Allergies are abnormal immune reactions against an innocuous substance. Allergies can affect people of all ages, including infants. Common allergies in infants include food allergies and skin allergies, or eczema. Fortunately, many of these reactions subside over time. Parents can help to manage these symptoms by identifying potential triggers and preventing infant exposure to them. In addition, some recent evidence suggests that infants may also be susceptible to nasal allergies, a common condition in older children.
Food Allergies
The most well-characterized allergies in infants are food allergies. Food allergies can be precipitated by a variety of foods; the most common culprits is cow's milk, followed by eggs and peanuts. Other possible irritants include soy, tree nuts, wheat and fish products. Symptoms of food allergy are hives, swelling around the eyes and lips, vomiting and diarrhea. Severe symptoms can include breathlessness, wheezing, and a fall in blood pressure.
Treatment of Food Allergies
To easily identify infant allergies, mothers should introduce new foods slowly during weaning. According to "Nelson's Pediatrics," new foods should be introduced no faster than every three to four days. A skin prick test can be done to confirm the allergy. In this test, a small amount of suspected foods are injected into the skin. Presence of redness or swelling at the site of injection can be used to diagnose the irritant. The most important treatment is to avoid the irritant food. Resolution to cow's milk allergy usually occurs by 1 year of age.
Eczema
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is another common manifestation of allergies in infants. According to the "Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America," atopic dermatitis affects 1 to 10 percent of infants. A family history of allergies is often common. The main symptoms of eczema is an itchy rash. The itching is usually worse at night. Food, inhaled allergens, bacterial infections, dry skin, excessive sweating and a variety of irritants can worsen the rash. The infant's cheeks, scalp and neck are most commonly affected.
Treatment of Eczema
Approximately half of infants with atopic dermatitis outgrow their allergies by 2 years of age. Skin testing can be done by an allergist to identify potential irritants. Symptomatic relief can be given by lukewarm bathing for at least 20 minutes, followed by an occlusive lotion, to prevent drying. Steroid lotions are also effective in decreasing the rash. Antihistamines can also be given to infants to decrease the itchiness.
Allergic Rhinitis
Some recent evidence suggests that allergic rhinits, a common disease of children and adults, can start from infancy. In 2010 a research conducted in France studying more than 18,000 infants found that up to 9 percent of them had symptoms of allergic rhinitis. The findings suggest that allergies may begin from as early as 18 months of life. The researchers in the study advise that suspected allergies should be treated with an antihistamine, inhaled corticosteroids, and another medication, cromolyn, all of which can be started from 6 months of age.
References
- "Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics"; Dr. Robert M. Kliegman, et al.; 2008
- Children's Memorial Hospital: Food Allergy; June 2008
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation: Atopic Dermatits
- "Reuters"; Nasal Allergies May Affect Infants Too
