Allergies and Your Children: What You Need to Know

According to the Nemours Foundation, there are skin tests for allergies that tend to be pretty reliable in kids older than 2.

In one method, a physician drops a bit of the suspected allergen on your child's skin, and then gently pricks the area to see what reaction occurs. An allergist may also inject a small amount of the allergen under the skin— don't worry, it's not as painful as it sounds—and wait 15 minutes to see whether a bump appears. If a skin test doesn't yield results or if your child's reactions are especially severe, a blood test may be required.

If your child is diagnosed with an allergy

Your health care professional should give you instructions on helping your child avoid triggers, as well as how to treat reactions. If your child suffers any severe allergic reaction—such as anaphylactic shock or asthma that causes shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or any other extreme discomfort—you should seek medical attention immediately.

Your health care professional may also prescribe medications, recommend over-the-counter remedies or suggest allergy shots or injections. Although there is no cure for allergies, treatments can provide varying degrees of relief from allergy symptoms.

Depending on your child's allergies, you can help him or her avoid the allergens that trigger symptoms. In cases of airborne allergens, such as dust and pollen, it helps to use an air conditioner inside your home and car. Special air-filtering devices can be added to your home's heating and cooling systems. In addition, portable air cleaning devices used in individual rooms can be helpful. Ask your health care professional which type would be best. Following are some helpful tips for avoiding exposure to various allergens.

Pollens

Unfortunately, short of staying indoors when pollen counts are high—and even that may not help—there's no easy way to evade all wind-borne pollen. Here are some things you can do:

• Help your child avoid outdoor areas that have just been mowed or contain a lot of plant life.
• Limit your child's outdoor play during allergy season, which can vary depending on what pollens trigger the allergic reactions.
• Plan your vacation at the height of the expected pollinating period, and choose a location where such exposure would be minimal, such as the seashore.
• Keep your child indoors during times of highest pollen counts, usually early in the morning on warm, dry, breezy days.
• If your child must be out when pollen levels are high, consider using a face mask designed to keep pollen from reaching nasal passages.

Molds

Mold allergens, too, can be difficult to avoid. Here are some tips to reduce exposure: