An estimated 35-40 million Americans (15-20 percent of the population) suffer from some type of allergy, and in most people, these allergies first appear during infancy or childhood. It is not surprising then that allergic disorders rank first among children’s chronic diseases.
Any child may acquire allergy, but children from families with a history of allergy are more likely to become allergic. Children may inherit the tendency to become allergic from parents or even grandparents, but only some of them will develop active allergic disease.
The following are some pointers on potential problem spots for children with allergies and quick tips to help children and their parents effectively manage allergies.
Chronic nasal congestion
Allergies are the most common cause of chronic nasal congestion in children. Sometimes a child’s nose is congested and obstructed to the point that he or she breathes through the mouth, especially while sleeping.
If the congestion is left untreated, this mouth breathing forces air currents through the mouth. The force of the air then changes the way the soft bones of the face grow. The face may actually become abnormally elongated, causing the teeth to come in at an improper angle and creating an overbite. Braces may be necessary to correct this problem. But, chronic dental disease – requiring more treatment – may also develop.
Allergy and ear infections
Allergies can cause earaches as well as ear itching, popping and congestion. Allergies lead to inflammation associated with these ear problems and may cause fluid accumulation in the ear, which can promote ear infections and decreased hearing. If this happens when the child is learning to talk, poor speech development may result. Anyone with earache congestion and/or chronic earaches should be tested for allergies.
Allergies at school
- Feeding allergic infants and small children
- Feeding allergic infants and small children
Fall means going back to school. For allergic children, that may mean absences due to problems related to hay fever, such as nasal congestion, headaches or even ear infections. The following are symptoms to look for, so allergy can be properly diagnosed and treated, as well as several suggestions for helping the allergic child.
Change in behavior
during season when hay fever symptoms may be present – Since children can’t always talk about their annoying or painful symptoms, they may exhibit behavior problems in school and at home. Be on the alert for possible allergy if your child has bouts of irritability, temper tantrums, or decreased ability to concentrate in school. These are all signs of allergic irritability syndrome often caused by nose, ear and sinus congestion in allergic children.
Hyperactivity
Sometimes allergic children manifest overactive behavior. Usually their schoolwork suffers. When a child’s allergies are properly treated, symptoms, behavior and school performance can improve.
Dry air
With the onset of cold weather, using a humidifier to accompany forced air heating systems is a good idea. Adding a small amount of moisture to dry air makes breathing easier for most people.
Asthmatic children, however, breathe easier when humidity remains constant. If you choose to place pans of water in the bedrooms near the heating ducts instead of using a humidifier, be sure to change the water daily to prevent molds from growing in the water.
Dust irritation
Fall is a good time of year to clean the filters on your furnace or to start using a central cleaning system. Reducing dust in the home will be helpful to most allergic family members.
At school, children with allergic problems should sit away from the blackboards to avoid irritation from chalk dust.
Asthma and physical education
Physical education and sports are a big part of the school day for many children. Having asthma doesn’t mean eliminating these activities. Often medication administered by using an inhaler is prescribed before exercise.
Swimming is one sport that most asthmatic patients can enjoy with minimal asthmatic symptoms. But asthmatic children should be able to participate in most other sports as well – provided the doctor’s advice is followed and the child or teacher doesn’t “push too hard.”
The best food for a newborn is mother’s milk. However, some especially sensitive babies will have allergic reactions to foods their mothers eat. Eliminating these foods from the mother’s diet may provide relief for the child. But, some babies will be allergic regardless of what their mothers do. When this occurs, your physician may recommend a soy formula (for infants with no soy allergies) or other hypoallergenic infant formulas.
As infants grow, their nutritional needs continue to change, and your physician will advise when it is time for solid foods. It is best to start with foods that generally don’t cause allergic reactions in adults – carrots, sweet potatoes, pears, potatoes and rice, for example. Foods that should be avoided include wheat, eggs, corn products, citrus fruits, nut butters, sugar and chocolate.
- Solid foods should be introduced one at a time in small quantities-a teaspoonful, for example. After three to four days, if the child is adjusting well to the new food item, another may be introduced. As the child becomes accustomed to a variety of foods that do not traditionally cause allergic reactions, foods from the second list above may be introduced in small quantities one at a time, as well. This progressive introduction of food items allows parents to monitor better the potential allergic reactions to specific kinds of foods.
Dairy product allergies
Milk is another food that frequently causes allergies in adults, but it is a nutritionally important part of children’s diets. Milk should be eliminated from a child’s diet only if you are sure the child is allergic to it. Parents may suspect allergy if the child exhibits respiratory problems or rash. If you suspect your child may be allergic to dairy products, consult your physician. Your physician may conduct appropriate tests to verify that allergies exist, determine the allergens responsible, and prescribe the proper course of treatment once diagnosis is confirmed.
Recipes for the allergic infant
The following recipes by Suzanne S. Lacey, author of The Allergic Person’s Cookbook, will help parents prepare infant food for their allergic children.
Baby Oatmeal No wheat, no egg, no milk, no corn.
Place in saucepan:
- 1/3 c. cold water
- 2 Tbsp. oat flour, ground in blender
Directions: Bring cereal to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for several minutes. Makes one baby serving. Serve immediately.
Rye and Rice Flour Crisp (For snacks) No wheat, no egg, no corn
Sift together:
- 2 c. rye flour
- 1 c. rice flour
- 1-1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. baking soda
Directions
- Add 1-1/2 c. sour milk
- Mix well and place dough on well-floured board.
- Roll very thin and cut into strips 3 x 1-1/2 inches.
- Bake at 375 degrees for about 18 minutes.
- Makes 75 crisps.
