Allergic diseases have become an increasingly major health problem in children in the last 30 years. In infancy, the main symptoms are eczema, gastrointestinal symptoms and wheezing, while asthma and allergic eye problems occur later in childhood, according to Dr. Susanne Halken in the June 2004 issue of "Pediatric Allergy and Immunology." Food allergies are most common in the early years of life, while airborne allergies occur later in childhood.
Food Allergies
More than 8 percent of children in the United States have food allergies, according to the Nemours Foundation. The most common foods that cause reactions in children are milk, soy, eggs, peanuts, and wheat. Around 2.5 percent of American children have a cow's milk allergy, 2.5 percent have an egg allergy, 1.2 percent has a peanut allergy, and 0.5 percent has a nut allergy, according to Dr. Sujatha Ramesh in the April 2008 issue of "Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology." Milk and egg allergies are most common in the first three years of life. An egg allergy is difficult to diagnose because egg is a hidden ingredient in many foods. However, most children outgrow an egg allergy by age five, notes the Nemours Foundation. Of all the food allergies common to children, peanuts cause the most severe reactions and both peanuts and seafood persist into adulthood.
Airborne Allergies
Common airborne allergies in children can be caused by house dust mites, pets, pollen and mold. Dust mite and pet allergies develop in the first six years of life while a pollen allergy develops when children start school, notes Halken. Most children spend most of their time indoors in the years prior to school, so they are more exposed to allergens found inside the house, such as dust mites, pets and mold, than to outdoor airborne allergens. Surprisingly, young children who live with pets are less likely to develop allergic diseases compared with children who don't have pets, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Of all the airborne allergens, pollen is one of the most common causes of allergies in both children and adults. Different kinds of pollen from grass, trees and weeds saturate the air from spring to fall, so children who are extremely sensitive to pollen may have allergies all year long.
Other Common Allergies
Other common causes of allergies in children are drugs and insect venom, according to the Nemours Foundation. An insect sting allergy is considered life-long, and may cause life-threatening allergic reactions in children. Antibiotics are the most common medicine that causes an allergic reaction in children, affecting 3.9 percent of children.
References
- "Pediatric Allergy and Immunology"; Prevention of Allergic Disease in Childhood: Clinical and Epidemiological Aspects of Primary and Secondary Allergy Prevention; Susanne Halken; June 2004
- Nemours Foundation: KidsHealth: All About Allergies
- "Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology"; Food Allergy Overview in Children; Sujatha Ramesh; April 2008
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: Multiple Pets May Decrease Children's Allergy Risk
