Ravina Sewani

Allergy to soy is developed due to the trigger of immune response against the soy proteins which the body considers as threat.Allergic reactions to soy are usually mild and the anaphylactic reaction from soy is very rare.Studies also show that many children outgrow soy allergy in later life but it is better to stay careful. 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:Get your child diagnosed by a doctor. The doctor might examine your child’s medical history as well your family history. The doctor might also suggest one of the tests - skin prick test, blood tests or an Oral Food Challenge to confirm whether your child has an allergy to soy or not. Precautions and treatments:<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 he/she goes to visit someone.</li><li>Inform your child’s school about your child’s allergy to soy. You can also give the medicines prescribed by your 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>Your child’s paediatrician might prescribe antihistamine medicines to fight against allergic reactions due to soy. Always give medications for allergy under proper guidance of the doctor.</li><li>Always keep the allergy medication handy for your child.</li></ul> Foods to avoid in case of soy allergy:<ul><li>Cold-pressed, expelled or extruded soy oil, Natto, Soy cheese, Soy milk, Soy yogurt, Soy sauce, Tofu</li><li>Some of the formula milk contains soy or soy derivatives so it is advisable to consult with your child’s paediatrician before deciding any formula milk for your child.</li><li>Some children can tolerate highly refined soy oil.</li><li>Soy is also a hidden ingredient is some of the pet foods and beauty products like soaps and moisturisers.</li></ul>

Soy, like peanut belongs to the legume family but a child who has a peanut allergy will not necessarily be allergic against soy and vice versa.

Soy allergy

Wheat allergy is an allergic reaction to foods containing wheat. Allergic reactions can be caused by eating wheat and also, in some cases, by inhaling wheat flour. Wheat is found in many foods, including some you might not suspect, such as soy sauce, ice cream and hot dogs. Wheat allergy sometimes is confused with celiac disease, but these conditions differ. Wheat allergy occurs when your body produces antibodies to proteins found in wheat. In celiac disease, a specific protein in wheat — gluten — causes a different kind of abnormal immune system reaction. Symptoms of wheat allergy:<ul><li>Swelling, itching or irritation of the mouth or throat</li><li>Hives, itchy rash or swelling of the skin</li><li>Nasal congestion</li><li>Headache</li><li>Difficulty breathing</li><li>Cramps, nausea or vomiting</li><li>Diarrhoea</li><li>Anaphylaxis</li></ul> Causes:Exposure to a wheat protein triggers the body's immune system for an allergic reaction. Your child can develop an allergy to any of the four classes of wheat proteins — albumin, globulin, gliadin and gluten. Sources of wheat proteins:<ul><li>Breads and bread crumbs</li><li>Cakes, muffins and cookies</li><li>Breakfast cereals</li><li>Pasta</li><li>Semolina</li><li>Soy sauce</li><li>Meat products, such as hot dogs</li><li>Dairy products, such as ice cream</li><li>Natural flavourings</li><li>Modified food starch</li><li>Vegetable gum</li><li>Cosmetics</li></ul> Risk factors:<ul><li>Family history: The chances of your child being allergic to wheat are higher if there is someone in the family who is allergic to wheat.</li><li>Age: Wheat allergy is most common in babies and toddlers, who have immature immune and digestive systems.</li></ul> Difference between Wheat Allergy and Celiac Disease:Wheat allergy involves an allergic response to any of the four proteins in wheat. Whereas, celiac disease is caused by gluten (a type of wheat protein). Celiac disease does not cause an immune response but rather causes a problem with the absorption of food in the intestines. Diagnosis:Symptoms of wheat allergy and celiac disease are overlapping hence an allergist can determine whether an allergy is present or not. You will be required to give your child's medical history, family's medical history combined with a skin-prick or a blood test. Prevention:<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> Treatment:<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>

Some children can develop allergic reactions towards wheat and need to be fed on a different cereal.

Wheat allergy

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

<ul><li>Pet allergy is body’s immune response against animal’s dander (dead skin in animal fur), animal’s saliva, or animal’s urine. The body perceives all of these as a threat and triggers an allergic reaction in your child.</li><li>A pet with a lot of fur or feathers on its body holds a greater chance of triggering an allergic reaction in your child.</li><li>If your child has been diagnosed of pet allergy by your child’s paediatrician, it is better to not own a pet. If your child loves animals, you can take him/her visit your friend’s or relative’s pets once in a while.</li><li>If your child is allergic to other things as well, then your child may show immediate symptoms after coming in contact with some animals.</li><li>Pet allergies are known to self-resolve after avoiding animals for some time. But if this is not the case, it is better to not own pets at all.</li><li>Pet allergens are airborne so use an air filter in your house to keep your child from contacting these allergens. Keep the carpets at the minimum in your house.</li><li>Keep your pet’s belongings and cage clean and free of fur.</li><li>Keeping pets outdoor might help a bit but does not solve the problem entirely.</li><li>Treatments include prescription of antihistamines and nasal sprays by your child’s paediatrician.</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>

Children love pets. But sometimes, the pet dander may cause allergies in children.

Pet allergy

There are majorly 2 main reasons for cold and flu. One is because of a virus and the other is due to allergy. Cold because of a virus:<ul><li>Science says that once the body faces a certain type of virus, it develops immunity towards that particular virus. For example, if a person has been infected by chickenpox virus once then there are less chances of him/her getting infected again by the same virus.</li><li>Likewise if the child is suffering from cough due to some virus then gradually his/her body develops immunity towards that virus and with time the child will stay unaffected due to that virus in future.</li><li>Till the age of 4 or 5 years, the child gets affected by different viruses and his/her body develops immunity towards those viruses. Hence the chances of viral attack decrease gradually as the child grows.</li></ul> Cold due to allergies:<ul><li>As the child grows, his/her immunity also increases. Hence the allergic flu also decreases with increasing age in most children.</li><li>Some children may have a natural tendency of developing allergies towards smoke, dust, dirt, or pollen, and then they might come down with cold.</li></ul> If the cold and cough is due to common cold virus or due to an allergy, science does not recommend giving medicines in this case. This is because the medicines contain chemicals and ultimately these chemicals will affect child's liver. Doctors prescribe medicines for common cold and cough only when a child’s routine gets disturbed like the child does not feed well, does not sleep well. Ruling out pneumonia:<ul><li>If your child is suffering from cold, the first thing that the doctor will identify is whether it is due to common cold virus, due to an allergy, or due to a more serious virus like pneumonia.</li><li>Every time a child catches cold, the doctor will first rule out whether the child has pneumonia or not. You can identify whether your child has pneumonia or not by observing following symptoms in your child:</li></ul>- breathlessness- high fever- problem in breastfeeding- problem in urination- child is tired <ul><li>If your child has any of the above symptoms, it is better to consult your child’s paediatrician immediately. If these symptoms are absent and your child is playing, sleeping well, eating well, urinating well, then give only cough syrups as prescribed by your child’s paediatrician.</li><li>Sometimes, the child develops cough which last for 8-10 weeks or even up to 3 months. This is dues to particular types of viruses and such a cough can be dealt with by giving antibiotics to children prescribed by a paediatrician.</li></ul> Symptoms:<ul><li>Watery mucus in the nose</li><li>Watery or crusty eyes</li><li>Sneezing</li><li>Feeling of tiredness</li><li>Fever (sometimes)</li><li>Sore throat</li><li>Coughing</li></ul> Excess coughing during day and night:<ul><li>If the child experiences coughing throughout the day which disturbs his/her routine, cough syrup can be given as per doctor’s advice.</li><li>If the child experiences coughing throughout the night, it may be due to allergens, dust mites in the bed, some plants in the room, insects or cockroaches. In this case, it is best to keep the bedding clean and the bedroom hygienic. Make sure there are no such insects or mites or plants in the bedroom that might cause allergy to the child.</li></ul> Child ends up vomiting after coughing: Sometimes when the coughing is intense, it is accompanied by vomiting. In this case, the child’s eyes turn red or watery and the face turns red while coughing. In this case, you should consult a doctor and use prescribed medicines. Foods that cause cough and cold:Each child has a different body tendency. Some children might suffer from cough after eating coloured food whereas some after eating sugary food. The parents should closely observe their child’s tendency for different foods which result into cold and cough. Once they identify it, they should try and avoid such foods. If the cold and cough is too much, you can avoid the following:<ul><li>Dairy products: Dairy products such as butter, cream, cheese induce mucus. So ensure that there is a limited intake of these foods when your child has a cold.</li><li>Fried food: The fats and oils present in fatty foods like butter and cheese produce mucus. Fried food should also be avoided.</li><li>Other foods like avocados, mushrooms, yogurt and fermented foods aggravate cold and cough.</li><li>Sugar: Sugar and sugary foods can worsen the cough.</li><li>Juices: Juices having high sugar content and acids irritate the throat and worsen the conditions.</li></ul> Medicines for cold and cough:Cough and cold are two different things. Cold is nose related - running nose or blocked nose are considered as cold symptoms. There are two different types of medication based on the type of cold.<ol><li>Combination of decongestant and antihistamine</li><li>Anti allergic medications</li></ol> Cough can be of two types: dry cough and wet cough. Cough is our body’s reflex, used to clear our respiratory passages.<ol><li>Dry cough is because of throat infection.</li><li>Wet cough is due to presence of sputum or mucus in the lungs.</li></ol> Most of the medicines available are to suppress the reflux of the cough. Bronchodilators, nebulisers and inhaler pumps can be used as per the paediatrician’s advice. Home remedies for cold and cough:<ol><li>Ginger tea: You can simply add half an inch of grated ginger to boiling water and give it to your child when it is warm. You can also add honey to mild the bitter taste of ginger. Or you can make traditional ginger tea with milk; whatever suits your child.</li><li>Lemon, Cinnamon and honey: Half a spoon of honey, a few drops of lemon and a pinch of cinnamon. You can give this mixture twice a day.</li><li>Lukewarm water: This reduces inflammation in the throat and helps in replenishing the fluids in the body.</li><li>Milk and Turmeric: Turmeric mixed in warm milk or in lukewarm water does wonders.</li><li>Gargle with salt water: You can add half a spoon of turmeric also in the water.</li><li>Spiced tea: Basil leaves, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon and cardamom mixed in the usual tea also helps in providing relief from cold.</li><li>Honey, lime juice and warm water can also be given.</li><li>Indian gooseberry: Eating an Indian gooseberry every day helps fight many infections.</li><li>Ginger Basil mix: Extract ginger juice and add crushed basil leaves to it and a spoonful of honey.</li><li>Ginger and salt: Cut ginger into small pieces and add salt to it. Chew ginger pieces to fight cough and cold.</li><li>Jaggery solution: Boil water with black pepper, cumin and add jaggery to it. Consume when warm, it helps relieve chest congestion.</li></ol> Treating Dry Cough at home:Dry cough causes irritation in the throat and makes it sore. See which of the following remedies works the best for your child:<ol><li>Menthol cough drops: They are easily available in any chemist’s shop. It soothes and relaxes cough reflex. See that your child doesn’t get choked up. Consider your child’s age and consult a doctor before giving him cough drops.</li><li>Soup, broth, tea or any other hot beverage: These add moisture while providing immediate relief for sore throat. Keep your child hydrated; it is essential for the healing process.</li><li>Honey: It has anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces throat inflammation. You can add honey and lemon in warm water and give that mixture to your child twice or thrice a day.</li><li>Saltwater gargle: Make your child gargle with lukewarm saltwater if (s)he can.</li><li>Herbs: Herbs like turmeric, basil, mint leaves, black pepper etc. can be used either in the form of tea or just in any recipes you prefer. But avoid giving sugary foods and fried junk foods to your child.</li><li>Plenty of fluids including lukewarm water but avoid giving cold drinks, fruit juices.</li><li>Pineapple: Pineapple has an enzyme called bromelain which helps relieve inflammation.</li></ol> Treating Wet Cough at home:<ol><li>Steamy Shower: Try to give your child a steamy shower or let him/her sit in a steamy bathroom for at least 5 minutes. You can also try using a steam inhaler if your child is old enough to handle it.</li><li>Honey: Eating 1.5 teaspoons of honey before bed can help reduce cough and also helps in encouraging sound sleep in children.</li><li>Herbal cough drops made with lemon, honey, ginger, and mint help in controlling wet cough.</li><li>Vitamin C: A dose of vitamin C boosts your child’s immune system. Try giving him/her oranges or tomatoes or food having a high amount of vitamin C.</li></ol> Prevention:<ul><li>Ask your child to wash their hands often.</li><li>Keep your child away from the ones who have cold or cough as these are contagious diseases.</li><li>Maintain hygiene in their surroundings.</li><li>Give them healthy diet.</li></ul>

Here are Cold and Cough Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, Home remedies.

All about cold and cough

There is a difference between an overweight child and a child who overeats. Overweight leads to health problems but over eating does not always leads to heath issues if your child is active. If your child is overeating:Accept that children come in all shapes and sizes and their appetites also vary. You should trust your child to be able to feed himself/herself. If your child is extremely active physically, his or her appetite may be larger. This is completely normal. Remember that your kid is constantly growing and (s)he needs food to support their development. But if your feel that your child is an over-eater and is not very active physically, then in this case, overeating may lead to your child being an overweight child. In case of an overweight child:As a parent stop blaming your child for unhealthy eating habits. Shouting and forcing them never works. Instead of stopping it altogether, you can reduce it gradually and simultaneously increase healthy food intake. Parents can also make healthy food interesting by either using colourful utensils, or different shaped plates, dressing food in an interesting way, creating a back story associated with the food. On a standard Body Mass Index (BMI) chart, kids ages 2 to 19 fall into one of four categories:<ul><li>Underweight</li><li>Normal weight</li><li>Overweight</li><li>Obese</li></ul>Depending on your child's BMI and health, the doctor may refer you to a registered dietitian or a weight management program. Here are 5 key ways you can help your child maintain a healthy weight:<ul><li>Be a good role model – A child is going to follow what he/she sees so have healthy eating habit and the child will follow.</li><li>Encourage physical activity. Make time for a little walk or play a small game wherein the child has some physical movements.</li><li>Keep to child-sized portions.</li><li>Eat healthy meals, drinks and snacks.</li><li>Less screen time and more sleep.</li></ul> Overweight children soon cross the mark of obesity hence it is important to keep a check on their eating habits. Obesity leads to several health problems in later life such as:<ul><li>Type 2 diabetes</li><li>High blood pressure</li><li>High cholesterol</li><li>Bone and joint problems</li><li>Shortness of breath that makes exercise, sports, or any physical activity more difficult</li><li>Restless sleep or breathing problems at night</li><li>Liver and gallbladder disease</li></ul> Obese kids might also deal with emotional issues like low self-esteem, and may be teased, bullied, or rejected by peers. Kids who are insecure with their weight can be at risk for:<ul><li>Unhealthy dieting and eating disorders</li><li>Depression</li><li>Substance abuse</li></ul> Reasons behind obesity:<ul><li>Diet habits: high consumption of fat-filled, processed or packaged foods.</li><li>Lack of exercise: older kids and teens should do moderate to vigorous excerise for atleast one hour.</li><li>Genetics: Genes help determine body type and how the body stores and burns fat.</li><li>Some medication</li><li>Endocrine problem</li><li>A combination of the above</li></ul> Preventing Obesity:<ul><li>Make healthy eating and exercise a family affair.</li><li>Take them along when you go grocery shopping.</li><li>Teach them how to make good food choices.</li><li>Cut down on TV, phone, computer, and video game time and discourage eating in front of a screen (TV or otherwise).</li></ul> Encourage healthy eating habits. There’s no great secret to healthy eating. To help your children and family develop healthy eating habits:<ul><li>Provide plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products.</li><li>Include low-fat or non-fat milk or dairy products.</li><li>Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for protein.</li><li>Serve reasonably-sized portions.</li><li>Encourage your family to drink lots of water.</li><li>Limit sugar-sweetened beverages.</li><li>Limit consumption of sugar and saturated fat.</li><li>Remember that small changes every day can lead to a recipe for success!</li></ul>

For overweight children, you cannot just take away interesting food altogether. It needs to happen gradually over the time.

Overweight Child

It is very for children to get acne between the age of 0-6 years. Generally it affects on the onset of puberty (puberty is the age where children reach sexual maturity).But it can occur at any age out of hormonal imbalance or sensitive skin. There is no natural remedy for pimples. Things you can follow to reduce pimples:<ul><li>Make your child drink enough water.</li><li>Wash his/her face a few times during the day with clean water.</li><li>Follow healthy lifestyle.</li><li>Reduce the intake of oily, fried, and spicy food.</li></ul>

It is rare that your child would get pimples or acne at this age. If it does happen, it is always advisable to consult your paediatrician.

Dealing with acne

Palak Vyas

Infectious diseases that spread from person to person are said to be contagious. Contagious diseases can spread through insect bites or by ingesting contaminated food or water. Contagious or communicable diseases include: Flu, Common cold, Hepatitis A and B, Measles, Cholera, Rubella, Lice, Mumps, Chicken pox, Cough, Meningitis, Strep throat, Conjunctivitis. To avoid communicable diseases:<ul><li>Ask your children to wash their hands often with soap to reduce the risk of catching any infection. Specially before and after taking food and after using toilets. You too should maintain proper hygiene while preparing food. Tell them not to keep touching their eyes, nose or mouth with their hands.</li><li>Get your child vaccinated for rubella, measles, diphtheria, typhoid on due time.</li><li>Keep your child at home when he or she is ill. If they have any of the symptoms like fever, diarrhoea, or vomiting, don’t send them to school. Sending them to school can worsen their own health plus they may cause infection to other&nbsp;healthy children.</li><li>While you prepare food, use disinfectant and cleaners to clean kitchen surfaces.</li><li>Make sure they don't share their personal items like a toothbrush and comb either with friends or siblings. Avoid sharing drinking glasses and dining utensils too.</li><li>If you are travelling out of the country, go see a doctor first. Ask your doctor about any special vaccination such as yellow fever, cholera, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B etc.</li></ul>

It is very important to take proper precautions to stay away from communicable diseases. Children catch diseases faster than adults as their immune system is weaker than adults.

Precautions for contagious disease

Perfume allergy or alternatively known as fragrance allergy is the body's allergic reaction towards fragrances used in perfumes, deodorants, detergents, cosmetic products, soaps, shampoos, and cleaning products. The allergy is towards the ingredient of the fragrance rather than the fragrance itself. Because fragrance is found everywhere, it is quite difficult to keep your child away and protected from fragrance at all times. Fragrance allergy is one of the main causes of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Allergic contact dermatitis causes eczema and blistered skin at the contact points. After the acute phase, the skin turns scaly and takes some weeks to be repaired. Some children are sensitive to fragrances while some are allergic to them. Both are different from each other. Fragrance/Perfume Sensitivity:Perfume sensitivity, is a reaction to something that irritates your body. Sensitivity doesn’t necessarily trigger an immune system response. There might be a rash on your baby's skin which goes away after a few hours. The body usually gets rid of the irritant via sneezing so your child might sneeze a bit. A few mild symptoms of a perfume sensitivity can include:<ul><li>sneezing if the perfume is sprayed near the face and airways (nose, mouth, and throat)</li><li>itching, running, or stuffiness of nose</li><li>nasal mucus dripping down the back of the throat</li><li>persistent cough</li><li>headaches</li><li>nausea</li></ul> Fragrance/Perfume Allergy:An allergy towards a fragrance/perfume means that your body identifies the ingredient in the perfume as a foreign substance. The body then releases an inflammatory reaction to help fight off the substance as if it’s a bacterial or viral invader. This immune system response develops itchiness or a rash. Symptoms of Fragrance Allergy:<ul><li>mild to severe headache</li><li>burning sensation on skin</li><li>skin irritation, itching, and rashes</li><li>sneezing, coughing and runny nose</li><li>breathing difficulties, dizziness, and fatigue</li><li>muscle aches</li><li>watery, red, and itchy eyes</li><li>wheezing</li><li>inability to concentrate</li><li>swelling</li><li>nausea and vomiting</li></ul> Fragrance allergy also triggers migraine attacks in children suffering from migraines. Here are some severe, emergency symptoms to watch out for:Swelling in mouth, lips, or tongueAnaphylaxis Prevention:<ul><li>Try your best to keep your child away from the sources of fragrance.</li><li>Use fragrance less products for your kids.</li></ul> Diagnosis:A patch test is the best way to confirm an allergic reaction towards fragrance, and it is commonly performed in a dermatologist’s office. Patch testing helps to identify which substances may be causing an allergic reaction in a patient. Treatment:<ul><li>Medications</li><li>Topical creams</li><li>Light therapy: Blue or red light can help eliminate any bacteria irritating your child's skin or to reduce the immune system response.</li><li>Moisturising lotion or cream</li></ul>

Allergic reactions to fragrance/perfume are common than we know. Proper precautions will make your child's life easier.

choking health concerns

Following article(s) will help solve your concern.