It can be quite scary when your child first shows signs of having an allergy. It's difficult to figure out what the irritant is, especially if there is more than one. That is why it's important to have the allergy in your child diagnosed by a knowledgeable doctor, as then treatment can begin.

An allergy in your child can come from a variety of sources. The most common culprits are food, inhalants, and contact irritants. These three categories are known to cover a variety of symptoms and causes.

Food Allergies

Children and adult allergies follow different patterns. A food allergy in your child is most likely to come from milk, eggs and peanuts. Children will often outgrow these allergies, but in the meantime, children and adults are more likely to react to foods they eat the most often.

A food allergy in your child may be prevented by avoiding high-risk foods. Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life has also been shown to be effective in avoiding allergies. If supplementing is necessary, use a hypoallergenic formula. Experts also say to avoid giving dairy products to your child before he is 12 months old, eggs until he's 2 years old and nuts and fish until he is 3 years old.

Inhalant Allergies

Many things in an indoor environment can cause an allergy in your child. Cats, dogs and dust mites are common culprits, and the allergy to pets actually comes from a reaction to their dander. There are ways to minimize pet dander - brushing and bathing the animal and vacuuming regularly with a HEPA filter can help.

A dust mite allergy in your child can be reduced by covering pillows, mattresses and box springs in special slip covers. This will deprive the dust mites of the dead skins cells they need to survive. Reducing the amount of carpeting in the home can also give dust mites less places to live.

Contact Allergies

An allergy in your child can be caused by contact with insects or irritating substances to the skin. An allergy to a stinging insect can be alarming, and a child with this problem must be educated about his allergy at an early age. A person or child with a stinging insect allergy must carry epinephrine with him at all times. One sting can cause anaphylaxis shock, which can be life-threatening.

Certain substances can be the culprit behind a skin allergy in your child. Many fragrance chemicals are made up of volatile organic compounds, which can be respiratory irritants. Skins reactions to fragrances in laundry detergents can show up as hives, rashes, dermatitis and eczema. The most common causes of skin irritation, or allergic contact dermatitis, are caused by nickel, gold, thimersol, neomycin sulfate, formaldehyde and bacitracin.

There are several more causes of an allergy in your child, but food, inhalant and contact irritants are the most common. While the symptoms might be frightening, most childhood allergies can be managed with proper medical care.

by Masni Rizal Mansor