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An allergic reaction can occur at any age. But the most severe is the case of an allergy in a baby. The reason for this is the immature immune system of the baby. And, while most allergic manifestations recede forever as they grow older, we recommend that you read this article, which will help you and your child survive this most allergenic period in his life.
Causes
The main myth of childhood allergies is the firm belief that it is caused exclusively by food. And only those that are included in the diet of the child himself. Very often you can hear the phrases of parents, they say: "Our baby is allergic to absolutely everything." Therefore, we will begin with the destruction of myths.
Ways of penetration of allergens
Allergists divide allergies in infants into three main categories based on their causes. The first is food , which occurs when allergens enter the child's body along with food. Moreover, not only infant formula and nutrition, but also mother's milk can be guilty of this. Therefore, dear mothers, be more attentive to what you eat yourself. Half an orange won't do you any harm. But your baby will bloom like a rose bush because of it.
Another common type of allergy is the contact form. In this case, the allergens come into contact with the skin, causing a rash and irritation. The cause may be diapers, diapers, or even washing powder in which bedding was washed.
The last type of allergy in infants is the respiratory form. As the name implies, the allergens here are dust and pollen from plants. Most often, it manifests itself when one or both parents are prone to such an allergy. So, if with the advent of spring or the beginning of ragweed flowering you are covered with a rash or bought antihistamines, be careful.
Symptoms of the disease
The most diverse symptoms in the food form of allergy. Among them are:
- Frequent regurgitation and nausea;
- Constipation or vice versa, greenish liquid diarrhea;
- Abdominal colic;
- Various rashes, accompanied by peeling and itching of the skin;
- Urticaria and gneiss formation under hair and eyebrows;
- In severe cases - Quincke's edema.
Skin symptoms of allergy, as a rule, are also found in its contact form. But respiratory allergies have their own unique symptoms:
- Frequent sneezing accompanied by a runny nose;
- Hoarse voice with cough;
- Bronchial asthma.
Of all the above symptoms, Quincke's edema . If the larynx is affected, the edema blocks the access of air and literally suffocates the child. In such cases, you should immediately seek medical help.
False food allergies in infants
According to some doctors, led by the famous doctor Komarovsky, the main cause of food allergies in infants is not so much allergens as overeating. The baby does not yet know that the feeling of fullness occurs only some time after the stomach is full. As a result, he constantly consumes more than he needs, and the body simply cannot cope with what he eats. Thus, food from a valuable material turns into poison.
This problem is relatively rare with breastfeeding, but if you use bottle feeding, it will rise to its full height. Therefore, we recommend that you carefully follow the recommendations of doctors and baby food manufacturers. After all, a good appetite is not always a guarantee of health.
Diagnosis and treatment of the disease
Like any childhood illness, accurately diagnosing allergies in infants is tricky. An accurate picture of the disease cannot be given even by such a proven tool as an immunoglobulin E test . Therefore, a large role is given to the survey of parents.
An important tool in diagnosing allergies in infants is a food diary. All types of food that the child and his mother received during the last week, as well as all possible reactions of the baby to him, are entered there. It is better to start keeping such a diary at the first suspicion of an allergy, so that by the time you visit the doctor you have accurate data on hand. Also, it can be done in advance on a permanent basis.
Among laboratory studies, an important role is taken by sampling for an allergic reaction. In nursing infants, only blood is usually used for this. Older children are usually prescribed skin tests.
Allergy treatment begins with the removal of identified allergens from the environment of the child. First of all, food. For this, the infant and his mother are prescribed a hypoallergenic diet .
Treatment of skin allergy options, in addition to eliminating the allergen, includes regular bathing in cool (about 32 degrees) water using baby cleansers with a neutral PH.
The use of drugs for allergies in infants is strictly limited. Never use medicines without a doctor's prescription. The immune system of a child is very fragile and a mistake in treatment can cost your baby dearly.
Prevention recommendations
An allergic reaction in children under one year old can be caused by almost all objects surrounding it. Therefore, we have prepared for you a selection of tips and tricks to prevent allergies and mitigate the effect of its symptoms.
- While breastfeeding, try to limit your intake of known allergenic foods. Primarily citrus, seafood, soy and chocolate;
- Be extremely careful with infant formula based on cow's milk. In most cases, the child's body is not able to break down its proteins, which leads to an acute reaction;
- Keep breastfeeding as long as possible. Do not interrupt it if allergy symptoms occur;
- Introduce food gradually. At the same time, avoid introducing more than one new food at a time and carefully monitor your child's reaction to them;
- For allergies in infants, try to avoid the use of medicines in the form of syrups. They are very easy to use, but the dyes and flavors that they contain can increase allergic reactions;
- When bathing, use only hypoallergenic products. Also, do not rub the skin of babies with washcloths or towels. Bathing itself should last no more than 20 minutes;
- Choose your baby items carefully. Give preference to natural fabrics. Powders for such things should be labeled "Hypoallergenic";
- Do more wet cleaning. Ventilate them and do not forget to regularly walk with your child outside.
And the main advice - do not despair. As your baby matures, the vast majority of their allergies will get rid of. And then the desired time of chocolate and tangerines will come. You just need to squeeze the allergic peak.
