Allergies

Managing and understanding your child’s allergy

An allergy is when the body has a reaction to a protein such as foods, insect stings, pollens, house dust mite or other substances such as antibiotics. There are many common allergies. In some cases, avoiding the allergen which causes the reaction is the most effective way of managing an allergy.

Allergic symptoms affect the nose, throat, ears, eyes, airways, digestion and skin in mild, moderate or severe form. When a child first shows signs of an allergy it is not always clear what has caused the symptoms, or even if it is an allergic reaction, as some allergic symptoms can be similar to other common illnesses.

Urticaria (also known as hives or nettle rash)

This can be one of the first symptoms of an allergic reaction. It appears as a raised, itchy rash on just one part of the body or spread across large areas. Your child may have had a reaction to:

Food, such as nuts, eggs, chocolate, citrus fruits, strawberries, shellfish, a reaction to cow's milk can also happen in babies younger than six months.
Irritants such as nettles, latex and chemicals
Toddlers who have developed an allergy to cats may also break out in hives when stroking a pet.
Some medicines.
Insect bites and stings.
Heat. A child can break out in hives if they become overheated.

It may go away in a few hours or days. If hives are particularly itchy or swollen, see your GP. Many allergies can be treated with over-the-counter medicines.

Spotting symptoms

Many of these symptoms can develop as a result of other common childhood illnesses. With an allergy, symptoms often appear more quickly or suddenly.

Eyes
Itchy eyes, watery eyes, prickly eyes, swollen eyes, ‘allergic shiners’ - dark areas under the eyes due to blocked sinuses.

Antihistamines
Antihistamines are probably the best known type of allergy medication, and most are readily available from a pharmacy without prescription. While antihistamines used to have a reputation for making people drowsy, more modern antihistamines only occasionally have those side effects.
Source: www.allergyuk.org

Nose, throat and ears
Runny nose, blocked nose, itchy nose, sneezing, pain in sinuses, headaches, post-nasal drip (mucus drips down the throat from behind the nose), loss of sense of smell and taste, sore throat, swollen larynx (voice box), itchy mouth and/or throat, blocked ear and glue ear.

Airways
Wheezy breathing, difficulty in breathing, coughing (especially at night time), shortness of breath.

Skin
Urticaria - Wheals or hives, bumpy, itchy raised areas, rashes.
Eczema - Cracked, dry or weepy, broken skin.

Digestion
Swollen lips/tongue, stomach ache, feeling sick, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, bleeding from the bottom, reflux, poor growth.

Source: Allergy UK/2014

Anaphylactic shock

Anaphylaxis is a dangerous type of allergic reaction that is most likely to be caused by particular foods, insect bites or medicines.

Early signs of allergic reaction:

Swelling and itching; the face may be flushed and wheals or hives may erupt on the skin.
Lip or facial swelling.
Acute vomiting/abdominal pain.

Anaphylaxis or severe reactions:

Difficulty breathing, coughing and/or wheezing.
Loss of colour; cold and clammy.
Loss of consciousness (may appear asleep).

Call 999 and tell the operator you think the child has anaphylaxis.

If available, an adrenaline injection should be given as soon as a serious reaction is suspected. If you already have an EpiPen or injection device, make sure you know the correct way to use it in advance of an emergency.