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Allergies
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Allergy In Children
Allergic diseases in children traditionally affect the lung (asthma),
the skin (atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema), and the
nasal passages (allergic rhinitis). The following are some interesting
tidbits about these illnesses.
* Estimates from a skin test survey suggest that allergies affect 40 to
50 million people in the U.S.A.
* Six million children in the United States have seasonal allergic
rhinitis.
* Two million children have atopic dermatitis. This is the most common
skin condition in children under eleven years of age.
* Allergies have a strong genetic predilection. The likelihood of a
child developing allergic disease is 1 in 4 if one parent has allergies
and 2 in 3 if both parents have allergies.
Allergies may be seasonal or chronic depending upon the exposure to the
allergen. An allergy may be influenced by factors such as emotional
stress, fatigue, infection, air pollution, and weather changes that can
cause day to day variation in the severity of symptoms. These
triggering factors add to what doctors call the "allergic load," the
amount of allergens the body can tolerate at any given time without the
occurrence of symptoms.
Common types of allergies
Below are the most common types of allergies.
- Food Allergies - ignited by certain food types
- Anaphylaxis - triggered by drugs, food, or insect stings
- Respiratory Allergies - triggered by allergens which are airborn
- Contact Allergies - triggered by skin-affecting allergens
- Insect Sting Allergies - triggered by insect venom
Mild Symptoms:
- Tingling, itching, or swelling of your mouth, tongue, lips, or throat
- Tightness feeling in your throat
- Difficulty speaking or swallowing
- Nausea
- Indigestion and abdominal cramps
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Skin rashes
- Coughing, congestion, wheezing, or sneezing
- Runny, stuffy, or itchy nose |
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