A whopping 40% of children in the United States are affected by allergies, which run the gamut from hay fever to severe food allergies. At Elk Grove Pediatrics, Rahat Saied, MD, offers a full slate of allergy testing and treatments, minimizing the impact that allergies can have on your child’s life. For expert allergy services in the Elk Grove, California, area, call or use the online booking feature.
Under normal circumstances, your child’s immune system protects them from all manner of foreign invaders, from toxins to bacteria. An allergy, however, is a misfire in their immune system where their body mistakenly identifies a benign substance (allergen) as harmful and goes into full attack mode.
This response, which is an allergic reaction, can range from a mild rash to life-threatening anaphylactic shock.
Why some people develop allergies, and others don’t, remains somewhat of a medical mystery, but researchers believe that genetics and environment are key contributors to the problem.
While, in theory, someone can be allergic to almost anything, the most common allergies among younger patients include:
Food allergies are among the most common and 90% of them are triggered by:
Hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, also accounts for a fair share of allergies among children.
There are many different ways your child’s body can respond to an allergen, but you should be on the lookout for:
In extreme cases, your child may go into anaphylactic shock, which is a medical emergency requiring immediate care. The signs of anaphylaxis vary, but the distress is obvious as your child may not be able to breathe, may vomit violently, or lose consciousness, among other symptoms.
The first step in treating allergies is to positively identify them. To do this, Dr. Saied relies on blood tests as well as a full review of your child’s symptoms and the circumstances surrounding their development. It’s important that you diligently record when your child displays symptoms so Dr. Saied can narrow the field of possibilities more quickly.
Once the zeros in on the culprit behind your child’s allergies, he recommends a treatment plan for your child’s unique situation, which may include:
Allergies can’t be cured, but there’s much that Dr. Saied can do to keep them under control, allowing your child to enjoy their carefree years.
For expert diagnosis and management of childhood allergies, call Elk Grove Pediatrics or schedule an appointment using the online booking button.
