Preventing Allergies and Asthma in Children

Preventing Food Allergies

Food allergies in infants can cause many problems such as crying, colic, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, eczema and congestion. Children with a food allergy are four times more likely to develop asthma or other types of allergies. Food allergic reactions sometimes simply cause mild gastrointestinal upset, but other reactions can range from a tingling sensation in the mouth to swelling of the lips and tongue, to hives, to difficulty breathing. The most serious reactions can progress to a drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and even life-threatening complete systemic failure (anaphylaxis) in the most severe cases.

Infants should not be fed solid food until they are six months old. Breastfeeding exclusively during the first 6 months brings many kinds of important protection to all infants. Exclusive breastfeeding—providing the infant with no other liquid or food other than breast milk—proves especially valuable for preventing allergies in those at high risk (notably if one or both parents are affected by allergic disease).

Preventing Environmental Allergies

There is an increased risk of becoming allergic to certain substances in the air when exposure occurs shortly after birth. For instance, a major cause of allergy in children is house dust mites -- microscopic creatures that are found in large quantities inside the home. Early exposure has been linked to the development of this allergy. This suggests that taking steps to control dust mites in the child's home may reduce the occurrence of dust mite allergy.

These steps include using zippered, plastic covers on pillows and mattresses and washing bedding in hot water every seven to ten days. Indoor relative humidity should be kept below 50 percent to inhibit dust mite population growth. Use of humidifiers or vaporizers should be avoided. Optimally, carpets, upholstered furniture, or objects that collect dust should be removed from the infant's bedroom.

Development of allergies to animals is associated with the presence of furry animals in the children's homes at birth. Animal allergies are triggered by proteins found in the secretions and dander - dried skin flakes- of certain animals with hair, including dogs, cats, and rabbits. As such, in an attempt to prevent allergies, infants should not be exposed to these indoor pets.

Preventing Asthma

Because allergies may trigger asthma, many of the steps taken to control allergies will also lessen the occurrence or severity of asthma in children.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy, and exposure to second-hand smoke in infancy, has been shown to increase the incidence of wheezing and chronic respiratory illness in children, including ear infections.

Finally, respiratory infections are a common trigger of asthma. Breast feeding for the first six months or longer strengthens the child's immune system, which can be helpful in avoiding respiratory infections and asthma. It is also best to avoid putting very young children in group day care, as this is more likely to increase their exposure to respiratory infections, and consequently, trigger asthma.