Allergies: What To Watch Out For

How your pediatricians in Grayslake, IL, can help with your child’s allergies

Allergies can make your child miserable. A child’s airways and nasal passages are smaller, so they become congested quicker than those of an adult. Your child may experience more severe allergy symptoms, so it’s important for you to know what to watch out for.

The pediatricians of Mundelein Pediatrics in Grayslake, IL, provide a wide range of children’s medical services, including allergy testing and treatment.

An allergic response is triggered when your child is exposed to an allergen. Some common allergens include:

• Pet hair and pet dander
• Dust, mold, and spores
• Flower and plant pollen
• Tree and grass pollen
• Insect stings or bites
• Cigarette smoke or perfume

Your child may also be allergic to foods including:

• Peanuts
• Seafood
• Milk
• Eggs

When your child is exposed to an allergen, you need to watch for:

• Sneezing and coughing
• Watery, itchy eyes
• Itchy, runny nose
• Itchy skin rashes
• Sore throat
• Breathing problems

In the case of food allergies, your child might also experience:

• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Breathing difficulty

If your child is experiencing breathing difficulty, you might be dealing with a potentially life-threatening situation known as an anaphylactic reaction. Your child’s airway can swell, causing restricted or blocked breathing. Anaphylactic shock can be fatal, so call emergency services immediately.

Your pediatrician can test for allergies with a simple skin test or blood test. After your pediatrician determines what your child is allergic to, you can help your child avoid those substances.

Your pediatrician can also provide professional allergy treatment including:

• Prescription strength antihistamines
• Prescription strength decongestants
• Steroid nasal sprays
• Immunotherapy

Asthma often accompanies allergies, so your pediatrician may recommend short term rescue inhalers and long-term asthma management medications to help your child stay healthy.

To learn more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of allergies, talk with the experts. Call the pediatricians of Mundelein Pediatrics in Grayslake, IL. You can reach them in the office by calling (847) 548-7337, so call today.