Effective Tests and Treatments are Available to Treat Allergies in Young Children

by Darline Turner Lee, Physician Assistant, ACSM Exercise Specialist

Article Last Reviewed: Sept. 9, 2006

In the span of five minutes, my then fourteen month old daughter’s eyes began to swell shut, her lips protruded and her breathing became more audible as she switched to mouth breathing from nasal inhalations. It was a terrifying experience. At the time, I had no idea what had caused the allergic reaction. A quick dose of Benadryl syrup and we rushed her to the emergency room. She was evaluated and sent home with a prescription for corticosteroids. We were instructed to have further evaluation with her pediatrician.

After a visit to the pediatrician the next day, a small amount of my daughter’s blood was drawn and sent for testing. The results showed a severe allergy to fish. I had been eating fish the previous night, and apparently my daughter had eaten some when I wasn’t looking.

It’s no surprise that my daughter has allergies. Both families have strong histories of allergies, asthma and itchy, dry skin (atopic dermatitis or eczema). I myself have a severe allergy to peanuts, for which I carry an epinephrine pen, and eczema. My husband has hay fever and asthma. My daughter developed asthma symptoms at nine months and uses a portable nebulizer (breathing treatment) system as needed. She has yet to show signs of eczema.

Recently, following another visit to the emergency room, we were referred to Dr. William Otto, an allergist with the Austin Regional Clinic.

“In infants, you mostly see food allergies. The most common culprits are milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish and peanuts. After the age of three, the environmental allergies kick in and you begin seeing reactions to flowers, grasses and other airborne particles like pet dander.”

Symptoms of allergies include eczema, hives or other skin rashes, stomachache, headache, congestion, itchy eyes, runny nose and wheezing. In very sensitive individuals, the symptoms can begin as early as six months.

“When you see a child develop eczema under a year of age, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), and asthma may not be far behind. This is called the allergic march,” says Otto.

Dr. Otto ordered an ImmunoCap test for my daughter, the most advanced allergy test currently available. Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it’s especially useful in infants and toddlers for whom skin prick testing on the back is not reliable. A small amount of blood is taken and sent to the lab where levels of IgE antibodies are measured for specific antigens (the agents that cause the allergy symptoms). My daughter’s results were off the chart for peanuts and fish, highly reactive to milk and reactive to eggs. Dr. Ottto prescribed epinephrine pens for emergency use and a prescription antihistamine for daily use as needed. She’s been playful and happy since, with no more swelling, hives or other symptoms.

“The newer medications are very effective in infants and small children.” According to Dr. Otto. “It’s wonderful that we can treat children and they can lead relatively unrestricted, normal lives.”

For information on Infant and Childhood Allergies:

The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network
10400 Eaton Place, Suite 107
Fairfax, VA 22030-2208
(703) 691-3179
www.foodallergy.org

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
555 East Wells Street
Suite 1100
Milwaukee, WI 53202-3823
(414) 272-6071
www.aaaai.org

The American Academy of Pediatrics
141 Northwest Point Blvd.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 434-4000
www.aap.org

ImmunoCAP Specific IgE blood test
Sweden Diagnostics (US) Inc.
An Affiliate of Pharmacia Diagnostics AB
www.immunocap.us