Question 1

does a cough come with allergies in children?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes: But not all the time. Nasal allergies are not a frequent cause of a really bad persistent cough. In a child with allergies and a really bad cough (assuming no fever) I would be concerned about a reactive airway/asthma type condition. If the child also had eczema I would be even more concerned.

Question 2

can a parents allergies be passed on to their children?

Accepted Answer

Not Exactly: What is passed genetically from parent to child is the propensity to develop atopy (such as eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergies) but usually not sensitization to specific allergens which the parent is allergic to.  The exception, which is a controversial topic, is drug allergies, but this is usually dependent on metabolism of the drug which is inherited rather than the allergy.

Question 3

should i keep a cat even if it causing allergy problems with my children ages 2 thru 7?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Several factors here.  I usually never recommend it if the family is attached to the pet, but if it is causing severe symptoms, you should sequester the animal out of the bedrooms and living spaces.  Then make sure you thoroughly rid those areas of cat dander as it is a potent and tenacious allergen.

Question 4

can a parents' allergies to various foods be passed on to their children?

Accepted Answer

No: The condition of being allergic is certainly an inherited property.  Often, that tendancy is greater in children whose biological mother has allergies.  However, specific allergy is generally not thought to be inherited.  That is, a parent can be allergic to food, and their children allergic to pollen or insect stings.

Question 5

why do some children have allergies?

Accepted Answer

Hereditary: The ability to have allergies is hereditary.  If one parent has allergy, there is about a 40% chance of the child having allergy. If both parents are allergic, the chances increase to about 70%.  Allergy also requires exposure to an "allergen", like pollen, dust mite, molds or animals.  So if there is no exposure, no symptoms occur.

Question 6

how are children tested for allergies?

Accepted Answer

See below: They are tested the same as everyone else. They can have skin testing performed by an allergist, or blood work ordered by their primary care provider.

Question 7

i have an allergy to nuts and i was wondering if my children would also be allergic?

Accepted Answer

Nut allergy: Maybe.  Your children may have inherited genes from you that make them more likely to develop an allergy, but they do not inherit a specific allergy to a food e.g. Nuts.  The children have to be exposed to food proteins in the diet, before an allergy can develop.  Once one develops an allergy then they are always allergic and need proper medical attention to prevent severe problems.

Question 8

can children grow out of seasonal allergies?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes: Some people's allergies get better over years, some get worse, and some are stable. Keeping allergies well-controlled not only keeps kids feeling better and sleeping better, but also doing better in school (it's hard to learn material when you feel miserable)! also, keeping allergies under control decreases the risk of ear infections and sinusitis.

Question 9

how are today's allergy tests performed on children?

Accepted Answer

Skin or Blood: Depending on the clinical history and suspected allergen, some practitioners choose the less painful and timely method, which is a blood test looking for specific ige antibodies, also called rast testing.  Percutaneous skin tests are still the gold standard for allergy testing.  This is something which you should discuss with your physician.

Question 10

what is the cause of environmental allergies in young children?

Accepted Answer

Air-borne allergies: Environmental allergies affect your respiratory system including the nose, sinuses, eyes and if severe, the lung. Thus, symptoms are nasal congestion, sinus pressure, teary and itchy eyes, cough, wheezing, physical activity limitation and difficulty breathing if you have asthma.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Dogs allergy in children

A member asked:

Does a cough come with allergies in children?

A member asked:

Can a parents allergies be passed on to their children?

A member asked:

Should i keep a cat even if it causing allergy problems with my children ages 2 thru 7?

A member asked:

Can a parents' allergies to various foods be passed on to their children?

A member asked:

Why do some children have allergies?

A member asked:

How are children tested for allergies?

A member asked:

I have an allergy to nuts and i was wondering if my children would also be allergic?

A member asked:

Can children grow out of seasonal allergies?

A member asked:

How are today's allergy tests performed on children?

A member asked:

What is the cause of environmental allergies in young children?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?