How can I help my child with allergies?

Oral antihistamines are a common treatment option, as well as steroid nasal sprays to help with congestions. For more severe allergies, allergy shots (immunotherapy injections) may be an option, as well, but these need to be prescribed and administered by your child’s pediatrician. It’s also helpful to establish a plan with the help of your family physician for avoiding potential triggers, as much as possible.

How do I know if my child has allergies?

Some of the most common symptoms of allergies include skin rashes or hives, difficulty breathing, sneezing and coughing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and an upset stomach. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to consult with his or her pediatrician for advice and possible allergy testing.

How long do allergies last in kids?

When it comes to allergies like hay fever, the worst reactions may occur between the months of March and September when pollen counts are often at their highest levels. Symptoms of seasonal allergies can last for weeks or even months, so talk to your child’s pediatrician for testing, if necessary, and to develop a plan to help your child feel better.

At what age do kids start showing allergies?

Allergies can strike at any time. Some allergies are more common in children, and some also tend to be outgrown over time. There’s also a hereditary component to allergies, so if you suffer from any type of allergy, there’s a good chance your child may, as well.

How can I prevent my child from getting allergies?

It may not be totally possible to prevent allergies, but there are some strategies to help your child avoid allergens, like regularly cleaning the house or setting up a HEPA air filter in your child’s bedroom. Most of us are familiar with some type of allergy, and we know how they can impact our day to day lives. For children, dealing with allergies can be especially troubling. With the right knowledge and treatment plans in place, your child can live a full, fun life, even with the occasional pediatric allergy.

Everything You Need to Know About Children’s Allergies: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

You do everything you can to keep your little ones healthy and happy, but sometimes, kids develop pediatric allergies. Although they’re nearly impossible to prevent, there are some strategies you can take to help your child manage his or her allergies. Read on to learn more about the most common types of allergies in children, and what you can do to help your child thrive with allergies.

In this article, you will find information about

Common Allergies

Typical Allergens

Allergy Symptoms

Allergy Prevalence

Risk Factors

Diagnosis

Treatments

Preventive measures

Intervention

When to See a Doctor

FAQs

What Are the Most Common Types of Allergies in Children?

Many of us are susceptible to allergies, but in children, there are four common types: Food, eczema, asthma, and hay fever. Food allergies can cause skin conditions like atopic eczema and more serious allergic reactions, and they can be triggered by things like peanuts, cow’s milk, soy, wheat, eggs, or fish. If you suspect your child may have some type of allergy, the first, best step is always to consult with your little one’s pediatrician.

Dust mites, pet dander, and tobacco smoke are other factors that can aggravate allergies in children. You should obviously not expose your child to tobacco smoke under any circumstances, but when it comes to dust and pets, protecting your little ones is a little more difficult. And, when it comes to hay fever and seasonal allergies it may be a good idea to consult with your little one’s pediatrician for advice on how to mitigate this type of allergy.

What Are the Typical Allergens for Children?

We can break down the typical causes of allergies that affect children into a few categories. Let’s take a look at them in more detail:

Outdoor. These are things like tree or plant pollen, and can also refer to insect stings or bites, which happen in the great outdoors.

Indoor. This is where we find pet or other animal hair and dander, dust mites, and mold – all of which can lead to allergic reactions.

Irritants. Things like cigarette smoke, perfume, or chemical exhaust fumes can be irritants that cause problems for young lungs and immune systems.

Foods. Peanuts, eggs, and dairy products are some of the most common culprits when it comes to childhood food allergies.

What Are the Symptoms of Children’s Allergies?

Little ones can be tricky to diagnose, because they’re not always able to tell you what’s wrong when they’re unwell. But there are a few things to look out for when it comes to children’s allergies. Your child’s pediatrician is the best person to help you figure out what may be wrong, but you’ll want to be on the lookout for things like:¹

Skin rashes or hives, which can be atopic dermatitis or eczema

Difficulty breathing (this may be a symptom of asthma)

Sneezing and coughing

A runny nose or itchy eyes

Upset stomach

Some other common symptoms can include nasal congestion and ear infections. Nasal congestion can make it difficult for a child to sleep at night, which means he or she won’t be able to get a restful night’s sleep and may find it difficult to function the next day at school.³

Allergies can also lead to inflammation in the ear, which commonly results in ear infections, thanks to a build-up of fluid in the ears. This can hamper a little one’s hearing and cause delays or problems in speech development.¹

What Is the Prevalence of Allergies in Children?

There has been some interesting research from the United States on the prevalence of various types of childhood allergies. Let’s take a look at some of the numbers:

18.9% of children have a seasonal allergy

10.8% have eczema

Boys are more likely than girls to have seasonal allergies

5.8% of children have some type of food allergy

Globally speaking, as of 2012, around 7.8 million school children have respiratory allergies, and more than 27% of children worldwide have some type of allergy. So, it’s definitely something to take note of.

Which Children Are More at Risk to Get Allergies?

Children with a genetic predisposition are more likely to develop allergies, just like one or both of their parents. Basically, any child can get allergies, but they’re more likely to present in children with a family history of certain types of allergies.

It’s important to note that allergies can strike anyone at any time – age, gender, and race notwithstanding. So, if your child presents any symptoms of allergies, you’ll want to bring this up with his or her pediatrician right away so you can work toward an effective treatment plan.

How Do You Test and Diagnose Children for Allergies?

If you notice any of the common allergy symptoms in your child, or would like to pursue an children’s allergy test, you should bring this up with his or her pediatrician. Your child’s healthcare provider can then refer you to a pediatric allergist who can help get to the root of what’s causing your child’s discomfort.

The allergist will take note of your child’s and your family’s medical history, take a physical examination, and then begin with allergy sensitivity testing. Allergy testing can include skin tests, blood tests, or allergy elimination tests to determine what’s causing your little one’s allergies. Skin prick tests involve a slight prick to the top layer of skin to inject a tiny, diluted amount of a particular allergen into the skin. These tests are considered to be safe and accurate for children older than two years, and the skin is then monitored for several minutes to see what kind of reaction develops.

Blood tests may be administered when a skin test might not yield optimal results. They’re less accurate than skin tests but can still help point you in the right direction when it comes to diagnosing your child’s allergy.

Elimination tests are helpful when it comes to diagnosing food allergies in children. Your child’s pediatrician or pediatric allergist may recommend an extended period where certain suspected foods are removed from his or her diet to see if there are any further reactions. It’s not the most accurate assessment out there, but it can certainly help identify any food culprits that are affecting your child.

What Are the Treatment Options for Children’s Allergies?

For hay fever allergies (also called allergic rhinitis), oral antihistamines are one common treatment. When it comes to children’s allergy medication, steroid nasal sprays can help with congestions, too. And, if your child’s allergies are more severe, allergy shots (immunotherapy injections) may be an option, as well, but your child’s pediatrician is the best person to make that decision. These same methods can be used to treat children’s pet allergies, too.

Keep in mind, that food allergies are serious and can be life-threatening. Always consult with your child’s pediatrician, who can perform diagnostic testing, identify the source of your little one’s allergy, and suggest the best course of action.

For allergic reactions such as hives, one option is an antihistamine like Allegra Hives, which may be just the thing you need.

How Can You Help Your Child Avoid Allergies?

In general, experts suggest that the best prevention methods for avoiding allergic rhinitis are environmental control measures. This means things like working to limit pet dander in your home, monitoring and addressing your child’s responses to hay fever which can be caused by pollen, mold, and other environmental allergens.

Why Is it Important to Intervene Early in Children’s Allergy?

Although preventive and treatment options may seem complex, the main reason for early intervention is simple: Improving your child’s quality of life. All types of allergy symptoms can impact a child’s everyday life, from their health to their education, and even their developing social lives.

When you’ve got a handle on how to manage and treat your child’s allergies, your little one will be able to lead a full, fun life, with fewer missed school days (which also means fewer days off for you to care for your sick child).

When Should You Consult a Doctor for Children’s Allergies?

Keep your child’s pediatrician informed when it comes to any allergy symptoms you notice, but in general, you’ll want to consult a medical specialist if you notice any of the following:

Sinus infections, nasal congestion, or difficulty breathing

Chronic hay fever symptoms

Pediatric antihistamine medication doesn’t work, or causes too much drowsiness

Wheezing or coughing at night

Hives or itching skin

Swelling in the lips, face, or tongue

Frequently Asked Questions About Children’s Allergies

Oral antihistamines are a common treatment option, as well as steroid nasal sprays to help with congestions. For more severe allergies, allergy shots (immunotherapy injections) may be an option, as well, but these need to be prescribed and administered by your child’s pediatrician. It’s also helpful to establish a plan with the help of your family physician for avoiding potential triggers, as much as possible.
Some of the most common symptoms of allergies include skin rashes or hives, difficulty breathing, sneezing and coughing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and an upset stomach. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to consult with his or her pediatrician for advice and possible allergy testing.
When it comes to allergies like hay fever, the worst reactions may occur between the months of March and September when pollen counts are often at their highest levels. Symptoms of seasonal allergies can last for weeks or even months, so talk to your child’s pediatrician for testing, if necessary, and to develop a plan to help your child feel better.
Allergies can strike at any time. Some allergies are more common in children, and some also tend to be outgrown over time. There’s also a hereditary component to allergies, so if you suffer from any type of allergy, there’s a good chance your child may, as well.
It may not be totally possible to prevent allergies, but there are some strategies to help your child avoid allergens, like regularly cleaning the house or setting up a HEPA air filter in your child’s bedroom.

Most of us are familiar with some type of allergy, and we know how they can impact our day to day lives. For children, dealing with allergies can be especially troubling. With the right knowledge and treatment plans in place, your child can live a full, fun life, even with the occasional pediatric allergy.

References

1. ACAAI Public Website. “Children and Allergies | Symptoms & Treatment | ACAAI Public Website,” April 13, 2022. https://acaai.org/allergies/allergies-101/who-gets-allergies/children .