Sunday, January 31, 2010

Infant Allergies: How to Prevent It

By Angela C. Briscoe

Should you not provide proper treatment methods for Infant Allergies they can be extremely serious. You need to know as much information about allergies and their treatments as possible. An allergy is an immune response which is essentially a method for your body to use to protect itself. This response can create symptoms such as itchy skin, teary eyes, nasal discharge, sneezes or a skin rash.


There are some extremely intense allergy episodes that can threaten your infant's life. Children with no family history of allergic reactions can still develop allergies. There are significant differences between intolerance and a true allergen response. Your child's health care provider will be able to help you understand more about these differences and can help you answer questions about allergies.


When Infant Allergies are the issue it is advisable not to try and provide home remedies without your doctor's consent. You should always contact your family doctor or pediatrician at once if you suspect that your baby is displaying any allergy related signs and symptoms. An incorrect medication or treatment that is given to your child can complicate the problem or worsen the symptoms. The telltale symptoms of an allergy are generally signs such as tearing and redness of the eyes; complaints of a stuffy or runny nose; skin rashes and hives or respiratory problems. Always be wary of your infant's surroundings and be alert for anything new that the baby could have been exposed to within the most recent 24 hour period. This information can be valuable when you try to discover what the allergy stimulus might have been.

Even those allergy medications that are available over the counter should only be used with the advice and approval of your doctor. No medication should be considered safe for an infant if it has not been recommended or prescribed by a doctor. Even then you should only use the exact dose as instructed.

Try avoiding any known triggers by vacuuming the baby's room daily and disinfecting the areas where your baby will play and sleep. You can use HEPA filters in your home to help trap most of the allergens that are in the air. They are also available for your vacuum.

Another thing you can do to help prevent Infant Allergies is by controlling the humidity in your home. Wash bedding in hot water setting and make sure to dry completely. You can also obtain allergen free mattress covers and pillow covers to give an extra layer of protection. Try to avoid letting your pets into the baby's sleeping area. While pets are very common they can also be a trigger for your child.

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