Health Center - Allergies and Asthma
If you or someone you love suffers from allergies or asthma, you know firsthand how difficult it can be to manage symptoms such as difficulty breathing, itchy eyes or a runny nose. Educate yourself and get tips to improve your quality of life in our Allergies and Asthma Health Center. Allergies Guide Asthma Guide
Allergies and Your Children: What You Need to Know
- Ask your child's health care professional for the names of different forms of the food that your child should avoid.
- Read food ingredient labels closely to check for the presence of your child's trigger food substances. They are often found in places you wouldn't suspect.
- At a restaurant, don't hesitate to ask about ingredients of various dishes and how they are prepared.
- If your child is allergic to a common medication such as penicillin or has anaphylactic reactions, have him or her wear a medical alert bracelet.
- If your child has severe allergies (such as anaphylaxis), be prepared to treat an exposure at the first sign of a reaction with a syringe of epinephrine, obtained by prescription from your child's health care professional. The shelf life for epinephrine is about 18 months, and then it must be replaced. Be sure you and your child (if old enough) know how to give injections properly. If your child requires an injection, call 911 and get medical help immediately. Until help arrives, have your child lie down and raise his or her legs above chest level to increase blood flow to the heart and brain.
