Pediatric Allergies

Pediatric Allergies

By Jonas Wilson, Ing. Med.

Allergies may be suspected in children who develop frequent rashes, or cough or sneeze often, or complain about upset tummies after consuming particular foods. Allergy or hypersensitivity, is an exaggerated immune response to a substance that would otherwise not elicit an immune reaction. Pediatric allergies occur when children are hypersensitive to harmless substances in food or the environment. In the United States, allergies are one of the most common medical ailments affecting children. Food, skin and respiratory allergies are among the most frequently reported hypersensitivity reactions.

Causes

The substance that is responsible for causing an allergy is known as an allergen. Some of
Furthermore, immune responses may range from mild to severe and life-threatening. Airborne allergens, such as animal dander and pollen, may cause allergies in the eyes, nose and throat as well as further down the respiratory tract in the bronchial passages. The eyes may be itchy, watery, red and swollen, while the nose may be runny and congested with constant sneezing. The throat may feel itchy and a hypersensitive lower respiratory tract may cause wheezing and difficulties breathing.

Food allergies cause swelling and itching of the lips and may lead to a swollen tongue as well, which is a potentially life-threatening scenario. These children may also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, gastric reflux or poor feeding. Skin hypersensitivity reactions may manifest as urticaria, eczema and angioedema, which are wheals/ hives, cracked/ broken/ weepy skin and swelling in the deeper skin layers, respectively. Many of the signs and symptoms of pediatric allergies may resemble other common childhood diseases, but allergies tend to be more dramatic and have a sudden
Allergen tests are performed on the skin by using a minute sample of the suspected allergen. Blood tests can also be taken, but are more expensive than skin tests. Treatment is fairly straightforward and that is avoiding the allergen. If it is impossible to completely avoid the substance causing the reaction, then pharmacotherapy may alleviate the symptoms. Long-acting histamines are drugs of choice in addition to others that can treat and prevent inflammation. There are also allergy vaccines that may be given over a period of months, which may be given to help strengthen the patient’s tolerance to the