Allergies in Children: When Your Child Inherits Your Allergies

The day your child was born, you may have thought, “He has his father’s eyes,” or, “She has her mother’s smile.” Children inherit a lot of characteristics from their parents, some of which are not what you may have expected. One trait that’s very common for children to inherit is the tendency to have allergies. Allergies in children are more likely if one or both parents have allergies. While inherited allergies in children are not specific to a certain type of allergen like pollen or food allergies in children, children do inherit the tendency to have an allergic reaction to something at any point during their lives. If one parent has allergies, children have a 50 percent chance of having an allergic reaction. When both parents have allergies, children have up to a 75 percent chance of developing allergies.

Allergies in children can appear in dozens of different ways. Just like allergies in adults, allergies in children are caused by an improper response of the immune system. When a child becomes allergic, it means his or her immune system is fighting against a substance that is basically harmless. Allergies in children can be caused by countless different substances such as foods, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, latex, chemicals, and medicines.

The symptoms of allergies in children can range from mild to fatal or can develop into other chronic diseases like asthma. One of the most common allergies in children is hay fever, or allergic rhinitis. This allergy is caused by pollen, mainly from grasses, weeds, or trees. Hay fever allergies in children come with mainly nasal symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, coughing, and wheezing. Left untreated, hay fever allergies in children can lead to painful, chronic ear infections, as well as abnormalities in the face and mouth.

From the time of a child’s birth, parents should be aware that allergies in children can be linked to many common foods, and some allergic reactions can be fatal. As parents introduce food to babies and children, it’s best to start, one food at at time, with “safer” items like rice, potatoes, apples, and pears. Foods that are well known to cause allergies in children and adults include eggs, nuts (particularly peanuts and peanut butter), corn, wheat, fish, and shellfish.

By identifying what substances are causing allergies in children, parents can help the child avoid the allergen and therefore lead a more productive, happier life. Plus, there is always hope that allergies in children will diminish as the child grows into adulthood. Since many parents are concerned about the side effects of typical allergy medicines, they may want to explore the effectiveness of a natural allergy medication that has no side effects and is safe for the treatment of children.