- Knowledgebase: Information on Specific Illnesses
- Here you will find discussions of specific illnesses and their management.
- 24. I am concerned that my daughter may have allergies - Top
- Q: I am concerned that my daughter may have allergies; how can I tell?
A: Allergies can be a problem especially in this area because of the plant growth, humidity and because of air flow issues over the mountains. There are seasonal allergies (Spring/Fall) that are related to outside factors (grasses, trees, pollens) and there are also problems that can be all throughout the year (dust, dust mites, mold). Children under 2 to 3 years of age catch frequent colds as they develop their immunity through exposure and at times seem to have a constant runny nose so they can appear like they have allergies. If your child is older and the problems are seasonal Fall/Spring), then you may be dealing with allergies. It can be helpful to look at some differences between colds and allergies and also another problem: sinusitis. I bring up sinusitis because it is an infection of the sinuses that is generally a result of a secondary infection that resulted from a cold or allergies. All three can have nasal discharge; cold discharge is clear to milky yellow, allergy discharge is clear, watery and sinusitis discharge is sometimes more thick gray, yellow or green. Sometimes the discharge from colds or allergies may be thick in the morning but clears as the day goes on. This is due to mucus not being cleared during the night and mixing with debris in the air and thickening due to breathing dry air. Cough can be a part of colds or sinusitis, primarily due to post nasal drainage. Allergies generally have only minor cough unless the child also has asthma. Fever can be associated with colds and sinusitis, but allergies alone do not produce temperature. Each individual cold lasts 7 to 10 days. The duration of allergies can be lengthy (all year round or seasonal). Other helpful hints about allergies are:
a) "allergic salute" where a child will push their nose up with their hand,
b) "allergic creases is a crease in the nose at the margin of the soft and bony part of the nose (caused by the frequent use of the allergic salute),
c) watery, itchy eyes and
d) "allergic shiners" which are dark circles under the eyes caused by venous congestion causing pooling of blood in the area.
Over the last several years we have come a long way in the treatment of allergies. We have developed more effective nonsedative antihistamines. We are using steroid nasal sprays and eye drops with allergy preventing medicines like cromolyn sodium. Also our knowledge about allergies and the use of desensitization shots has markedly improved. Fortunately, allergies are generally not life threatening, but can be a serious nuisance and if we can relieve this through environmental changes or medication, we should do what we can.
- Updated: March 24, 2001
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