Allergies are so much more common these days yet no one really knows why. Whatever the reason, if your baby is found to be allergic to something, there are lots of options for treatment and management. And, the good news is, many babies do eventually grow out of the condition.
reduce the risk
An allergic parent has a greater risk of having an allergic child. There's nothing you can do about your genes, but you can take precautions to try to lessen the possibility of your little one developing an allergy.
If you can, try to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of your baby's life
If allergies run in the family, only introduce possible problem foods after the age of one, and don't give smooth peanut butter or products containing traces of nuts to him until the age of three (all whole nuts should be avoided until your child is six because of a possible choking hazard)
Introduce each new food one at a time, so that if there is a reaction you know exactly what caused it. Remember, though, that the reaction may happen on your baby's second exposure to the allergen, as it was the first exposure that primed his cells to react in this way
Talk to your health visitor about which foods to avoid and exactly when to introduce them.
A skin prick test can determine whether
baby is allergic to a particular
substance.
treatments
If possible, remove the cause of the allergy. For example, if it's a food allergy, talk to your health visitor about dietary alternatives; if it's a pet allergy, perhaps the cat could sleep outside. If the cause of the allergy can't be avoided altogether, management is the next best step.
Skin conditions such as eczema may be treated with mild topical steroid creams, and a regime of moisturising. Newer creams, such as tacrolimus, modulate the skin's immune response. Serious cases may need treatment with wet wraps – damp 'bandages' put on at night over special creams.
Antihistamine syrups can help with rashes and runny noses. Your pharmacist can advise you
Consult your GP or health visitor for the latest advice on treatment.
Asthma: The allergic reaction causes your child's airways to become swollen affecting his breathing and causing wheeziness. It is hard to diagnose asthma in young babies, but if you are worried your baby is wheezy, talk to your GP: it is likely to be a simple chest infection that can be treated easily.
Eczema: This itchy, red skin rash is relatively common in babies from the age of three months. It is often unclear what causes the reaction, but the house dust mite is a common trigger, so it pays to keep your baby's environment as dust-free as possible (for example, wooden floors harbour less dust than carpets).
Food allergies: Foods can cause a classic allergic reaction – from mild hay-fever-like symptoms to rashes, wheezing and – very rarely – anaphylactic shock. These allergies are rare but can include milk, gluten (the protein in wheat), eggs, nuts, seeds, soya, fish and shellfish.
checking for allergies
If you think your baby has an allergy, speak to your GP or health visitor. They may suggest further tests:
A skin prick test can determine whether your baby is allergic to a particular substance
A blood test can also be carried out, where a sample of blood is tested for specific antibodies that the immune system produces in response to a particular allergen
A 'challenge' can be performed in hospital, to observe what happens when a baby is exposed to a particular allergen and the reaction monitored.
Milk allergy is when your baby's immune system reacts to proteins in milk. It is the most common childhood allergy, affecting between two per cent and seven per cent of babies. Babies who have eczema are more likely to suffer from it. Most children grow out of milk allergies by the age of three.
Lactose intolerance is when your baby has difficulty digesting the lactose, or the sugar, found in milk. This is much rarer than milk allergy and few babies in the UK are born with lactose intolerance.
Talk to your doctor or health visitor to discuss the best approach to feeding if you suspect your baby is allergic to milk or suffers from lactose intolerance.