Allergic reactions can be scary for you and your child, especially when you do not understand the cause. However, you can only be sure about allergies in Miami through an accurate diagnosis from an allergist. The medical experts help you understand the common symptoms associated with allergies and what could be causing your child to suffer from them. It is crucial to identify allergies in your child as some could cause severe reactions like breathing complications. Here are some helpful tips for you.
Know the Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction
If your child is experiencing some symptoms, you need to be able to tell if it is from an allergy or another medical condition. Although allergies could present different symptoms, it mainly depends on your child’s type of allergic reaction. Main allergic reaction symptoms include:
- Sneezing, runny, itchy, or stuffy nose
- Itchy, red eyes
- Itchy skin, eczema
- Vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain
- Coughing, tight chest
Although some allergic symptoms can be mistaken for a cold, it is essential to differentiate the two. You can always check the mucus, temperature, and cough of your child. Note that the mucus should be clear if it is an allergic reaction. A nagging, dry cough could also indicate an allergy but not when your child is coughing mucus. Also, understand that fever is rare with allergic reactions.
Identify the Cause
There are several ways you can tell what is causing an allergic reaction to your child. You can track down the symptoms at home, noting down possible triggers. Every time your child experiences symptoms, note anything they have drank, eaten, touched, any cosmetic products used, or any other factor you might think is relevant. Repeat this every time symptoms occur, and you can narrow down the triggers to the most common.
Seek Testing
Even if you suspect certain factors are responsible for your child’s allergic reactions, you can only be sure through expert diagnosis. Contact your child’s doctor for tests. Remember to carry your child’s allergy journal alongside their medical history. Your provider might also require information about your family history to better understand your child’s reactions. The doctor can perform a physical exam, a skin prick test, or any other test they might find relevant. During the skin prick, the doctor will place a drop of an allergen on your child’s skin and prick it gently. This can be a little discomfort but not painful, and it will test for several substances at once.
Understand the Major Types of Allergies
Having information about common allergies can help you detect them when they occur in your child. The four major types of allergies include environmental, food, insect, and medication allergies. Environmental allergies include pollen, pet dander, mold, and contact allergies. Food allergies occur when you eat a particular food but can also happen when your child gets in contact or breathes in the substances, especially if the reaction is severe. Insect allergies will occur if your child is stung or bitten by insects. For medical allergies, it means that your child has reactions besides expected side effects from specific prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Identifying allergies in your child can help you make proper plans and avoid or reduce the symptoms, which can sometimes be life-threatening. Working with a medical expert is one of the most significant ways to catch allergies in your child. Reach out to KIDZCHOICE Pediatrics today for assistance.