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Child Allergy Symptoms
by Tisa Shaw
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Overview
Child allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe, and can appear only at certain times of the year, after eating certain foods, or after being around certain plants or animals. Because the presentation of allergy symptoms is based on so many different factors, recognizing the symptoms can be difficult, and children are often unable to describe the symptoms they are experiencing.
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Identification
Allergy symptoms can be chronic, meaning the child continuously suffers from them (as opposed to the symptoms of a cold or flu, which only last for a week or so); annual, meaning the child shows symptoms every fall or spring; or consistent, meaning the child shows symptoms after eating certain foods or after being around animals. Food allergies can be tricky, as mild to moderate food allergies might not present if the amount ingested is small and the child is not being affected by other allergies.
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Characteristics
Mild to moderate allergy symptoms include sneezing, dark circles under the eyes, rubbing the nose or pushing it upward, chronic ear infections, snoring, breathing through the mouth instead of the nose, stuffy head, chest congestion, itchy eyes and headaches.
More serious allergy symptoms include hives, swelling, stomach ache, wheezing, chronic dry cough and itchy skin.
Severe reactions include sudden swelling of the throat, sharp stomach pains or cramps with diarrhea or vomiting, confusion, dizziness or faintness.
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Effects
Mild to moderate allergy reactions can be distracting and keep your child from performing his best. Depending on the allergen, symptoms can bring on fatigue, restlessness, drowsiness and discomfort.
Severe allergy reactions can be life-threatening. If you suspect your child is having a severe allergy reaction seek medical attention immediately.
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Time Frame
Mild to moderate allergy reactions generally happen over a period of time and spread gradually, if they spread at all. Severe reactions affect many parts of the body at once and come on quickly. Generally, mild to moderate allergy symptoms will continue until the food or medicine has left the body or the allergen is no longer present in the environment.
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Types
Child allergy symptoms have many different causes, though the most common are pollen, dust, cockroaches, animals and peanuts. Dairy, mold, eggs, soy, seafood, wheat, insects, medicines and chemicals in detergents and cleaners all can cause allergic reactions. Children also have cross-reactions, in which a child may be allergic to mold but suffer a reaction whenever she eats mushrooms. The same thing can happen to children who are allergic to something outside, like a type of tree, but suffer a reaction when they come in contact with something seemingly unrelated, like latex.
