What's an allergy?
An allergy is an immune reaction to a substance in the environment called an allergen.
When a child with allergies comes into contact with an allergen – either by touching it, breathing it, eating it, or having it injected – her body mistakenly views it as a dangerous invader and releases histamines and other chemicals to fight it off.These chemicals irritate the body and cause symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, itching, and coughing. Symptoms can be mild or more severe, intermittent (seasonal, for example), or ongoing because of constant exposure to the allergen.
In some cases, an allergen can cause a severe reaction, called anaphylactic shock. This is a medical emergency, as the symptoms – including difficulty breathing and swelling – can be life threatening.
Type of allergy
Babies can have several different types of skin rash, which have a range of causes. Some allergic reactions can also lead to additional symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting.
Common types of allergic reactions in infants include the following:
Eczema
In babies aged between 6 months and 1 year, the rash often appears on the knees and elbows.
Papular urticaria
Papular urticaria is a localized allergic reaction to a bug bite. Bites from various insects, including mosquitoes, mites, and bedbugs, can cause the reaction.Although it usually affects children aged 2–6 years, papular urticaria can also occur in infants.Papular urticaria resembles small clusters of red bumps or bug bites. Some of the bumps may be fluid-filled. Papular urticaria can last for several days or even weeks.
Hives
When the body is allergic to a substance, it releases a chemical called histamine that can lead to the development of hives and other allergy symptoms.Hives are itchy, raised patches on the skin. They can range in size and shape but are usually pink or red with a thin red border.Hives can develop anywhere on the body and often appear in clusters.
Above we mainly discuss the common symptoms and types of skin allergies, but allergies also includes food allergies. We will not discuss them here. If you are interested in food allergies, you can follow our blog at Moonsea.
Treatment
Not all reactions in babies require treatment. For example, a mild rash is likely to fade within a few hours and may not trouble the baby in that time.
However, if the symptoms of a reaction are causing visible discomfort, treatment may be necessary.
The treatment can vary according to the type of rash or reaction. In general, the following treatments may help:
Using 1-percent hydrocortisone cream: Hydrocortisone cream can treat skin rashes relating to eczema or other allergic reactions. Although it is usually safe to use for infants for short periods, it is essential to speak to a doctor first.
Considering scratch mitts: Scratch mitts prevent a baby from scratching a rash with their fingernails. Too much scratching can injure the skin and lead to an infection.
Prevention
There's a lot of conflicting information about preventing or delaying allergies by postponing – or accelerating – a child's exposure to potential allergens.It is also not possible to prevent all allergic reactions in babies, but there are steps that parents and caregivers can take to reduce the risk. These include:
Of course, if you or your mate is allergic to cats, you won't want a feline in the house anyway. (Ditto for any other allergy-causing animal or substance.)
And keeping your home – in particular your child's room – clean and as free of mold and dust mites as possible is a good idea, regardless of whether your child has allergies.
We still can use the product that is antiallergic, especially the bedding things.Because it is the product that contacts baby skin directly . We need special attention.For example we can choose the sheet or mattress protector that is antiallergic and the material that chooses to be kind of soft and comfortable such as pure cotton pledges.