Recognizing Infant Allergies

Just like the case in adults, infant allergies are grouped according to the allergens that cause them. The three distinct allergens include inhalants, the immediate environment, and foods. Since infants do not have the expressive abilities to articulate how they feel when an allergy strikes, most cry inconsolably, and may also have a rolling behavior especially if they feel a need to scratch. Some of the tell-tale signs that caretakers need to look out for include raised bumps, skin rash, hives, scaling of the skin, eczema, dripping nose, teary eyes, breathing problems or swelling in any part of the body. When such symptoms appear, the caretaker should identify it as an allergic reaction and hence seek medical attention for the infant.

Infant allergies that manifest on the baby's skin through raised bumps can easily be mistaken for mosquito bites. However, any keen observer would easily distinguish them from mosquito bites due to their presence even on covered areas of the body such as the baby's back or the abdomen. Hives on the other hand may be caused by environmental causes, in which case they appear at the point of contact. In breast feeding infants, hives may occur when the baby develops an allergy towards a food item ingested by the nursing mother. Eczema is also another symptom that the baby can present with as an allergic reaction. Usually, eczema brought about by allergens appears behind the ears, and on the scalp. Allergies that manifest themselves as eczema are usually hard to detect because a caretaker can easily mistake them as cradle cap (when they appear on the scalp) or as dirt that has settled behind the ears.

Some of the easiest symptoms to identify infant allergies include those that cause swelling on the child's face, lips, or eyes. Medics usually advice parents and caretakers to seek medical attention for such symptoms immediately since the swelling can lead to an inflammation in the throat hence blocking the breathing passage. If the latter happens, the child can develop anaphylactic shock, and may even die. Some of the more difficult-to-recognize infant allergies, on the other hand, include those that manifest with symptoms such as weeping eyes and a runny nose. Such symptoms can easily be confused as frequent colds or plugged tear ducts in which case the child is wrongly treated with anti-histamine drugs or decongestants. For such reasons, parents and caretakers should always consult a qualified pediatrician, and should avoid self-medicating especially in children below the age of two years.

Exclusively breastfed children may also have infant allergies, in which case the child may suffer bloating, constipation or diarrhea. Other children may present symptoms such as vomiting after feeding, and their frequency of spiting up may increase. In some cases, food-related allergies in breastfeeding children may be mistaken for colic. However, a keen, experienced pediatrician will quickly pick up the symptoms as signs of an allergy.

Regardless of the allergen responsible for infant allergies, parents and caretakers should always be on the lookout for symptoms such as excessive sneezing, dry cough, fussiness, stuffy or running nose, eczema, diarrhea, and vomiting as these may be life threatening.