Allergies in children

What are common allergies in children?

Allergies are an overreaction of part of the body's immune system, that complex network of special cells and tissues, which normally help protect the body from foreign substances.

Allergies In people with allergies, the body's immune system misinterprets some things that are usually harmless as being foreign or potentially harmful. As a result, the immune system makes substances such as IgE antibodies and histamine, which are released into the blood stream to fight off these foreign or potentially harmful substances.

This starts an inflammatory reaction in different parts of the body, and allergy symptoms develop. Some examples of organs that can be affected by allergic reactions are the eyes, nose, skin, lungs and the digestive system.

The substances that "trigger" an allergic reaction of the immune system are known as allergens. Common examples include foods (especially milk, eggs, nuts, soy, wheat, berries, fish and shellfish), venom from certain insects (for example, wasps, bees), pollen from trees and plants (such as ragweed and grass), animal dander (from dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.), house dust mites, mold spores, certain chemicals (for example, cigarette smoke), and some medications, especially antibiotics.

Allergies are extremely common; it has been estimated that more than 50 million Americans suffer from them.

Allergies tend to run in families, and are commonly seen in people who also have an allergic skin condition called eczema or an allergic lung condition called asthma.

Treatment / What you should do If you suspect that your child may have allergies

If you suspect that your child may have allergies, you should talk with a doctor, who may be able to diagnose allergies by examining your child and reviewing his/her symptoms and medical history.

In some cases, the doctor may order some blood or skin tests on the child to make a diagnosis of allergy.

Sometimes allergists, doctors who specialize in allergies, will do these studies.

If there are signs of asthma, lung function testing might also be appropriate.

The best treatment for allergies is to avoid the thing that the child has an allergic reaction to in the first place.

Often it is not possible to avoid something completely, but you can take a number of measures to reduce the child's exposure.

When symptoms persist despite these measures, various allergy medications are available.

For example, some antihistamines block the immune system from releasing histamine into the blood, stopping allergic reactions before they start or slow them down once they have begun.

Steroids work to decrease the inflammation caused by the immune reaction. These medications can be in the form of nasal sprays, eye drops, and pills or liquids taken by mouth (oral).

Allergy shots, injecting tiny doses of an allergen, are helpful for some patients with allergies.

This results in the production of antibodies against the allergen, preventing severe allergic reactions in the future. Children who have previously had an anaphylactic or serious allergic reaction should carry a dose of epinephrine that can be injected by the child or by his/her parents in case of an allergic reaction. 

Epinephrine is a hormone that helps to open up the airways to improve breathing, improves blood pressure, and decreases the allergic reaction. Whenever this medication is used, the child should be taken to an Emergency Department immediately.