Question 1

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 2

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 3

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 4

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 5

how are children tested for allergies these days?

Accepted Answer

Allergy testing: Usually encompasses skin and/or serum (blood) test which are consistent with the child's clinical history.

Question 6

how often should children be tested for allergies?

Accepted Answer

It depends: It really depends on the age of the child, and whether you're talking about food or environmental allergies. I generally will skin test children over age 2 for environmental allergies, while many younger kids need food testing. In terms of frequency, children with environmental allergies may benefit from repeat testing after 2 years, as their allergies can change as they get older.

Question 7

where can i find information about children allergy?

Accepted Answer

AAAAI: These websites can provide some good general information :aaaai.Org and acaai.Org.

Question 8

why is it that so many children have allergies nowadays?

Accepted Answer

Hygiene hypothesis: The immune system has two opposing arms, one makes protective antibodies against bacteria and viruses, the other makes allergic antibody. One theory is that early antibiotic use disrupts the gut flora which tips the scale away from fighting infection and more toward making allergic antibodies. Clean environments might be at fault as well, farm kids don't get allergies as much as city kids.

Question 9

how do you confirm children's allergies from ?different foods?

Accepted Answer

Skin testing: The easiest way to determine whether or not a child is allergic to certain foods is skin testing. Blood testing might also be considered. The gold standard (best) test for food allergy is an oral food challenge (should be done under supervision of a qualified allergist).

Question 10

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.

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Doctor answers about:

Hypertet allergy in 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:

Does a cough come with allergies in children?

A member asked:

Why do some children have allergies?

A member asked:

How are children tested for allergies?

A member asked:

How are children tested for allergies these days?

A member asked:

How often should children be tested for allergies?

A member asked:

Where can i find information about children allergy?

A member asked:

Why is it that so many children have allergies nowadays?

A member asked:

How do you confirm children's allergies from ?different foods?

A member asked:

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

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