Spring is such an exciting time for our kids! After months of cold weather and rain, they can ride their bikes, draw with chalk and start gearing up for spring sports season. However, if your kid seems to have a sniffly nose every time they come back in after playing outside, it might be worth investigating if they have seasonal allergies.
What Are Children Allergic To?
Children can be allergic to anything adults are: pollen, insect bites and stings, mold, pet dander, dust mites and certain foods. In fact, allergies are common in children, affecting about 30% of kids,1 but symptoms may not appear for a few years as your child’s body develops.
How Do Allergies Develop in Children?
Allergies tend to develop in a particular order as your child grows. This occurs because it takes time for the body to become sensitized, and seasonal versus year-round exposure affects the body’s sensitization. Allergies to indoor allergens, such as pet dander or dust, tend to take effect much earlier than those to outdoor allergens, such as pollen or insect bites, because children interact with indoor allergens daily year-round, unlike outdoor allergens, which they encounter only for a few months each year.
On top of that, symptoms tend to intensify for kids. You may observe allergy symptoms in your kid one year and manage them fairly easily, only to have them seem to be struggling much more a year later. Again, this is due to the body becoming sensitized over time; what starts out as a mild irritation can develop into a full-blown severe allergy.
The progression of allergies in kids is known colloquially as “the allergic march,” and it looks like this:
- Birth to 1 year: Skin reactions, such as hives or eczema
- 1-3 years: Food allergies emerge
- 3-5 years: Rhinitis, usually in response to indoor allergens, emerges
- 4-6 years: Seasonal allergies emerge
- 5-7 years: Asthma emerges
What Symptoms Should I Watch for in My Child?
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Congestion and stuffiness
- Coughing
- Itchy eyes
- Skin rashes or hives
- Difficulty breathing
- Stomach upset
- Fatigue
Pay attention to whether these symptoms come on all at once or develop gradually. If they develop gradually, it’s more likely to be a cold or upper respiratory infection, but if the symptoms develop all at once, it’s probably the body reacting to an allergen.
How Can I Confirm That My Child Has Allergies?
You’ve probably heard of allergy testing before—turns out, allergy testing is 100% safe for children! Allergy testing helps confirm that a substance is triggering an allergic reaction, giving you information about how severe the allergy is and what to avoid.
To find out what’s plaguing your child and take proactive steps in managing their allergies today, call Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery to set up an appointment. We’re also available to answer any questions you may have about pediatric allergies.
Learn More
1 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, February 21). FastStats: Allergies. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/allergies.htm
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