or throat swelling, skin eruptions or gastrointestinal problems.
Most children who suffer from allergies experience the same reaction when they are exposed to the allergen again making it potentially a life long condition.
Causes of Allergies in Children
It is quite common to find allergies in children to be hereditary. If one or both parents suffer from a particular allergy, it is possible that the child may contract the same disorder. However this is not always the case. Many parents with allergies have all or some children who are allergy free.
There are a number of children who suffer from allergies without having any genetic link to the condition making it largely inexplicable.
Symptoms of Allergies in Children
The allergic reaction is the obvious symptom of the condition. These reactions vary depending on a number of factors like the severity of the allergy, the allergen in question and the intensity of exposure to the allergen.
The symptoms can include itchy or watery eyes, nasal congestion, runny noses, trouble breathing, throat tightness and even fainting. It can also occur in the form of rashes and eruptions all over the skin and in some cases major distortion of the face. Depending on the allergen, the symptoms can occur all year round like in the case of allergies to dust mites or could occur only during certain times of the year. Food allergies of course only occur if the child has consumed the allergen.
Treatment of Allergies in Children
While there is generally no cure for allergies, there are therapies that can reduce the sensitivity of the child to the allergen. When it comes to food allergies, the child must be educated from an early stage to avoid harmful foods and more importantly how to handle it in case he or she is exposed. For airborne allergies, the best option is to try to avoid such conditions but this might be quite a challenge.
There are a number of medications that can be prescribed along with allergy shots to improve your child’s resistance. When you consult with one of our professionals at Village Pediatrics, we can help find a treatment plan that will work best with your child.