Does my child have an allergy? What parents need to know

If you or your child suffer from seasonal allergies or experience severe allergic reactions to food, you know that allergies can be a serious health issue that can interfere with daily activities and impact your quality of life—way more than just a minor annoyance.

It’s important for parents to partner with a pediatrician or board-certified allergist for diagnosis and treatment of all allergies, whether food or environmental.

Since it’s impossible for parents to control absolutely everything their child eats and is exposed to, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) recommends that parents instead focus on monitoring their child for symptoms. Here’s what to look for when it comes to allergies and children.

What is an allergy?

When your child breathes in an environmental allergen such as pollen or mold, or eats something their body’s immune system has identified as a dangerous invader, it works to produce antibodies to destroy it—a process that results in allergy symptoms such as mucus and inflammation (for environmental allergies) or hives and swelling (more typical of food allergies).

Allergies can range from mild to severe, and can result in chronic conditions like ongoing nasal congestion to acute issues, such as swelling or life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Related: Early exposure to peanuts can prevent peanut allergies in babies, AAP says

Signs of allergies in children

Environmental allergies

It’s not always easy to decipher if your child has a cold or an allergy. Nasal congestion, coughing and sneezing and even ear infections can all be related to flu or viruses. But here’s a clue: If there’s no fever and symptoms last one week or longer, it’s probably an allergy.

Common environmental allergy triggers

• Outdoors: tree pollen, plant pollen, insect bites or stings
• Indoors: pet or animal hair or fur, dust mites, mold
• Irritants: cigarette smoke, perfume, car exhaust

If it’s spring or fall, there’s a good chance your child is allergic to grass, tree or ragweed pollen, or mold spores that hide outdoors in damp, dark places such as under fallen leaves. When your child breathes in one of these triggers, it may start a cascade of mucus and inflammation.

When they come into physical contact with indoor allergens, such as pet dander or saliva, it can also cause itchy skin and hives in addition to nasal and respiratory symptoms. A reaction can happen within minutes or may be delayed for hours after the exposure.

Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common illnesses among both adults and children. It’s often referred to as “hay fever”—even though there’s no connection to hay and there’s no fever. Triggers include both seasonal and indoor allergens.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis in kids

• Runny nose with clear or pale-colored mucus
• Sneezing
• Red, watery eyes
• Itching around the nose, mouth or eyes

Left untreated, symptoms may worsen leading to nasal congestion, intense coughing, sore throat, headache, or an ear or sinus infection.

If your child develops these symptoms and they linger for more than a week, it’s best to see a pediatrician or allergist for allergy testing and a discussion of treatment options. Plenty of over-the-counter and prescription medications are available, but it’s best to discuss which best meet the health needs of your child.

You may also want to discuss with your doctor allergen immunotherapy, which desensitizes patients to their allergen so they can be exposed to it without symptoms. Allergy shots cover pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites, and cockroach allergens; allergy tablets, which dissolve under the tongue, cover grass and ragweed allergens. Both are options for children.

Related: Try these natural remedies to soothe seasonal allergies in kids

Food allergies

Approximately 6 million children have food allergies, according to Allergy and Asthma Network. Symptoms can be different each time there’s an exposure to a food allergen, and they can vary in severity each time—but once they start, they usually progress quickly.

People can be allergic to any food, but the majority of food allergies in the United States tend to be related to these 8 foods.

8 most common food allergens

• Cow’s milk
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Wheat
• Soy

In addition, sesame allergy is on the rise in the US.

Most food-allergic reactions are mild, but there are approximately 30,000 episodes of food-induced anaphylaxis—a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction—every year in the US.

Related: Baby gut health is a powerful tool when it comes to allergies and eczema

Food allergy symptoms in kids

Symptoms may set in within minutes after consuming the food or up to 2 hours after.

• Itchy, red skin
• Swelling
• Hives
• Itchy mouth, swelling of lips or tongue
• Vomiting, cramps, diarrhea
• Coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath
• Headache
• Nasal congestion
• Sweating
• Watery eyes

How allergies in kids are treated

Anaphylaxis can occur when two or more organ systems—such as skin, respiratory, digestive or heart—are impacted. When symptoms are severe, your child may also become dizzy or faint, feel confused, or even lose consciousness.

When anaphylaxis strikes, an epinephrine injection is the only drug that will treat symptoms. And it should be given as soon as a severe reaction is suspected. The medication, a form of adrenaline, will suppress the immune system’s response to the food allergen, halting the life-threatening effects.

When epinephrine is administered for a severe allergic reaction, the child should immediately go to the hospital for additional evaluation and treatment. Delays in administering epinephrine can increase the risk of hospitalization and more serious reactions.

What about using an antihistamine like Benadryl?

While antihistamines may be effective for mild allergic reactions, they do not treat severe or life-threatening reactions. And when allergic reactions occur, there’s no way of knowing whether it will progress from mild to severe. The only proven way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid the offending allergens—that’s why an accurate allergy diagnosis is essential.

Other severe allergies

In addition to food, children may experience severe allergic reactions to insect venom, latex and certain medications.

Stings by wasps, hornets, bees and fire ants have been known to trigger anaphylaxis. Exposure to latex, found in balloons, rubber bands, mouse pads, pacifiers, goggles, rubber gloves, and thousands of other consumer products, can cause skin irritation and potentially lead to a severe reaction.

And medications such as antibiotics, aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can trigger anaphylaxis symptoms.

Similar to food-allergic reactions, epinephrine is the first-line treatment for severe reactions to insect stings, latex, and medications.

Will my child outgrow an allergy?

In some cases, yes. Some of the more mild food allergies can be outgrown, and studies have shown that the severity of allergies can change throughout a person’s life, states USDA. But the best method for preventing an allergic reaction is to avoid the specific food allergen.

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s allergies, speak with your pediatrician. Knowledge and taking some precautions will empower you and your child to be as safe as possible.

A version of this story was originally published on April 5, 2019. It has been updated.