Allergies in Babies & Toddlers: Types, Diagnosis, Treatment

Written by Kelli Miller

• Food Allergies
• Seasonal Allergies
• Indoor Allergies
• Pet Allergies
• Diagnosing Allergies in Babies and Toddlers
• Treating Allergies in Babies and Toddlers
• More

Your infant has a rash, and their skin is not so baby soft. Or maybe your little one sniffles and sneezes often. Symptoms like these could be signs of an allergy.

Cow’s milk, dust mites, even the family pet can make the tiniest humans have an allergic reaction. If this happens, there are things you can do to help your child.

About 6 million kids have a food allergy. It happens more often in boys than girls. Your baby or toddler can be allergic to any food and may react to more than one.

Peanuts are the leading trigger of food allergies in children. Other common ones are:

• Cow’s milk
• Eggs
• Fish
• Nuts from trees (like almonds, cashews, and walnuts)
• Shellfish (like crab, lobster, and shrimp)
• Soy
• Wheat

The most common symptoms of a food allergy in babies and toddlers are:

• Belly pain
• Coughing
• Diarrhea
• Fainting
• Hives or rash
• Nausea or vomiting
• Red rash around the mouth
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Swelling of the face, legs, or arms
• Tightness in the throat
• Trouble breathing, including wheezing

Food allergies can cause sudden and serious life-threatening symptoms. For example, your child might have extreme trouble breathing and a sharp drop in blood pressure that can cause shock. Signs of shock include pale, clammy skin and dizziness. This type of reaction is called anaphylaxis. You should get medical care right away if you notice any of those signs.

Your child’s doctor probably will give you something called an EpiPen that you can use to give them a shot of epinephrine (adrenaline) in case of an emergency. Use it at the first sign of symptoms.

There’s no cure for food allergies. But new studies have found that in the case of peanuts, it might be possible to prevent a severe allergy from developing by introducing them to high risk infants as early as 4 to 6 months. Other studies have also shown that peanut immunotherapy drops administered under the tongue are safe and effective as treatment for peanut allergy, even in children as young as 1. It also was shown to help significantly desensitize them to the allergy.

Some research has shown that introduction to multiple allergens together such as nuts, eggs, and fish, may help the immune system against the development of allergies but more studies are needed.  The American Academy of Pediatrics is encouraging the introduction of allergenic foods under doctor’s supervision.

Still, as a rule, if your child is diagnosed with a food allergy, they must stay away from the problem food, even in tiny amounts. Be sure to check all food labels for hidden ingredients, like peanut oil, and take care when ordering meals at restaurants.

Some children outgrow a food allergy. but for others, the allergy may last their entire life.

Sometimes, breastfeeding infants get fussy after mom eats certain spicy or gassy foods like cabbage. Doctors don’t call this a true allergy because it doesn’t cause typical allergy symptoms, like hives or a rash – the most common symptoms of a food allergy. If your child fusses or cries every time you eat a certain food, call your pediatrician. It could be a sign of colic instead.

If your family has a history of food allergies, pediatricians recommend that you:, give your baby only breast milk until they are 6 months old. It can make them less likely to have food allergies.

But breastfeeding moms shouldn’t stress too much about their diet. There’s no proof that staying away from certain foods during breastfeeding can keep your baby from developing allergies or asthma. And kids with food allergies are 2 to 4 times more likely to have asthma and other allergies.

If your little one’s symptoms get worse during certain seasons, it may be hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis. This common allergy in kids causes sneezing, sniffling, and other symptoms when some trees, grasses, and weeds are in bloom. Pollen from trees and plants are among the most common allergy triggers in children.

The symptoms are the same ones adults have:

• Runny, itchy nose
• Watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Stuffy nose

Your baby or toddler also may have ear pain. Both seasonal and indoor allergies can lead to chronic ear infections.

Your little one’s favorite stuffed animal could be an allergy trigger. Little specks of dust, called dust mites, make indoor allergies worse. And these mites collect in soft, cozy places like plush toys and pillows. Mold, cigarette smoke, and perfume also can trigger indoor allergies in kids.

About 1 in every 6 kids has an indoor allergy. Symptoms are the same as seasonal allergies and include a runny, stuffy nose and sneezing.

You can help your little one feel better by doing these things:

• Change air duct filters once a month.
• Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting. It can collect dust.
• Sweep and vacuum regularly.
• Use allergen-proof zip-up covers for mattresses, box springs, and pillows.
• Wash linens every 2 to 3 weeks in hot water and dry them in a hot dryer.
• Place soft toys in a plastic, sealable bag and put it in the freezer for at least 5 hours once a week. This kills dust mites.
• Don’t use humidifiers and vaporizers. They add moisture to the air and increase the risk of mold and dust mites.

The family dog may be a cuddly source of comfort for your toddler. But pets can make some kids (and adults) sniffle and sneeze.

Pet allergies are a kind of indoor allergy. Cats are the culprit most of the time, but dogs can cause allergy problems, too. If your child seems allergic to your dog or cat, try an allergy-friendly pet, like a fish.

Keep a diary of your little one’s symptoms — what they are and when they happen — to help the doctor figure out what kind of allergy your child has and how to treat it.

You may need to take them to an allergist (a doctor that specializes in allergies). They’ll ask about symptoms and personal and family health history. Be sure to tell them when symptoms happen, like after meals or during specific seasons.

Your child’s treatment may depend on the type of allergy they have. In general, the doctor may recommend the following to help with symptoms:

• Pills or liquids called antihistamines to ease skin rashes or a runny nose
• Inhalers to use when your child has trouble breathing
• An EpiPen for emergency treatment of a life-threatening reaction
• Administering peanut immunotherapy drops under the tongue

Top Picks

Allergies in Babies & Toddlers: Types, Diagnosis, Treatment

Written by Kelli Miller

• Food Allergies
• Seasonal Allergies
• Indoor Allergies
• Pet Allergies
• Diagnosing Allergies in Babies and Toddlers
• Treating Allergies in Babies and Toddlers
• More

Your infant has a rash, and their skin is not so baby soft. Or maybe your little one sniffles and sneezes often. Symptoms like these could be signs of an allergy.

Cow’s milk, dust mites, even the family pet can make the tiniest humans have an allergic reaction. If this happens, there are things you can do to help your child.

About 6 million kids have a food allergy. It happens more often in boys than girls. Your baby or toddler can be allergic to any food and may react to more than one.

Peanuts are the leading trigger of food allergies in children. Other common ones are:

• Cow’s milk
• Eggs
• Fish
• Nuts from trees (like almonds, cashews, and walnuts)
• Shellfish (like crab, lobster, and shrimp)
• Soy
• Wheat

The most common symptoms of a food allergy in babies and toddlers are:

• Belly pain
• Coughing
• Diarrhea
• Fainting
• Hives or rash
• Nausea or vomiting
• Red rash around the mouth
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Swelling of the face, legs, or arms
• Tightness in the throat
• Trouble breathing, including wheezing

Food allergies can cause sudden and serious life-threatening symptoms. For example, your child might have extreme trouble breathing and a sharp drop in blood pressure that can cause shock. Signs of shock include pale, clammy skin and dizziness. This type of reaction is called anaphylaxis. You should get medical care right away if you notice any of those signs.

Your child’s doctor probably will give you something called an EpiPen that you can use to give them a shot of epinephrine (adrenaline) in case of an emergency. Use it at the first sign of symptoms.

There’s no cure for food allergies. But new studies have found that in the case of peanuts, it might be possible to prevent a severe allergy from developing by introducing them to high risk infants as early as 4 to 6 months. Other studies have also shown that peanut immunotherapy drops administered under the tongue are safe and effective as treatment for peanut allergy, even in children as young as 1. It also was shown to help significantly desensitize them to the allergy.

Some research has shown that introduction to multiple allergens together such as nuts, eggs, and fish, may help the immune system against the development of allergies but more studies are needed.  The American Academy of Pediatrics is encouraging the introduction of allergenic foods under doctor’s supervision.

Still, as a rule, if your child is diagnosed with a food allergy, they must stay away from the problem food, even in tiny amounts. Be sure to check all food labels for hidden ingredients, like peanut oil, and take care when ordering meals at restaurants.

Some children outgrow a food allergy. but for others, the allergy may last their entire life.

Sometimes, breastfeeding infants get fussy after mom eats certain spicy or gassy foods like cabbage. Doctors don’t call this a true allergy because it doesn’t cause typical allergy symptoms, like hives or a rash – the most common symptoms of a food allergy. If your child fusses or cries every time you eat a certain food, call your pediatrician. It could be a sign of colic instead.

If your family has a history of food allergies, pediatricians recommend that you:, give your baby only breast milk until they are 6 months old. It can make them less likely to have food allergies.

But breastfeeding moms shouldn’t stress too much about their diet. There’s no proof that staying away from certain foods during breastfeeding can keep your baby from developing allergies or asthma. And kids with food allergies are 2 to 4 times more likely to have asthma and other allergies.

If your little one’s symptoms get worse during certain seasons, it may be hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis. This common allergy in kids causes sneezing, sniffling, and other symptoms when some trees, grasses, and weeds are in bloom. Pollen from trees and plants are among the most common allergy triggers in children.

The symptoms are the same ones adults have:

• Runny, itchy nose
• Watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Stuffy nose

Your baby or toddler also may have ear pain. Both seasonal and indoor allergies can lead to chronic ear infections.

Your little one’s favorite stuffed animal could be an allergy trigger. Little specks of dust, called dust mites, make indoor allergies worse. And these mites collect in soft, cozy places like plush toys and pillows. Mold, cigarette smoke, and perfume also can trigger indoor allergies in kids.

About 1 in every 6 kids has an indoor allergy. Symptoms are the same as seasonal allergies and include a runny, stuffy nose and sneezing.

You can help your little one feel better by doing these things:

• Change air duct filters once a month.
• Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting. It can collect dust.
• Sweep and vacuum regularly.
• Use allergen-proof zip-up covers for mattresses, box springs, and pillows.
• Wash linens every 2 to 3 weeks in hot water and dry them in a hot dryer.
• Place soft toys in a plastic, sealable bag and put it in the freezer for at least 5 hours once a week. This kills dust mites.
• Don’t use humidifiers and vaporizers. They add moisture to the air and increase the risk of mold and dust mites.

The family dog may be a cuddly source of comfort for your toddler. But pets can make some kids (and adults) sniffle and sneeze.

Pet allergies are a kind of indoor allergy. Cats are the culprit most of the time, but dogs can cause allergy problems, too. If your child seems allergic to your dog or cat, try an allergy-friendly pet, like a fish.

Keep a diary of your little one’s symptoms — what they are and when they happen — to help the doctor figure out what kind of allergy your child has and how to treat it.

You may need to take them to an allergist (a doctor that specializes in allergies). They’ll ask about symptoms and personal and family health history. Be sure to tell them when symptoms happen, like after meals or during specific seasons.

Your child’s treatment may depend on the type of allergy they have. In general, the doctor may recommend the following to help with symptoms:

• Pills or liquids called antihistamines to ease skin rashes or a runny nose
• Inhalers to use when your child has trouble breathing
• An EpiPen for emergency treatment of a life-threatening reaction
• Administering peanut immunotherapy drops under the tongue

Top Picks

Allergy in an infant: who is to blame and what to do?

Allergic diseases in children are among the top problems of modern pediatrics. Allergic reactions, in addition to unpleasant external manifestations, disrupt the physical and psycho-emotional development of the child. In addition, starting in early childhood, allergies can accompany a person all his life, developing into more serious forms (the so-called “allergic march”). All these facts oblige to treat allergies as a serious problem, not to self-medicate, and if a child has alarming symptoms, immediately contact a pediatrician or an allergist.

What could be the reason?

The direct cause of allergy is the contact of the child’s body with the allergen. Among the most common allergens are the following:

Food

Allergies are more common in formula-fed children. Usually this is a reaction to cow’s milk, which is part of an unadapted mixture. As complementary foods are introduced, a reaction to vegetable or animal protein may occur. That is why it is so important to introduce complementary foods gradually, in small portions, starting with the most “non-allergenic” foods.

Household

These are dust, animal dander, cleaning products, washing powders and other allergens found in the home.

Contact

These are various cosmetics and dyes that get on the baby’s skin or come into contact with it, causing irritation (soap, cream, clothing dyes, diaper impregnations).

Medications

Taking medicines, which inexperienced parents like to practice, can cause an allergy in a child. Thus, a negative reaction of the immune system to a foreign agent is manifested. Therefore, any medicine should be given to the child strictly according to the prescription of the attending physician.

In addition, there are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing allergies in babies.

First of all, it is heredity – parents suffering from certain forms of allergies can “give” this predisposition to their child. Moreover, the probability of inheriting the pathology increases if both parents have allergies.

Intrauterine hypoxia, premature birth, mother’s smoking at any stage of pregnancy, and even insufficiently varied diet of a pregnant woman, which does not allow the baby to get acquainted with certain foods in the womb, can become provoking factors.

Unfavorable environmental conditions can also play a negative role in the appearance of allergic reactions in a child.

Oddly enough, an excessive desire of parents to ensure sterile cleanliness in the house can provoke an allergy. It is not necessary to do this – it is important for the child to train his immune system by contacting with various microorganisms.

How does an allergy manifest itself?

Most often, allergies in very young children manifest themselves in the form of a skin rash, itching, redness, dry skin, peeling, crusts on the head. Possible reactions from the gastrointestinal tract – bloating, diarrhea, severe colic, frequent regurgitation, discoloration of the stool. At the same time, the child behaves restlessly, sleeps poorly, refuses to feed, often cries.

Respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, clear nasal discharge, watery eyes and red eyes are also typical of allergies.

Fortunately, severe manifestations such as edema in the face, neck and chest, anaphylactic shock, generalized urticaria in infants are extremely rare.

How to diagnose allergies?

It is worth noting that allergies can have similar manifestations to prickly heat, parasitic or infectious diseases. Therefore, one should not hurry with self-diagnosis, and even more so with treatment.

The first thing to do if you suspect an allergy is to contact a specialist. The doctor will perform an examination, prescribe a blood test for the presence of specific antibodies (skin tests are not taken from infants), and only after that will determine the treatment.

An allergen can also be identified by simple observation – to monitor how the child reacts to potential allergy triggers: dyes, powder, diapers, pets, etc. It is very effective for parents to keep a food diary, which indicates all new foods introduced as complementary foods, and the baby’s reaction to them.

What to do if the diagnosis is established

The most important thing in the treatment of allergies is to eliminate provoking factors. It is important to switch to hypoallergenic cosmetics, perhaps change the manufacturer of diapers, limit contact with pets, use only baby powders for washing things.

If an infant has a food allergy and is formula-fed, hypoallergenic formula milk is recommended. Complementary foods should be introduced according to the scheme approved by WHO, not earlier than the child reaches six months. And such obviously “allergic” products as citrus fruits, eggs, fish, nuts, should be introduced after two years of life.

As far as medication is concerned, it can only be prescribed by a doctor after the diagnosis has been made. Infants are prescribed antihistamines, topical anti-allergy agents with an anti-inflammatory component, as well as enzymes that help break down food, probiotics, and sorbents that bind excess allergens in the intestines.

Let’s summarize. An allergy in a child is a serious pathology in which the immune system actively reacts to quite familiar substances. Only a doctor can diagnose it, and subsequently allergic children should be under special medical supervision. The main responsibility for effective treatment falls on the shoulders of parents, who need to provide full-fledged care for an allergic child, if possible, eliminating the “provocateur” of allergies from his life.

how to treat allergies in breastfed babies

There are different types of allergies in children – allergies to animals (wool, fluff, saliva, dander), allergies to latex, dust, insect bites, mold, food . Despite the variety of causative agents of this disease, all types of allergies in children can be treated.

What are the causes of allergies in children?

The causes of allergies in children are varied. So, signs of allergies in children may appear due to the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract at the time of birth. In a newborn, the production of enzymes is reduced in the gastrointestinal tract due to the fact that the pancreas cannot yet produce the enzymes trypsin, which is necessary for the breakdown of proteins, amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates, and lipase, which breaks down fats.

Also, the manifestation of allergies in children may begin due to the unformed composition of the microflora. That is why babies are not fed with meat products, fruits, cottage cheese and other products.

In addition, the causes of allergies in children may lie in the environmental problems of the environment, bad habits of the expectant mother. Smoking and drinking alcohol is a sure precursor to developing an allergy in an infant.

The manifestation of allergies in children may begin due to the fact that the expectant mother abused highly allergenic foods during pregnancy – strawberries, nuts, chocolate, oranges, red caviar and fish.

Also, signs of allergy in children may develop due to the fact that they were transferred to artificial feeding (or even mixed) at an early age. It is especially likely that an infant will develop an allergy as a result of the use of non-adapted milk mixtures, as well as feeding with whole cow’s milk.

Food allergies in infants are most often caused by cow’s milk proteins (up to 85%), while allergies in newborns occur in 1-1.5%, in those who eat artificial mixtures – up to 7%.

It is not uncommon for a baby to be allergic to hen’s egg protein, gluten protein, banana and rice protein.

How do children develop allergies?

Many young mothers are interested in how allergies manifest in children. After the allergen enters the baby’s fragile body, the allergic reaction immediately begins to give alarm signals.

How an allergy manifests itself in infants depends on its causative agent. Allergy to food first affects the skin of the child, and to pollen and dust leads to the development of respiratory problems in the baby. Parents should keep a close eye on their child because the symptoms of allergies in infants are not always pronounced or they may indirectly indicate the disease.

How can I tell if my child is allergic? If your baby has this disease, then he may have the following allergy symptoms in children:

• itchy skin;
• rash;
• blisters;
• urticaria;
• atypical coryza;
• sore throat;
• fever;
• swelling of the nasopharynx;
• allergic asthma;
• allergic bronchitis.

Allergies in an infant can be severe and have a manifestation of anaphylactic shock – a dangerous reaction in which the child has difficulty breathing, the face and lips turn pale, the child may lose consciousness. In this case, the treatment of allergies in children must be carried out immediately.

Treatment of allergies in children

If a child has allergies, what should I do? This question is constantly asked by young mothers. Allergies in an infant are treated by allergists and pediatricians. The doctor conducts skin tests for exposure to various allergens. During this diagnostic procedure, scratches are made on the child’s hand, and then a solution containing the allergen is applied there. A blood test for allergens is also performed.

If an allergy is observed in a baby, an allergist knows how to treat this disease. His first recommendation to young parents is to remove the causative agent from the environment of the child. In addition, the treatment of allergies in infants involves the appointment of antihistamines. Since food irritants affect babies to a greater extent, the treatment of food allergies in children is extensive and quite effective.

What to feed a child with allergies? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to clearly know the allergens to which the child has an exaggerated reaction. Proper nutrition for food allergies in children is the main treatment for this disease.

Infant allergy – how to treat its symptoms to food? Exclude the food pathogen from the diet, transfer the baby to feeding with hypoallergenic mixtures.

The menu for allergies in children should completely exclude pathogens (milk, eggs, fish, fruits, etc., depending on the type of disease). The child should be given specialized mixtures, which are based on milk protein hydrolyzate, which can be given to a child from birth. This substance has therapeutic, therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.

Allergy diet in children should contain mixtures of soy protein isolate, which can be taken from six months of age. Even the baby can be given hypoallergenic cereals that do not contain milk, hypoallergenic purees (fruit, berry and vegetable). They can also be taken as food from six months of a baby’s life.

For older adults, the children’s allergy diet may contain hypoallergenic canned meats containing one ingredient. For example, horse meat, lamb, turkey, etc.

Allergy in infants – how to treat its manifestations to insect bites? The baby must be dressed for walks in things that cover the limbs and neck. A loose fabric should be hung on the stroller to block the way for insects.

Baby allergy – how to treat its symptoms to synthetic materials? Dress your child only in products made from natural materials, such as cotton.

If your child is allergic to pollen, what about outdoor activities? Doctors do not recommend walking with a child in dry, windy weather. But this does not mean that the child should sit at home for days. You can walk outside after rain, in wet weather. It is better to bathe a child several times a day, curtain the windows in the house with a wet thick cloth.

If a child is allergic to animal hair, what should I do with pets? The child should limit contact with animals as much as possible. The baby’s room should always be closed to your pet. The entire dwelling must be constantly wet cleaned so that wool and saliva do not linger on your carpets and floors.

If a child is allergic to dust – what to do with soft toys, textiles in the house? It is necessary to regularly dust, wash carpets, furniture covers with a washing vacuum cleaner, wash toys often.