Allergy
The human immune system protects our health by attacking harmful substances such as viruses and bacteria. Allergies, on the other hand, occur when the immune system overreacts to certain substances, which we call allergens. These allergens are often harmless to most children. However, when a child suffers from an allergic disease, their immune system overreacts to the allergen, perceiving it as an invading substance, leading to varying degrees of allergic symptoms in the child.
Common allergens
- Airborne allergens (dust mites, pollen, animal dander)
- Food allergens (peanuts, milk, eggs, shellfish)
- Mosquito and insect bites
- Medicine
Children's allergy symptoms
Differences in children can affect their sensitivity types and different levels of severity.
- An allergic reaction triggered by airborne allergens: asthma, sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, red eyes
- Food allergens/insect bites triggering allergic reactions: hives, facial or throat swelling, vomiting, diarrhoea
How to detect allergens
The latest generation of IgE allergy tests, Faber/ALEX2, are now available on the market and differ somewhat from traditional allergy tests. They can generally identify over 90% of the sources of allergens in children, so we generally recommend that parents have their children undergo allergy testing. Once the allergens are identified, doctors can then prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Allergy prevention
- Start from daily life, for example, clean your home more often to reduce the chances of dust mites appearing, because dust mite faeces contain many enzymes. These enzymes contain highly concentrated allergens, which can dissolve proteins on human skin and mucous membranes, causing children's skin to be sensitive.
- Parents can consider using anti-dust mite bedding.
- Purchase a dehumidifier
Treatment
Traditionally, we use anti-allergy medications to suppress symptoms, but there are now some new oral desensitisation treatments that can permanently improve children's allergic conditions.
If a child is three years old or above, holding the sublingual tablet under the tongue for 5-10 minutes, and then swallowing it, can be used for a three-year treatment period to significantly improve allergic conditions.
If parents have any concerns about their child's allergies, they should consult a paediatrician.
