A child’s allergy can be a frustrating problem for parents. Many feel unable to relieve symptoms, and it can be upsetting to watch a child’s quality of life suffer. This naturally leads to expensive testing or over-the-counter treatments – often without results.
In this article, I’m going to go through the main symptoms of allergies, followed by a strategy for identifying and relieving them. As a general rule, you should try these strategies for a few months before spending a lot of money on treatments – although use your judgment here. If your child is showing signs of severe allergies, take them to doctor as soon as possible.
Step 1: Identify the Symptoms of Allergies
If your child regularly sneezes, breaks out in rashes or suffers from recurring nausea, there’s a chance he or she may be suffering from an allergy. Here are some of the most common symptoms (the NHS also have an excellent list of allergy types and symptoms here):
- Upset stomach or diarrhea
- Blocked nose
- Hives, red patches or rashes
- Breathing problems
These symptoms can develop in any child, but they are more common if there is a family history. Interestingly, inherited allergies are often not triggered by the same allergens, which can make diagnosis difficult.
Step 2: Record When the Symptoms Happen
The next step is to work out when and where symptoms are occurring. I recommend writing down symptoms, along with a scale of 1-5 for severity, so you can look back and identify patterns.
Some common locations for allergies include:
- Sleeping at Night – many children with allergies suffer most while sleeping, which can cause them to be continuously tired.
- School or Nursery – schools are common places for allergies to occur, as your child may be exposed to new allergens.
- Continuous Allergies – if your child seems to suffer from allergies all the time, including during every season, it’s likely to be caused by regular exposure. Pet dander or a specific food type, for example, can cause continuous allergy symptoms.
- Seasonal Allergies – an allergy to pollen will be most noticeable during spring and summer.
- Other locations –note anywhere your child shows signs of his or her allergy. Whether it’s at their grandparent’s house, at the park or in the garden, knowing the common trigger locations is vital.
Step 3: Attempt to Eliminate Sources of Allergens
By this stage, you should have a good idea of where and when your child’s allergies are occurring. Using some simple deduction, you should be able to work out likely culprits.
If for example, your child only suffers from symptoms during spring, then it is likely to be caused by pollen. Or if your child has his or her worst symptoms while sleeping and first thing in the morning, it is likely to be dust mites or mold in the bedroom.
Here are some tips for eliminating some of the most common sources of allergens:
- Dust mites – the feces of dust mites, which float around in the dust, are a common cause of allergies in children –, especially at night. Dust is notoriously difficult to eliminate, but you can reduce it by regularly freezing stuffed animals and toys to kill dust mites, removing “dust catchers” such as books or fans from the bedroom, using a vacuum with a high-quality HEPA filter and vacuuming your child’s mattress at least once every ten days. If these methods don’t work, you may need to replace the carpet with a hard floor and use mite-proof covers for pillows and mattresses.
- Mould – the first step to eliminating mold allergens is to find the source. Mould usually grows in damp, dark places in the house, such as on shower curtains or even underneath the carpet. Once you find mold, clean it with a mould-killing solution and regularly check to see if it’s returned. Reducing humidity in the home by increasing ventilation can also reduce mold.
- Pollen – if your child’s allergies are likely to be caused by pollen, eliminating the allergen isn’t an option. Instead, try to minimize contact by washing clothes more often during spring, avoiding tall grass and limiting outdoor time in the evenings. It’s also possible to buy portable HEPA filters which work continuously to remove pollen and other allergens from a room. These are expensive, but often highly effective.
- Pet dander – this is a tricky one because getting rid of the pet might not be an option. I recommend keeping your child away from your pet for up to a week, perhaps by confining the pet to a single room for this time, and seeing whether symptoms reduce. If symptoms become less severe, allow the pet contact with your child again to check if they return. If your pet is the culprit, you can reduce allergens by installing a HEPA filter and regularly washing the pet. You should also keep the pet out of your child’s bedroom.
- Food – food allergies are widespread and range in severity (here’s a list of the most common). Mild allergies can often continue causing symptoms for years, as parents don’t realize food they have always fed their child might be causing the problem.
As a final note, cigarette smoke is another common cause of allergies in children. It’s worth remembering that even after taking precautions, such as smoking outside, smoke can still blow in through open windows or linger on clothing.
Step 4: No Reduction in Symptoms? Contact a Doctor
If you’ve tried everything to reduce allergies and your child is still suffering, don’t give up yet – it’s time to visit your child’s doctor. He or she can provide you with additional advice or information, including potential medication for severe cases.
A doctor may also refer you to an allergist for additional investigations, including skin and blood testing. This is usually only necessary for severe allergies but can provide more accurate information about what causes the allergies and what type of treatment (if any) is required.
Conclusion
A child’s allergy can cause a variety of symptoms that are often difficult to relieve. The seemingly random nature of allergies can also be frustrating for parents, especially if your child’s quality of life is being affected.
By working your way systematically through the stages in this post, you’ll uncover the true cause of an allergy. Once you know which allergen is causing the problem, it’s much easier to minimize or eliminate it from your child’s environment. This can rapidly relieve your child’s symptoms and help them live a life free from allergies.
