Allergies typically develop between the ages of 5 and 16, and a child with close family members who have allergies is more likely to develop them. In research in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, allergic rhinitis was seen in 16% of children with one allergic parent, and in 25% of those whose parents were both allergic, and recent research in the journal Clinical & Experimental Allergy suggests a mother’s traits create a higher risk than a father’s.
Signs of allergy
If you have an allergy, you will know the signs well – a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and red, itchy, watery eyes, sometimes accompanied by a sore throat. Identifying signs in your child early can significantly improve their quality of life, as you can take steps to help them avoid the triggers – usually pollens or animal dander – and manage the symptoms.
Allergy vs a cold
With a child, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy. In general:
• If they are under a year old, it’s probably a cold as it’s uncommon for babies to be diagnosed with seasonal allergies. “Seasonal allergies can start at almost any age, but usually do not develop before a child is two years old,” says GP and Clicks Wellness Expert Dr Aadil Khan. Typically, you need to be exposed to things a number of times to activate an allergic response.
• If your child has a fever, fatigue and exhaustion, it’s probably a cold or viral illness.
• If their eyes are watery and itchy, they are likely to have an allergy. Dark circles under their eyes can be caused by congestion of the nose or sinuses, which may be linked to allergy – which is why these are sometimes referred to as “allergic shiners”.
• If their nasal discharge is clear, and they also have itchy, watery eyes, it suggests they have an allergy. Thick nasal discharge suggests a cold or other infection.
• If symptoms last longer than two weeks, it’s likely to be an allergy; in pollen season, they’re likely to last for weeks at a time, says Dr Khan.
Treating allergy symptoms in children
Always consult your health provider before treating babies and children under age two with any medication.
Medication: For seasonal rhinitis, antihistamines are the go-to medication for adults and children over two, and are now available in non-drowsy versions, such as loratadine and desloratadine.
Ask your health provider about using nasal or oral decongestants – they may have side effects, and used longer than five days, they may cause “rebound congestion” with worse blockage. A simple saline nose spray may help flush the nose, dry out mucous and clear out allergens.
Inhalers: “Spacers are necessary for all children for asthma controller mediation,” says Professor Mike Levin, CEO of the Allergy Foundation of South Africa. A spacer is a holding chamber for an inhaler that makes it easier to take asthma medication, helping to move the medication straight to the lungs instead of the mouth and throat, which can lead to irritation and mild infections. The foundation is now launching the AfriSpacer, adapted from a design by a Cape Town paediatric pulmonologist using a plastic cooldrink bottle, which has been honed and refined by a team of biomedical engineering alumni working under Prof Levin.
Immunotherapy: If symptoms persist, the Allergy Foundation suggests consulting a doctor with experience in allergy to ask if you or your child qualify for immunotherapy. This entails introducing a tiny amount of allergy into the system, usually a drop taken orally each day, or an injection given weekly and later six weekly, for three years, so the body gradually builds tolerance. It’s a long, slow process, but can be well worth it, says Prof Levin.
Speak to a Clicks pharmacist about OTC options for treating allergies and getting instant relief from seasonal symptoms.
Also read: How to stop summer allergies
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