All You Need to Know About Baby Allergies

Knowing whether your baby is allergic to something or is suffering from a common sickness is not easy. Symptoms such as a running nose, an upset stomach or general fussiness could mean a lot of things, so more careful evaluation is needed when establishing whether the baby is allergic to something or not. A baby’s allergic reaction is caused by a reaction by his immune system (sometimes affected by vaccinations) by an external stimulant such as pollen and dust particles. Allergic reactions could be hereditary or could be specific to your baby.

TELLING WHETHER IT’S A COLD OR ALLERGIC REACTION

The symptoms of a cold and those of an allergic reaction in babies are almost the same, which makes it difficult to distinguish the two.

Even though babies and toddlers usually cough and wheeze, you should look at the intensity to tell whether it is anything serious. It could be caused by a simple virus of the respiratory system, or could be the result of a disease such as asthma.

If your baby is experiencing an allergy, you will notice that he easily contracts diseases of the respiratory system and that they don’t go away easily. The cough may also be dry as a result of swelling and spasming in the respiratory system, and may develop to wheezing.

In babies, wheezing should be a sign of danger. It shows that the baby is experiencing difficulty when breathing, a condition that should be checked out immediately by a doctor.

A running nose probably indicates a cold if it is accompanied by cloudy white mucus. It should, however, be alarming if it is clear and watery, and persists for too long. Allergic reactions also come with discomfort and signs of struggle while breathing such as sucking in of the chest and flaring of nostrils.

In rare cases, the baby may be suffering from a disease called anaphylaxis which causes the airways to swell. It makes breathing and swallowing hard and should be reported to a doctor if suspected.

THE EYES

Allergic reactions in the eyes make them itchy and you may notice the baby trying to rub theirs often. The eyes may also tear a lot and have even have dark circles under them. The baby may be irritable out of discomfort.

Some babies suffer an allergic condition known as allergic conjunctivitis which causes the eye to turn red. The eyes also produce a sticky liquid that clamps them shut especially in the morning. These symptoms are very similar to those caused by viral conjunctivitis, also called pinkeye.

THE SKIN

Even though most babies experiences rashes, the regular ones disappear quickly and don’t have any significant effects. Allergic rashes, on the other hand, usually last a while and are more extensive than the ordinary rashes. Eczema, for instance, is red, scaly and quite persistent.

Some like contact dermatitis may be a result of reactions to soap, detergents and other chemicals coming into contact with the baby’s skin.

Conclusively, babies have allergic reactions to factors in their environment but it may be hard to tell when they do. If you suspect it, be sure to reach out to a doctor and have your baby examined.