Medical professionals have been studying food allergies among children for a very long time now. Children who are prone to allergies can have a reaction from a mere bite in a matter of seconds. Parents of such children always dwell in fear over their allergies. Medical professionals have been using many treatments like injections and oral medicines to combat the effects of these reactions. And precautionary measures are mostly always limited to avoiding the allergy-inducing foods. But there has been some progress in this matter and medical professionals have started to diversify their treatments to help these children and their parents deal better with their allergies. Here are a few facts that you should keep in mind.
1. Early Exposure To Allergens
Doctors have found it helpful in treating allergies in children by exposing them to the allergens early on. Several studies were conducted to explore more into peanut allergies. And researchers have found out that exposing babies who are at high risk of developing allergy to peanuts reduced their chances by several folds. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease highly recommends that babies who are at high risk of egg allergy or eczema be exposed to peanuts between the age of 4 to 11 months. This would help them to develop immunity.
2. Siblings Are Low Risk
Parents should not worry about all their children if one of their children is allergic. Siblings of allergic children are just as much at risk of developing similar allergies as all other random kids in the world are. So, there is no need for parents to panic and get all of their children tested for allergies if one of them has some specific allergy. But doctors would still want them to be tested to make sure they don’t have any others allergies.
3. Allergy Isn’t A Lifelong Agony
Doctors generally advise people to not panic in case their children have been tested positive for some allergies. It doesn’t mean they are doomed for life. It just means that they have to exercise caution. Also, it doesn’t mean that they will have to avoid certain foods all through out their lives. There is a big chance that they might grow out of their allergies when they grow older. So, there is no need to panic if in case you child has been tested positive.
4. Psychological Stress Needs To Be Evaluated
Doctors have nowadays started to help children deal with the social effects of allergies as well. When a child is allergic to certain foods, that means he or she would have to eat separately during lunch time. And this can psychologically take a toll on children. Thus, doctors have started helping children to deal with the aftermath as well as the actual allergies. This would allow them to understand their conditions better and not loathe it for its side effects.
5. Allergy Shots Aren’t Always The Answer
Allergy shots aren’t always the right way to go. These shots might safeguard your child for a while but it can cause problems also. Doctors themselves are still figuring out the long-term risks as well as benefits of these shots. And according to many doctors, there are many risks involved in this case. Slow growth, anaphylaxis to the shot, chronic nausea, etc. are only a few reactions that are known to us.
6. Counseling May Be Recommended
You need to be open to the idea that your doctor might recommend counseling for your child to help him or her deal with his or her condition. There are going to be social impacts of these conditions that children have to deal with. They can feel like social outcasts because of their conditions. So, it is important that your child is given proper help from the beginning to feel safe both physically and emotionally.
Allergic reactions can happen to anyone, but precautions and a proactive approach can save much more than a life.
