Manage Childhood Allergies

You can’t cure allergies, but you can manage them.

Itchy eyes and a runny nose are a common sign of seasonal allergies. Allergies can be caused by dust, mold, pets, and pollens like juniper and chamisa. Certain foods, medicines, and chemicals found in household cleaners and detergents can also cause allergic reactions. With testing you can pinpointing specific triggers and more effectively address symptoms.

What are allergic reactions?

Allergens can trick a child’s immune system, making it think the allergen is something harmful. The natural defense system overreacts in an effort to protect the system. Antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) cause the release of chemicals, including histamine, into the bloodstream. This causes allergic reactions that can affect the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, and the gastrointestinal tract. Future exposures to the same allergen will likely trigger the same allergic response.

Vacuuming frequently, air conditioning, keeping windows closed, using an air purifier, bathing at night, and checking pollen counts before going outside can reduce symptoms, but often other steps are necessary to keep your child healthy.

Treatments

Children can develop allergies as early as 1 to 2-years-old. Most start to notice symptoms by age 10. Talk to your child’s doctor about allergy testing. Allergy medicine and immunotherapy can help minimize allergy symptoms.