If your child is sniffling, sneezing, swelling up or breaking out with hives or a rash, it could be due to an allergy, which means the immune system is overreacting to a trigger. Knowing what your child is allergic to, however, might not be so clear cut. There are several types of allergies that are most common among kids, so they're the best place to start your investigation.
Environmental Allergies
Airborne allergens such as dust mites, pollen, molds and pet dander are among the most common for kids. "Dust mites are the main allergic component of house dust, which is made up of many particles and can contain things such as fabric fibers and bacteria, as well as microscopic animal allergens," according to KidsHealth.org, part of The Nemours Foundation's non-profit Center for Children's Health Media.
Pet allergens aren't just found in dust, though. Your cat or dog's dander, hair and saliva can also float through the air when the animal cleans herself. Outdoors, the biggest culprit is pollen, which leads to hay fever or rose fever on a seasonal basis---dependent on whether a child is allergic to tree, flower, grass or weed pollen. Mold can cause allergies both inside and out. It thrives in moist environments like basements, bathrooms, under sinks, in dirty clothes hampers and in piles of compost or rotting leaves.
Food Allergies
Food allergies affect about 5 to 8 percent of children under three, but many kids outgrow them after that age, according to pediatrician Vincent Iannelli, MD, F.A.A.P., the founder of KeepKidsHealthy.com. These allergies can cause wheezing, hives, digestive issues or an anaphylaxis reaction like swelling or difficulty breathing. Dr. Iannelli says the most common food allergies for kids, which should be avoided if any such reaction is noticed, are tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, milk, soy, fish, shellfish and wheat. KidsHealth.org adds that while egg allergies are one of the most common food allergies in young children, it's also one of the hardest to control, because eggs are hidden in so many prepared foods. The good news is that most kids outgrow the allergy by age five, and while some can't eat the yolk, the majority of children are only allergic to the whites.
Other Allergies
Other common allergies in kids are insect stings, medicines and chemicals. If your child is allergic to insect venom, it can cause wheezing, swelling and other severe signs of anaphylaxis. The most common medicines that cause allergies in children are antibiotics, which are used to treat various infections. Chemical allergies should be suspected if your child breaks out in an itchy rash after her clothes are washed in laundry detergent. It can also happen if she comes in contact with household cleaners, dyes or pesticides used on the lawn or in the garden.
