Ravina Sewani

<ul><li>Pollen, a fine yellow powder discharged from flowers that spreads through winds, birds, insects, is one of the most common environment-based allergens.</li><li>Pollination is mostly seasonal hence the allergy reactions to pollen are higher in the season of pollination.</li><li>The water-soluble proteins in the pollen can trigger the immune system resulting in an allergic reaction when it comes into contact via mucus membrane.</li><li>Allergic reactions to pollen include runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, itchy nose/eyes/ ears/mouth, and can worsen asthma symptoms.</li><li>Your child's paediatrician will diagnose the pollen allergy by examining the symptoms, medical and family history and suggest skin prick test or blood test if necessary.</li><li>The best way to prevent pollen allergies is to avoid exposure to pollen by limiting outdoor activities during pollen season and taking preventive medications like antihistamine (prescribed by your child’s paediatrician) for symptomatic relief.</li><li>Your doctor may recommend steroids for severe reactions or immunotherapy for chronic symptoms.</li><li>It is not always possible to avoid air-borne allergens entirely but certain preventive measures will help you keep your little one safe.</li><li>Airborne allergens like pollen can either trigger immediate reactions like Hay Fever (allergic rhinitis), Oral Allergy Syndrome, Allergic Asthma or delayed reaction like Eczema.</li></ul> Symptoms:<ul><li>Itching</li><li>Rashes</li><li>Vomiting</li><li>Diarrhoea</li><li>Swelling of the lips or tongue or face</li><li>Throat constriction</li><li>Difficulty in breathing</li><li>Allergies may sometimes also cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis which constricts the airway passage and requires immediate medical attention.</li><li>The symptoms of pollen allergy are similar to common cold like shortness of breath, wheezing, runny nose, sneezing, itching, fatigue, etc., but the trigger is different in both. While allergies are an immune system response to an allergen, cold is caused by a virus.</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>Always get your child diagnosed by a healthcare expert and never on your own. Never self-assume that your child has peanut allergy. Commercial home test kits for self-diagnosis are not recommended as they may not be of the required standards.</li><li>Your child’s paediatrician may recommend that your child undertake tests like skin prick test, blood test or food/drug challenge. It is important that these tests are performed under medical supervision as these tests might trigger an allergic reaction. Along with these tests, your child’s paediatrician will also examine your child's medical/family history, existing conditions like asthma and eczema.</li></ul>

Pollen allergy is seasonal and so precautionary measures will help a lot.

Pollen allergy

If your child develops a swelling or a rash or any other allergic symptom due to medications, then it could possibly be an allergic reaction to the drug.A “true drug allergy” and “drug side effects” are both different. Side effects are usually mentioned on the packaging or on the label of the drug.A drug allergy is an immune response to a drug induced by its components which the body perceives as a threat and triggers an allergic reaction. Mild drug allergy symptoms are:<ul><li>Hives</li><li>Rash</li><li>Itchy skin</li></ul> Severe drug allergy warning signs can include:<ul><li>Swollen face</li><li>Throat tightness</li><li>Trouble breathing</li><li>Light-headed</li><li>Blisters</li><li>Reddened skin</li><li>Whole-body shock with life-threatening low blood pressure</li></ul> Side effects of drug are usually:<ul><li>Nausea</li><li>Lack of energy</li><li>Muscle aches</li><li>Hard to sleep</li><li>Coughing</li><li>Headache</li><li>Stuffy nose</li><li>Stomach cramps</li><li>Diarrhoea</li><li>Constipation</li><li>Ringing in the ears</li><li>Easy bruising</li></ul> <ul><li>Your child can develop a drug allergy even without a history of any other allergy.</li><li>It is also possible that your child may develop an allergy to a drug to which (s)he was not allergic before.</li><li>Your child’s paediatrician will diagnose your child's allergy to a drug through clinical diagnosis and allergy tests like SPT (for penicillin) or a Drug Challenge (similar to an Oral Food Challenge) under medical supervision.</li><li>For mild reactions to drug(s), your child may be given an antihistamine or a topical cream prescribed by your child’s paediatrician.</li><li>Severe reactions to a drug could be life-threatening. If you suspect a drug allergy in your child, discontinue it until further advice and seek immediate medical attention.</li><li>Make a note of the drugs your child may be allergic to and keep it handy each time you visit a doctor in the future.</li><li>If the drug your child is allergic to is essential for the child, then your child’s paediatrician may perform a rapid 'drug desensitisation' under medical supervision.</li><li>Vaccine-related drug allergy is rare and largely due to certain components in the vaccine. Alternatives will be recommended by your child’s paediatrician if your child is allergic to a component.</li></ul>

Drug allergies are not very common but it is important to stay aware.

Drug allergy

Practically, a child can be allergic towards any fruit but the most common are apples, pears, cherries, peaches, melons, plums, kiwis. Causes: Proteins present in the fruit that the child is allergic to. Symptoms: Symptoms usually show up minutes after a child has been exposed to a fruit that (s)he is allergic to. Sometimes, the symptoms might show up after a few hours.The symptoms include:<ul><li>Nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing or dry cough</li><li>Eczema (a dry, itchy rash) or hives (reddish, swollen, itchy areas on the skin)</li><li>Redness of the skin around the mouth or eyes</li><li>Itchy mouth, ear canal or lip swelling, odd taste in the mouth</li><li>Nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea or stomach pain</li><li>Drop in blood pressure</li><li>Severe reactions include loss of consciousness, chest pain, turning pale, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, or anaphylaxis</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>The first thing is to not self-diagnose. Always rely on a healthcare expert's diagnosis.</li><li>A healthcare expert will examine your child's symptoms, his/her health history, and conduct other tests if required, to confirm whether your child has an allergy towards particular foods or not.</li><li>The doctor might get a blood test or a skin prick test done for your child.</li></ul> Foods to avoid:<ul><li>Fresh fruit to which the child is allergic.</li><li>Fresh fruit juice.</li><li>Desserts or food dishes which contain the fruit to which your child is allergic.</li><li>Fruit flavoured packed foods.</li></ul> Treating allergies:<ul><li>The best way to prevent allergies of any sort in children is to avoid the source of the allergen.</li><li>In allergies, paediatricians usually prescribe antihistamine medicines for mild allergic reactions. Whereas for severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis, your child’s paediatrician will prescribe an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI).</li></ul> Precautions:<ul><li>Develop a habit of reading the food labels for ingredients and allergy information.</li><li>Teach your child to mention about the allergy whenever (s)he goes to visit someone.</li><li>Inform your child’s school about your child’s allergy. You can also give the medicines prescribed by your child’s doctor to the school which they can use in case of sudden allergic reactions.</li><li>Be careful about the possibility of cross-contact; especially when visiting a restaurant.</li><li>Always keep the allergy medication handy for your child.</li></ul>

Not every child will have an allergy towards the same fruit. Every child's immune system reacts differently towards different fruits. The allergic reaction, however, is more or less the same towards any kind of fruit.

Fruit allergies

<ul><li>Dust mites are very small bugs which live in humid environments and feed on scales shed by human skin. Dust mites need around 80% humidity and so as soon as the humidity falls, they die.</li><li>A protein present in the wastes of dust mites is usually found in the beds, carpets, furniture and when your child inhales such air, an allergic reaction is triggered.</li><li>Dust mites are the most common culprits behind your child's asthma. So it is very important to clean the furniture in the house properly at regular intervals.</li><li>The growth of dust mites can be prevented by dust-proofing your house using vacuum cleaner and washing pillows and mattresses in hot water time to time.</li><li>The growth of dust mites and hence the allergic reactions can be reduced by installing dehumidifiers to reduce the percentage of humidity indoors. You can also use HEPA filters in the air purifiers of your house.</li><li>Avoid carpeting in your house if your child is allergic to dust mites.</li></ul> Symptoms:<ul><li>Itching</li><li>Rashes</li><li>Vomiting</li><li>Diarrhoea</li><li>Swelling of the lips or tongue or face</li><li>Throat constriction</li><li>Difficulty in breathing</li><li>Allergies may sometimes also cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis which constricts the airway passage and requires immediate medical attention.</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>Always get your child diagnosed by a healthcare expert and never on your own. Never self-assume that your child has peanut allergy. Commercial home test kits for self-diagnosis are not recommended as they may not be of the required standards.</li><li>Your child’s paediatrician may recommend that your child undertake tests like skin prick test, blood test or food/drug challenge. It is important that these tests are performed under medical supervision as these tests might trigger an allergic reaction. Along with these tests, your child’s paediatrician will also examine your child's medical/family history, existing conditions like asthma and eczema.</li></ul>

Allergy to dust mites is usually caused by the carpets used in the house. The best way to make your baby safe is to keep your surroundings clean.

Dust mites allergy

Wool is a clothing material containing natural oil called lanolin, which is the cause of many children's wool allergies. Children who are allergic to lanolin will show allergic reactions to other products containing lanolin. Symptoms:<ul><li>Skin Irritation - rashes and hives</li><li>Eye irritation - redness, itching and puffiness of the eyes</li><li>Nasal Problems - runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion</li><li>Narrowed airways</li><li>Trouble in breathing</li><li>Drop in blood pressure</li><li>Asthma</li><li>Ear and lung infections</li><li>Anaphylaxis (in more severe cases)</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>Wool allergies are sometimes misunderstood with wool sensitivity. To know whether your child is allergic to wool or just sensitive, you can try to make him/her wear a layer of clothing between their skin and the wool clothing. If your child does not experience any allergic symptoms, it's clear that your child is only sensitive towards wool. Your child can use wool products as long as they don’t come into contact with their skin.</li><li>Wool allergy is confirmed when your child develops an allergic reaction even if the wool didn't come in direct contact with your child’s skin. To confirm the allergy, you need to take your child to a doctor who will ask for your child’s medical and health history, your family’s medical history, and perform either a skin-prick or blood test.</li></ul> Wool Allergy Sources:<ul><li>Wool clothing - sweaters, scarves, bonnets, socks and gloves</li><li>Wool wax</li><li>Cosmetic products and personal products with lanolin</li></ul> Treatment:There's no permanent cure for wool allergy. Your child can, however, be given antihistamines and allergy shots to subdue the symptoms of the allergy. Guidelines to soothe your child’s skin after an allergic reaction:<ul><li>Keep the skin clean and moisturised with a gentle, fragrance-free lotion</li><li>Let the skin be exposed to air as much as possible</li><li>Avoid hot baths or showers, which may further irritate the skin</li><li>Try to stop scratching, which can make the rash worse</li><li>As a precautionary measure, avoid using woollen clothes or products containing lanolin for your baby.</li></ul>

Wool allergies are quite common but are often confused with wool sensitivity hence it is important to get a proper diagnosis done by an allergist.

Wool allergies

Nut allergy is usually caused by peanuts. Peanuts grow underground. Peanut allergy can sometimes trigger life-threatening reactions. The proteins found in nuts are considered dangerous by the body and in response the body triggers an immune reaction against those proteins. Peanut allergies generally stay on for life but in very rare cases, children may outgrow these allergies. Peanut allergies are severe hence even trace amounts of peanut could trigger an immune reaction posing a threat to your child.Nut allergies are also very rarely caused by tree nuts grown above ground. Common tree nuts are Almonds, Brazil nuts, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Macadamia nuts, Pecans, Pine nuts, Pistachio, Walnuts, etc. If your child has a nut allergy, it is advisable to consult your child’s paediatrician before giving him/her coconut based foods. This is because coconut belongs to tree nuts family. Symptoms:<ul><li>Nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing or dry cough</li><li>Eczema (a dry, itchy rash) or hives (reddish, swollen, itchy areas on the skin)</li><li>Redness of the skin around the mouth or eyes</li><li>Itchy mouth, ear canal or lip swelling, odd taste in the mouth</li><li>Nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea or stomach pain</li><li>Severe reactions include loss of consciousness, chest pain, turning pale, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, or anaphylaxis.</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>Always get the diagnosis done by an expert. The doctor may recommend that your child undertake tests like skin prick test, blood test or food challenge. It is important that these tests are performed under medical supervision as these tests might trigger an allergic reaction.</li><li>Your child may develop allergies if there is a history of allergies in your family.</li></ul> Precautions:<ul><li>Always keep a habit of reading the food labels for the ingredients.</li><li>It is advisable to avoid all kinds of nuts if your child has developed allergy to one of the nuts. This is because there are risks of cross-contact and even trace amount of the nut your child is allergic to can lead to severe allergic reactions. Consult your child’s paediatrician for the same.</li><li>Inform your child's school or caretakers of the nut allergy so that they have an emergency response kit or you can provide the emergency kit to the school.</li><li>Keep an anti-allergic medicine prescribed by your child’s paediatrician handy in case of mild triggers.</li></ul> Foods to avoid:<ul><li>Cross-contact is common in the case of nut allergy so always be careful of the foods your child consumes.</li><li>Be careful of the following foods as nuts could be a hidden ingredient in them:</li><li>Cereals, breakfast bars, snacks like crackers, cookies, cakes, pastries, energy or protein bars, pancakes, egg rolls</li><li>Beverages like flavoured hot chocolate, flavoured coffee</li><li>Desserts like ice creams, frozen yogurts, chocolates, candy, fudge</li><li>Cheese, butter or oil from tree nuts or other nuts</li><li>Even personal hygiene products like shampoos, lotions, perfumes, and soaps may contain extracts from nuts</li><li>Pet food, bird seeds, compost used as fertiliser may contain peanut shells</li></ul>

Nut allergies can be of two types: tree nut allergies or underground nut allergies.

Nut allergy

<ul><li>Allergic Rhinitis is a type of inflammation in the nose following an exposure to the pollen or inhalation of indoor allergens like mould, pet dander, dust mites, dried skin flakes, or smoke.</li><li>As a preventive measure, you may reduce your child's exposure to the outdoor allergens and provide a clean environment free from indoor allergens.</li><li>The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are similar to common cold like runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, nose/eye itching, and teary eyes.</li><li>Allergic Rhinitis can develop in children as early as 18 months.</li><li>In the case of Allergic Rhinitis, your child’s doctor can prescribe either antihistamines or decongestants.</li></ul>

Allergic rhinitis is a severe allergic reaction against allergens.

Allergic Rhinitis

Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) or Pollen-Fruit Syndrome (PFS) is a type of contact allergy resulting in a local reaction in the mouth or throat following ingestion of certain foods (raw veggies and fruits).This is commonly seen in children who are highly sensitive to pollen due to the cross-reactivity between the allergy-causing pollen proteins and proteins present in certain foods or vice versa. Symptoms:<ul><li>Symptoms of an OAS are common during the pollen season.</li><li>If a child allergic to pollen develops an allergic reaction in the pollen season against a specific fruit or vegetable, it is not a 'true food allergy' but cross-reactivity.</li><li>True Food Allergy is an allergy to the proteins present in the food and is diagnosed by healthcare professionals based on the symptoms, history, and tests if required.</li><li>OAS is diagnosed by evaluating clinical history, followed by a skin prick test containing extracts of pollen and the specific food if required.</li><li>Symptoms of an OAS are immediate within a few minutes, with a rapid onset of itching or swelling of mouth, throat, tongue or face. These symptoms usually disappear in a few minutes as well. The reactions of OAS are usually mild and can be treated by giving your child antihistamine medication prescribed by your doctor.</li></ul>

Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) is a local allergic reaction in mouth and throat.

Oral Allergy Syndrome

Some children may develop allergic reactions against the chemicals present in the household products like carpet flooring, paints, cleaning chemicals. Symptoms:<ul><li>Itching</li><li>Rashes</li><li>Vomiting</li><li>Diarrhoea</li><li>Swelling of the lips or tongue or face</li><li>Throat constriction</li><li>Difficulty in breathing</li><li>Allergies may sometimes also cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis which constricts the airway passage and requires immediate medical attention.</li></ul> Diagnosis:<ul><li>Always get your child diagnosed by a healthcare expert and never on your own. Never self-assume that your child has peanut allergy. Commercial home test kits for self-diagnosis are not recommended as they may not be of the required standards.</li><li>Your child’s paediatrician may recommend that your child undertake tests like skin prick test, blood test or food/drug challenge. It is important that these tests are performed under medical supervision as these tests might trigger an allergic reaction. Along with these tests, your child’s paediatrician will also examine your child's medical/family history, existing conditions like asthma and eczema.</li></ul> Treating allergies:<ul><li>The best way to prevent allergies of any sort in children is to avoid the source of the allergen.</li><li>In allergies, paediatricians usually prescribe antihistamine medicines for mild allergic reactions. Whereas for severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis, your child’s paediatrician will prescribe an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI).</li></ul> The most common chemicals triggering these reactions are:<ul><li>Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs) emitted by paints, carpets</li><li>Propylene Glycol and Glycol Ethers (PGEs) in cleaning products, paints, or pesticides</li></ul> A few tips to manage allergies due to household items:<ul><li>Avoid your child's exposure to chemical products after diagnosis.</li><li>Replace chemical products with organic or natural cleaning products and avoid aerosol sprays.</li><li>If your child comes in contact with any of these allergens, wash the skin with water immediately and seek expert help from your child’s paediatrician.</li><li>Keep your indoors clean and hygienic if your child has allergies from household products.</li><li>Your doctor may recommend a calamine lotion or an antihistamine for mild reactions. Always keep it handy to treat skin inflammations arising due to chemicals in the products.</li><li>Remove the carpet flooring.</li><li>Opt for a milder paint for the house.</li></ul>

Children may sometimes develop allergy to indoor allergens as well. Hence it is important to maintain the hygiene of your house.

allergy problems health concerns

Following article(s) will help solve your concern.