Unfortunately, allergies can be a hassle for children and their parents. Allergic conditions of all kinds are becoming ever more prevalent in the United States and in developed countries around the world. Unfortunately, all of the reasons for this rise in allergies are not clear, and parents as well as their children may become frustrated with the constant irritation, need for medication, and other negative consequences allergic conditions may cause. Pediatrics jobs are becoming ever more involved with the diagnosis and treatment of allergy, and often, family practice physicians or primary care providers also play a supporting role in allergy treatment.
Children can be allergic to a myriad of irritants, both airborne as well as food-borne. Some of the most common inhaled triggers are pollen (this can be from trees, grasses, flowers, or even weeds), dust mites, pet dander, and mold. Pollen grains are most prevalent during certain seasons of the year, and thus parents can look for specific times of year to notice whether symptoms worsen. Mold spores, dust mites, and pet dander, on the other hand, can be present throughout the year because they live and cause irritation indoors. Dust mites can be found anywhere inside a home, tending to collect on carpeted surfaces, curtains, or bedding. Pet dander can be found throughout a home, but this varies depending on where the pet is allowed to sleep and spend the majority of its time. Pets should be kept out of the bedrooms of children sensitized to pet dander, for obvious reasons. Mold spores can also be present throughout a home. Although mold is most likely to begin growing where there has been a water leak (such as near the washing machine, under sinks, and in bathrooms), the mold spores can be released and travel throughout the home via the air conditioning or heating systems.
The most common food allergens for children are milk, wheat, soy, nuts, peanuts, and eggs. Children who eat large amounts of commercially prepared or processed foods may consume these allergens at each meal throughout the day, so it can be difficult to associate the food trigger with an immediate or specific reaction in the child. For example, a child who eats milk and cereal for breakfast, cheese sticks for a snack, spaghetti and cheese for lunch, and pizza for dinner will have been exposed nearly continuously throughout the day to milk, soy, and wheat, so this can often mask symptoms so that they appear more as general malaise rather than as a sudden illness.
Inhalant allergens can cause symptoms that are sometimes easier to recognize than food allergies. Parents (and pediatricians, for that matter), may notice frequent sneezing, a clear discharge from the nose (called rhinorrhea), dark circles under the eyes, irritated or red eyes, and behaviors like constant nose-rubbing or itching. Often, the increased mucous secretions make children with allergic conditions more prone to ear infections, sinus infections, and other upper-respiratory problems. When the sinuses or ears become full of fluid, bacteria can enter and then begin to multiply, which causes an infection. Furthermore, the eyes can become infected or just extremely irritated due to extra secretions produced as the body attempts to flush out the pollen, pet dander, or whatever the allergic trigger may be.
Pediatrics jobs in general involve helping parents and their children recognize and treat any conditions that affect quality of life in a negative way, and allergies are no different. A pediatrician will note down a history of symptoms (often with input from the parent), and then examine the child for the common signs of allergy. The easiest way to make a clear diagnosis if allergies are suspected is to perform a skin prick test. This involves placing tiny amounts of the suspected allergen into the skin and then observing whether a raised, red bump appears. The greater the swelling and itchiness associated with the skin prick location, the worse the allergy to that particular substance. If there is no observed reaction, then this means that the tested substance isn't the source of allergy symptoms. Depending on the geographic location of the patient and the suspected triggers based on patient history, the physician can select the appropriate substances to test. Normally this will include pollen present in the local environment, and any pet dander to which the child has demonstrated a reaction. Finally, food substances can be tested using an elimination diet or a rotation diet, where suspected triggers are avoided and then reintroduced to look for any sudden worsening of symptoms.
Allergy treatments can involve medication, desensitization (often via allergy shots), or complete avoidance of the triggers, as may be necessary with offending foods. Parents who suspect that allergies may be to blame for their children's ill health should promptly seek the advice of a qualified pediatrician, family practice doctor, or allergy-immunology specialist.
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