Allergies

Allergies are a very common problem in children. About one in six children have some or other form of allergies.Allergies can present in variety of ways. It can manifest as Asthma, eczema, rash over skin,swollen lips, face or very rarely as a life threatening reaction to an allergen. In infancy many babies develop allergic reaction to milk or other food items which can present as rash over skin, eczema, diarrhoea, vomiting, wheeze etc. Many a times young infants with cow’s milk protein intolerance can present with bloody stools. Older children with allergies can present with skin rash, asthma,abdominal pain,vomiting etc. Food allergies are common in young children. Cow’s milk, peanut, wheat, egg, fish and soya are common foods which cause allergic reaction in children. But these are not the only food which can allergic reaction in children. Various fruits can also cause allergic reaction.

It is important to keep a good record of symptoms to identify the allergen causing an allergic reaction.

We can do blood tests or skin prick tests to identify the allergens. These tests are not always required to make a diagnosis of food allergy. Good history and record keeping of the symptoms enable us to make an accurate diagnosis. However it is not always possible to identify the offending allergen which is causing the allergic reaction.

Allergies can be treated with medicines and avoiding the offending allergen.

Appointments

If your child has or may have symptoms of allergies and you would like to make a private appointment to find out more, please contact me