Allergies

What are allergies?

Allergies are the result of your body recognizing an otherwise harmless substance as an intruder. These substances, called allergens, can range from specific foods to even things in your surroundings.

When your immune system confronts them, it has an exaggerated response, which leads to allergy symptoms like:

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Itchy eyes and nose
• Headache

Symptoms can vary from person to person, but they often cause discomfort. Understanding your child’s allergy triggers are the first step to helping them avoid severe allergic reactions.

What types of allergies can my child have?

There are multiple types of allergies your child may have, including:

Environmental allergies

Pollen, pet dander, and mold are among the most common types of environmental allergies. Sneezing and red, itchy, watery eyes can be signs of these types of reactions.

Food allergies

While your child may develop allergies to any kind of food, nuts, dairy, and shellfish are especially common triggers. These types of food allergies might cause hives on the skin, your child’s throat to swell, and other distressing symptoms.

Insect stings and bites

If your child gets bitten or stung by an insect, it might cause an allergic reaction, including swelling and redness at the site.

Contact allergies

Certain materials, such as latex, or ingredients in detergents and perfumes, might cause contact dermatitis (contact allergies).

Medications

Some medications, like antibiotics, might produce unwanted symptoms. Your child may experience shortness of breath, wheezing, and mouth swelling.

Newtown Pediatrics can help determine the specific allergen that is causing your child’s symptoms and develop an effective treatment plan to bring them relief.

How are allergies diagnosed?

The expert pediatricians at Newtown Pediatrics may recommend specific testing to diagnose allergies. Your child might need:

Skin prick testing

During a skin prick test, a drop of the suspected allergen is placed onto your child’s skin. Then, their skin is gently pricked with a needle to allow the allergen to enter their body.

If your child develops a reaction to the substance within 15 minutes, they have an allergy.

Blood testing

Newtown Pediatrics may recommend a blood test if your child has an underlying medical condition that can affect the results of skin prick testing.

Intradermal skin testing

An intradermal test involves injecting the specific allergen using a thin needle. Venom and drug allergies are the most common uses for intradermal skin tests.

It’s important to note that your child might need more than one type of allergy test to accurately diagnose and treat their condition.

To see if your child can benefit from an allergy evaluation, make an appointment at Newtown Pediatrics by calling the nearest office or using the online booking feature today.