An allergy is the body's response to a substance that is harmless to most
people. The body reacts to the substance. The reaction makes the person have
allergic symptoms.
Symptoms begin when a child comes into contact with something he is allergic
to.
Some common allergens are:
Dust
Pollens (from trees and grasses)
Molds
Animal fur and saliva
Chemicals (found in household products, cosmetics, and jewelry)
Some foods, plants, and medicines
Insect stings
Some allergens are common only in certain seasons while others are found
year round.
Who can get allergies?
Anyone can get allergies.
A child is more likely to have an allergy if a parent has an allergy.
If a child is allergic to one substance, he is likely to be allergic to
others.
What are the symptoms of an allergy? Reactions to allergies are different. Here are the most common allergies
and their symptoms:
Asthma: Triggered by smoke, viral infections,
dust, cold air, stress, and exercise. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing,
difficulty breathing, and tightness in the chest.
Hay Fever: Triggered by pollen. Symptoms include stuffy nose, sneezing,
watery eyes, itchy eyes and nose, and red and swelling eyes.
Food allergy: Triggered most commonly by
eggs, peanuts, milk, wheat, seafood, and tree nuts. Symptoms include vomiting,
diarrhea, difficulty breathing, cramps, and hives (red, itchy, blotchy rash).
Skin rashes and hives: Can be triggered by most allergens. Symptoms include
red, itchy patches on the skin and sometimes, a bumpy, red rash.
Are allergies contagious?
No. Allergies are not contagious.
How are allergies treated?
Allergies can't be cured but the symptoms can be treated.
Medication may help, sometimes given in the form of a shot.
Children who are allergic to a food or have severe allergies sometimes need
to carry a special shot with them (called epinephrine) that will stop a life-threatening
reaction.
To see what a child is allergic to, doctors often take skin tests and sometimes
take blood tests.
How long does an allergy last?
Most allergies last a lifetime.
Food allergies do not always last a lifetime.
Can allergies be prevented?
To prevent symptoms, a child should avoid the things he is allergic to.
It is not clear if a pregnant mother can prevent allergies in her child
by avoiding certain foods.
When should I call the doctor?
Call the doctor if you think your child is allergic to something or if your
child has cold symptoms at the same time every year. This could indicate a
seasonal allergy.
Call the doctor if you have questions or concerns about your child's health.
Quick Answers
An allergy is the body's response to a substance that is harmless to most
people. The body tries to get rid of it, making the person have allergic symptoms.
Anyone can get allergies.
Symptoms from an allergic reaction could include runny nose, itching, rash,
wheezing, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, cramps, and hives.
Allergies are not contagious.
Allergies can't be cured but the symptoms can usually be treated with medication.
Most allergies last a lifetime.
To prevent symptoms, a child should avoid the things he is allergic to.
Call the doctor if you think your child is allergic to something.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. Common Allergies. Medem. 2000 (cited 2001
November 28). URL: http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detailb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZH8LCSA7C&sub_cat=19
McGeady S MD and Rutherford K MD. All About Allergies. KidsHealth. 2001
September (cited 2001 November 28). URL: http://www.kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=107&cat_id=&article_set=21310
MedlinePlus. Allergies. 2000 (cited 2001 November 28). URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000812.htm
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