Allergies in Young Children

1. Victoria Capobianco EEC 2732 Allergies in Young Children

2. By the age of 3 years old, 20 % of children will have developed symptoms of upper respiratory allergies. That number sky rockets to 42% by age 6. Children 2 and younger can also develop allergic symptoms such as a rash or coughing and wheezing in reaction to something they've been exposed to. Allergic reactions can be kept under control if children and their parents understand how allergies work. Most common things people are allergic to are airborne. Brief overview of allergic reactions IN YOUNG CHILDREN

3. An allergy is an overreaction of the body’s immune system to a substance that is harmless to most people. In someone who has an allergy, the body treats the allergen (thing that causes allergic reaction) as a threat and reacts causing a variety of physical problems. What does having an allergy mean?

4. The immune system of the allergic person produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Those antibodies then cause a release of chemicals into the bloodstream to defend against the allergen. The release of these chemicals cause the allergic reactions. It can affect a person's eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, or gastrointestinal tract. Future exposure to that same allergen will trigger this allergic response again. This means every time the person eats that particular food or is exposed to that particular allergen, they will have an allergic reaction. Allergies explained (continued)

5. Symptoms for airborne allergy symptoms include sneezing, itchy nose and/or throat, nasal congestion and coughing. Symptoms of food allergies can be itchy mouth and throat when food is swallowed, hives (raised, red, itchy bumps), runny or itchy nose, abdominal cramps with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea and difficulty breathing Symptoms

6. There is no cure for allergies but it is possible to relieve symptoms. Only way to cope with allergies is to reduce and eliminate exposure to allergens. If reducing exposure isn’t possible, medications can be prescribed. Management of illness

7. Teachers have to be very careful about children with allergies especially those who are unaware of their allergies. Teachers should observe children for signs of allergic reactions and survey children’s parents at the beginning of the year about their child’s allergies so the teacher knows what not to expose the children to. Dealing with allergies in the classroom

8. http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/allergies/allergy.html# http://www.parents.com/health/allergies/food/childrens-allergies/ Sources