Toddler Allergies
Toddler Allergies
An allergy is an immune reaction to a substance in the environment called an allergen. When a toddler with allergies encounters an allergen – either by touching it, breathing it, eating it, or having it injected – the body mistakenly views it as a dangerous invader and releases histamines and other chemicals to fight it off. Then, these chemicals irritate the body and cause symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, itching, and coughing. Symptoms can be mild or more severe, intermittent (seasonal, for example), or ongoing because of constant exposure to the allergen. The most common allergens include foods, drugs, insects, animal dander, dust mites, mould, and pollen. These toddler allergens can cause respiratory symptoms, as nasal allergies or allergic rhinitis, skin symptoms like eczema, or intestinal problems, from food allergies.
Some children are allergic to down and feather pillows or wool blankets. And while most experts don't think children can be allergic to tobacco smoke, it can certainly make their allergic symptoms worse.
WHAT CAUSES NASAL TODDLER ALLERGIES?
Dust Mites: microscopic organisms that thrive on human skin flakes. Nearly 85 per cent of allergy sufferers are allergic to dust mites.
Animal Dander: those white, flaky specks made up of skin and hair shed by cats, dogs, and other furry animals.
Pollen: particularly from trees, grasses, and weeds.
Mould: fungi found in wet, damp places such as bathrooms and basements or outdoors in humid climates.
SIGNS YOUR LITTLE ONE HAS TODDLER ALLERGIES AND NOT A COLD
Toddler Allergies don’t wind down in a week like colds. Colds and allergies are very similar: runny nose, watery eyes, cough, nasal congestion, sneezing. So it’s easy to mistaken the two. You should pay attention to how long it lasts and if you feel like your child always has a cold, it’s probably an allergy.
Your child’s nose is continually stuffy and running.
Your child is constantly wiping and pushing his or her nose in the “allergic salute”.
The mucus from the nose is clear and thin.
Your child is always sneezing.
Your child’s eyes always look itchy, red, and watery.
Your child has allergic shiners. Allergic shiners mean that your little kid has dark, purple, or blue skin under his or her eyes. This can be a sign of toddler allergies.
Your child breaths through his or her mouth.
Your child has a persistent dry cough.
Your child’ skin is irritated or broken out in an itchy red rash.
HOW TO DEAL WITH THE MOST COMMON TODDLER ALLERGIES
1) Dust Mite Toddler Allergies
Dust mites live in fabrics and carpets and are common in every room of the house. But children are usually exposed to the most dust mites in the bedroom, where mattresses and pillows are veritable dust-mite condominiums.
Encase your toddler's mattress in an impenetrable cover made of very tightly woven fabric, found an allergy supply stores. Unlike vinyl covers, these provide a barrier that's breathable and not crinkly. Avoid big, fluffy comforters and use blankets instead. Also, wash bedding once a week in hot water to kill dust mites.
2) Pet Dander Toddler Allergies
If your child is allergic to a pet, the only foolproof solution is to give the animal away. That's not an easy decision to make, of course, and understandably, you'll want to consider it only as a last resort.
To keep the dander down, wash your pet frequently. You can find shampoos that reduce dander in the pet store. Also, keep your pet off the furniture and out of your child's room.
3) Toddler Allergies Pollen
During allergy season it can be close to impossible to avoid airborne pollens. You can try to keep your child indoors with the windows closed during the height of pollen season, particularly on windy days, but this may be unrealistic.
If your toddler does go outdoors, make sure you bathe him or her and wash their hair each night to remove any airborne allergens. Dry your child’s clothes in the dryer rather than on the clothesline and close the air ducts to your little one’s bedroom.
INTERESTING FACT: GENETICS AND TODDLER ALLERGIES
There might be a higher chance of getting an allergy if our biological parents had one too. For instance, if you have hay fever or pet allergies, there’s a 40 to 50 per cent chance your child will have some sort of allergy as well. This probability is higher, from 75 to 80 per cent when both parents have allergies.
HOW LONG IT TAKES TO A TODDLER HAVE AN ALLERGIC REACTION?
After being exposed to an allergen, it will take some time for the allergy to develop. This because, before the allergen causes a reaction, the threshold of an allergic person has to be reached and this can take several months to happen.
Now, if your little one has many of the symptoms described above, you’re probably wondering if there’s a way to find out to what exactly your kid is allergic to. Well, there might but will take some time. One clue might be knowing when the allergy attack occurs.
Mould allergies usually develop during damp or rainy weather and can be hard to distinguish from colds. Dust mites or pet allergies often cause morning congestion throughout the year. Pollen-related allergies are more common in spring, summer, and fall.
If you have a pet and you’re suspicious of them for being responsible for your toddler allergies, you might consider going away from home for a vacation. If your toddler seems better, then you have a clue. However, your child might be allergic to something else in your home.
The best way to find out whether your little one has toddler alergies and to what is by seeing a professional. A doctor will examine your kid and do either a blood test to measure levels of IgE (allergy) antibodies in your child’s blood or a skin test.
During a skin test, an allergist applies small amounts of common allergens to your child's skin. If your child is allergic to a substance, he or she will have a reaction similar to a mosquito bite on that spot. Infants may have smaller reactions than older children, but the tests can still be very useful.
