Allergies

If your child suffers from an allergy, it can be miserable, for both you and your child, but you are not alone as 40% of children in the UK have been diagnosed with an allergy.

The most common four allergies amongst children are food allergies, eczema, asthma and hay fever.

Food Allergies A food allergy occurs when your immune system becomes confused, and a food protein triggers a reaction which then results in the chemical histamine being released.

If this happens then it usually results in hives or swelling, a more severe reaction can also occur called anaphylaxis and this can be life threatening. Food allergies can result in both immediate and delayed symptoms.

With immediate symptoms, like mild to moderate symptoms (hives, mild swelling, runny nose and itchy throat or mouth), or severe symptoms, like anaphylaxis (chest tightness, swelling of throat and tongue, drop in blood pressure and dizziness) it can be easier to identify what has caused the allergy.

If you suffer with delayed symptoms, like eczema, reflux, poor growth and constipation, then it can be quite difficult to identify what has caused the reaction. How can you identify an allergy? It can be really difficult to find out what causes an allergic reaction, particularly if it is a delayed reaction.

One way that can help and your doctor or consultant will most likely ask you to do this to, is a food diary.

Write down everything your child has and when and then track their reactions to see if you can find a correlation.

If you do think you have identified a possible trigger, then you could try restricting this from your child’s diet to see if the reaction stops.

If the symptoms continue or worsen then it is worth speaking to your doctor who may refer your child to consultant.

Eczem.

Eczema is a very common and causes dry, itchy and red skin and can be mild to severe.

It usually appears when your child is a few months old and for most, it gets better as they get older.

At present there is no cure but if you can identify the triggers then this can help reduce the symptoms.

If your child does suffer from eczema then keep their skin well moisturised throughout the day and night and try to reduce any scratching as this only makes it worse.

If your child scratches their skin throughout the night then try them with gloves or socks on their hands at bedtime or things like scratch sleeves can really help and keep their nails very short.

If you are struggling to control your child’s eczema then visit your GP who can help you manage the condition with use of steroid creams – although these should only be used very sparingly. Asthma Asthma affects 1 in 11 children in the UK and often starts in childhood.

Common triggers of asthma include pollen, pets, house dust mites, smoke, cold weather and illness.

Asthma causes breathing difficulties including wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the chest and a cough and in worse cases an asthma attack where sufferers struggle to breathe.

Asthma is diagnosed by your doctor or specialist and your child will most likely be prescribed with inhalers which can help prevent the symptoms by reducing the inflamed area of the lungs.

If your child does experience an asthma attack, then seek medical help immediately. Hay Fever Hay fever is a common allergic reaction, affecting 10-15% of children in the UK and happens during early spring and summer and is a reaction to pollen released from grass, trees and weeds.

If your child has asthma, then it is common that they will also suffer from hay fever.

Hay fever can cause runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, swelling, itchy nose and can also affect your child’s sleep and they may become irritable.

There are different forms of medication that can really help alleviate symptoms which can be purchased over the counter or be prescribed by your doctor.

Some other tips which can help your child when they suffer from hay fever are: Washing your child’s hands and face after playing outside Keeping windows shut, particular in the morning and early evening Don’t hand their clothes or bedding outside to dry and pollen can attach to the clothes and bedding Cool compress on the eyes or wearing sunglasses can help to reduce rubbing of the eyes and keeping them cool

If your child suffers from an allergy, it can be miserable, for both you and your child, but you are not alone as 40% of children in the UK