I am a mother of two boys, both who have allergies and eczema.
As an Registered Nurse and an artist, I have learned to deal with this affliction in my children both medically and creatively.. more so, naturally. First be sure to check with the pediatrician, preferably a pediatric allergist. Be certain to what your child is allergic. Remember, allergies change. So, it's crucial to have the allergies screened every 6 months the first 3 years of life. Then every year until puberty. After that, every two to three years.
When you know what allergies your child has, of course you need to make sure the child does not come in contact with the allergen(s) or ingest them.
For instance, my boys are allergic to cats, dogs, peanuts and they have seasonal allergies... pollen.
So, we have no peanut products in the house. Be sure to check labels that the food is not processed on equipment that has had peanuts on them.
And we make sure everyone knows their allergies and how serious they can get. Obviously, we do not have cats or dogs.
When my boys have friends over to visit, they have to shower first. Then they change into my boys' clothes. This is especially important if the friends have pets. Dander gets on everything, including clothes that can be carried from house to house.
I place the friends' clothes in a plastic bag until they are ready to go home.
It may seem far fetched, but in time, friends and family get used to it.
Let me explain why this is crucial.
Allergies are caused by the body over-reacting to a certain protein or other element. In this case, we will use peanuts. When the body over responds to get rid of the allergen it deems as harmful, it over produces white cells, eosinophils. The eosinophils can multiply at such a rapid rate, that they overcrowd the mature ones. Therefore, on a lab test, over time of exposure to an allergen, the white cell count will read low, because the mature (counted) cells have died.
What this leaves is a serious condition and can lead to many health problems caused by a low eosinophil count, such as eosinophiliac pheumonia, leukemia.. just to name a few.
So, the next time someone says "Oh, the alleriges can't be that bad, just give him a Benadryl" You might want to explain how serious allergies are.
And each time the person is exposed to the allergen, the worst the reaction of the body will be next time. Eventually, the allergen can cause death, if not treated urgently, when an anaphylactic reaction occurs.
Make sure your doctor prescribes an "Epi pen". This is epinephrine in a syringe, given in a muscle with a needle.
When your child is exposed to an allergen and he or she starts to have wheezing or any sign of difficulty breathing, give the epi pen. What it does is increase the heart rate, thereby helping eliminate the allergen from the body more quickly.
Next give Benadryl, or whatever anti-histamine the doctor has prescribed and call an ambulance immediately. If you are close to a hospital, get someone to drive you and child to the emergency department. Every minute is critical.
Every day life for a child with allergies does not have to be bad. Concentrate on the positives and assure your child he is safe, if the allergies are under control.
Give your child a well balanced diet and supplement with vitamins. Make certain he drinks plenty of purified water.
Do not let him veg out on junk food and soda. These are horrible for the body anyway.
Keep regular check-ups with the allergist and be well!
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Contributor's Note
As mother of two, an artist and a nurse, allergies can be awful to deal with, but it can be great if you educate yourself and your child.
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