Allergies in Babies
We all know babies are fragile, and none other than parents of a newborn are more aware of this–and worried! Newborn babies can’t tell you what’s wrong with them, so the guessing game is nonstop, and the more you see your baby in distress, the more your worry skyrockets. Although parental anxiety may suspect the worst case scenario, sneezing and a runny nose, red eyes and itchiness could also just be signs of your baby experiencing allergies.
Environmental and Seasonal Allergies
In fact, even very young kids can be allergic to pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold. Babies are more likely to experience allergies to foods and eczema–especially if you have a family history of those, as well as asthma. No region is safe from allergy triggers, but if you live in nature, are in close proximity to more allergens, have indoor pets, and generally enjoy the outdoors your baby may be exposed to more allergens. If they do have seasonal allergies, then the symptoms will begin.
- Itchiness and tendency to rub the eyes, ears and nose, as well as puffy or watery eyes
- Sneezing, wheezing, and frequent mouth breathing
- Dry cough with clear mucus, and possible shortness of breath
- Irritability or excessive fatigue
Food and Medicine Allergies
Food and medicine allergies have different symptoms, which are usually seen immediately after consumption of the offensive food or medication, within a few minutes or an hour or two later at most. If your baby is allergic to medication and their reaction is hives or a rash, that may take a few days to develop. However, immediate reactions may include hives, itching, shortness of breath, vomiting, nausea, or abdominal pain. Good news is that even if other symptoms are present, anaphylaxis is rare in babies.
Treating Allergies in Babies
Even though as adults we’d rush to take an antihistamine for our allergies, this is not recommended for babies under the age of 2. The safest treatment is to reduce your baby’s exposure to the allergen: if it’s pet dander you may want to limit the time spent with pets and close off certain areas in the house; for environmental allergies you may have to keep your windows closed and invest in an air purifier; food allergies will mean eliminating the foods with allergens and possibly consider w hether allergens may transfer to your baby through breastfeeding. You should consult with your pediatrician before administering any medication, even topical skin medications such as hydrocortisone cream.
Diagnosis
The good news is that even though your baby may not be able to articulate what’s going on, your pediatrician can perform a skin test to determine possible allergies– a test usually safe on anyone over 6 months of age. A blood test could also be done for younger babies, though it is not as sensitive as a skin test. Food allergens are usually determined by process of elimination, which can be a long process as you take out the allergens from your baby’s diet one by one every week. However, at the very least when you see a difference you will know what not to feed your baby!