Anyone can develop allergies, but it is generally more common in children from families with a history of allergies. While it is impossible for parents to completely control their child’s diet or lifestyle, parents should be mindful to monitor their child for allergy symptoms.
Early detection for allergies can significantly improve your child’s quality of life, reduce absent school days, and help avoid having to use sick time or vacation days to care for your child.
Allergy Symptoms in Children
- Skin rashes or hives (atopic dermatitis or eczema)
- Difficulty breathing (asthma)
- Sneezing or runny nose
- Coughing
- Itchy eyes
- Stomach upset
- Swelling of throat
Common Allergy Triggers in Children
- Outdoors: Pollen, insect bites, stings
- Indoors: Animal fur, dust mites, mold
- Irritants: Cigarette smoke, perfume, car exhaust
- Foods: Peanuts, eggs, milk and milk products
If you suspect your child has an allergy, make an appointment with us. It is recommended to start a dietary diary for your child before the initial appointment to record symptoms your child allergies and experiences.
Common Allergic Conditions in Children
Nasal congestion
Nasal congestions in children are mostly triggered from allergies. This may lead to disruptive sleep and can interfere with the ears, hearing, and speech development. If untreated, it can affect teeth growth as well as facial structure of your child.
Ear infections
Allergies can cause ear inflammation and fluid accumulation. This in turn leads to ear infections and hearing impairments. A baby whose hearing is impaired may develop poor speech. Allergies may result in earaches, ear itching, popping and fullness. If your child has these symptoms, he or she should be brought to see an allergist for testing and treatment.
Food
It’s estimated that approximately 5% of children younger than 12 years old in Singapore have food allergy. If a new mother is breast-feeding, certain babies can have allergic reactions as a result of the mother’s diet.
Common food allergies are to nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. These are allergies that may last for lifetime however, children sometimes can outgrow milk, eggs, soy and wheat allergies.
Parents ought to be mindful of anaphylaxis — a life-threatening allergy reaction that affects breathing, causes an abrupt drop in blood pressure, and may send someone into shock. Hence, children with food allergies are often given epinephrine (adrenaline) when symptoms develop.
School
Your child’s allergies should be made known to the school. Provide the school with a copy of your child’s action plan and discuss administration to medication, especially epinephrine (adrenaline), during emergencies.
- School pets: Furry animals in school may trigger allergies. If your child displays allergy or asthma symptoms while at school, there is a likelihood of the class pet being the cause.
- Asthma and physical education: Physical education and sports activities are integral components taught in schools. Children with asthma and allergies ought to be able to partake in their favourite sports, on condition that the doctor’s instructions are followed, for instance, consuming the necessary asthma medications before exercise to control symptoms.
Find an allergist today. Book an appointment with us.
