Preventing Allergies and Asthma in Children

Preventing Food Allergies

Food allergies in children can cause a variety of reactions, ranging from mild rashes to gastrointestinal upset, to complete systemic failure (anaphylaxis). The major strategy for preventing food allergies is to delay exposure to potentially allergenic foods and liquids, because newborn infants may be more susceptible to food sensitization than older infants. Mothers should breast feed their infants for at least four to six months if possible, as breast milk is much less likely to produce an allergic reaction and can strengthen the child's immune system.

Infants should not be fed solid food until they are six months old. When infants are six to twelve months old, vegetables, rice, meat and fruit can be introduced to their diets. Each food should be introduced one at a time so that parents can identify and eliminate any foods that cause a reaction. After the child is over one year old, milk, wheat, corn, citrus and soy may be added. Finally, at two years of age, eggs and fish may be added, and peanuts may be introduced after age three. This dietary regimen has been shown to reduce or delay food allergies and the allergic skin disease atopic dermatitis, or eczema, in infants or allergic parents.

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.

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