Symptoms in Children
Allergic reactions in children
The two most common forms of allergy amongst children are food and hayfever.
Food allergy affects 1 in 20 children compared to 1 in 100 adults, demonstrating that the majority of allergies will disappear over time.
Symptoms of food allergies
The symptoms of food allergy are usually obvious and occur quite quickly after the child has eaten. They include hives (white itchy bumps that look like insect bites), swelling around the mouth and vomiting.
Some food allergies are so severe they cause life-threatening reactions called anaphylaxis, requiring the child to have immediate emergency treatment and medical attention.
The more common food allergens (the substances that cause the allergic reaction) include:
► Egg
► Cow’s milk
► Peanuts
► Tree nuts
Less common ones include:
► Seafood
► Sesame
► Soy
► Fish
► Wheat
If your child is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, seeds or seafood, it’s most likely they will have the problem for life.
Symptoms of hayfever
In general, children’s hayfever symptoms are much the same as adult symptoms. The emotional symptoms can be the same too.
Additionally, hayfever can lead to dark circles under the eyes; and children often use the palm of their hand to push their nose up to relieve itching. Some doctors call this action the "allergic salute".
Hayfever should not be ignored in children as it may impact their ability to perform at school.
Read about:
Effects on schooling