{"id":290,"date":"2020-09-16T18:50:59","date_gmt":"2020-09-16T22:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.fm1.dev\/pediatric-ent-overview\/pediatric-allergy\/"},"modified":"2021-06-17T13:19:50","modified_gmt":"2021-06-17T17:19:50","slug":"pediatric-allergy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/ent\/pediatric-allergy\/","title":{"rendered":"Pediatric Allergy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [{\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"How do pediatric allergies contribute to ear infections?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"One of the most common medical problems children experience is otitis media, or middle ear infection. In most cases, allergies are not the main cause of ear infections in children under two years old. But in older children, allergies may play a significant role in ear infections, fluid behind the eardrum or problems regulating ear pressure. Diagnosing and treating allergies is an important part of healthy ears.\"\n    }\n  }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"Do children\u2019s allergies cause sleep disorders?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Chronic nasal obstruction is a frequent symptom of both seasonal and year round allergic rhinitis. Congestion caused by this can contribute to sleep disorders such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. This can lead to fatigue, which is one of the most common, and most debilitating, allergic symptoms. Fatigue not only affects a child's quality of life, but has been shown to affect school performance.\"\n    }\n  }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"Can allergies cause pediatric sinusitis?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Allergies should be considered in children who have persistent or recurrent sinus disease. Depending on the age of your child, their individual history, and an exam, your doctor should be able to help you decide if allergies are to blame.\"\n    }\n }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What is a fixed food allergy?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Fixed (immediate) food allergies: When an immediate food reaction occurs, symptoms occur within hours of ingestion. Symptom onset is rapid and may include tingling of extremities, wheezing, coughing, tightening of the throat, nausea, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Sometimes in cases where nuts, shellfish and fish have been eaten anaphylaxis may occur. Blood testing (i.e., RAST test) is typically used to verify fixed food allergies. Approximately 5 to 15 percent of food allergies are of the fixed variety. \"\n}\n  }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What is a cyclic food allergy?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Cyclic (delayed) food allergies: Symptoms of a delayed food allergy can take up to 72 hours to appear. Unlike fixed food allergies, this allergic response is cyclical in nature. Cyclic food allergies are more common than fixed food allergies, accounting for approximately 85 percent of cases, although usually a little more difficult to identify.\"\n    }\n  }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"How do you determine what food a child is allergic to?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Keep a detailed food diary, tracking what was eaten (including ingredients), when it was eaten, medications taken, and any symptoms that developed. Be honest! Some well-meaning parents or caregivers often create a food diary that looks healthier than it really is. Your child can receive the best diagnosis if the diet records are accurate, timed precisely, and truthful. The diet diary can be evaluated by the doctor to identify food items that may be the culprits. Conduct an elimination and challenge diet at home based upon your physician's assessment of your child's diet diary. It is best if you carefully maintain a new diet diary for your child during this period. During this diet, your child must abstain from one, and only one, of the possible food culprits at a time for a period of four days. This can be difficult to carry out if the food is very common, such eggs or cereal, so you need to pay strict attention to your child's diet during the elimination phase. Any cheating will invalidate the results. On the fifth day, you will be asked to feed your child the suspected culprit food item. This is the challenge! Provide your child an average-sized portion of the food in question to be eaten in five minutes. In one hour the child should eat another half portion if no symptoms have developed. Any symptoms that develop are then timed and recorded. With a true cyclic food allergy, you would expect a significant worsening of the symptoms described in the original diet diary, although the challenge symptoms may vary as well.\"\n }\n }\n ]\n  }\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Allergy and sinus conditions are common in children, whose sinuses continue to develop well into the teen years. Allergy and sinus symptoms are similar, making a proper diagnosis a bit challenging. An ENT specialist can recommend diagnostic testing to help pinpoint the cause of what is ailing your child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Common Causes of Child Allergies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When allergies are to blame, the immune system responds to a perceived threat by flooding the bloodstream with chemicals called histamines, which attack the offending substance but cause inflammation and swelling of the airways in the process. Common allergy triggers include pollen, mold, animal dander, dust mites, chemicals, medications, and certain foods.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Are Pediatric Sinusitis and Allergies Related?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Pediatric sinusitis is usually the result of cold viruses, and may be aggravated by allergies. It can be either acute (short-term) or chronic (lasting longer than 12 weeks and recurring frequently). Distinguishing whether your child\u2019s symptoms are the result of allergies or a sinus condition is the key to successful treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Allergy Symptoms in Children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/ent\/allergy-symptoms\/\">Symptoms of allergy and sinus conditions<\/a> include runny nose, sneezing, stuffiness, coughing, sore throat, wheezing, headaches, snoring, and itchy eyes (these may also be watery) and nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to a physical examination, your child\u2019s doctor will carefully inspect the ears, nose, and throat for signs of infection. Skin and blood tests will likely be administered to determine whether an allergen trigger is responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Treating Allergies in Children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/iStock-505171924.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-644\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/iStock-505171924.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/iStock-505171924-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>When your child is diagnosed with allergies and avoiding the allergen trigger isn\u2019t possible, <a href=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/ent\/allergy-treatments\/\">treatment consists of a variety of medications<\/a>. These include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal corticosteroid sprays, eye drops, and prescription drugs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Severe cases that don\u2019t respond to medical treatment may require immunotherapy, usually delivered through weekly injections (i.e., allergy shots). This enables the body to build up a tolerance to the allergen over time, bringing long-term symptom relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Pediatric Sublingual Immunotherapy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/otolaryngology\/specialty_areas\/sinus_center\/sublingual_immunotherapy.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SLIT, or sublingual immunotherapy,<\/a> is an increasingly popular method of treating allergies. It is similar to immunotherapy (allergy shots), but instead of needles, the medicine is taken orally. It\u2019s ideal for pediatric patients whose allergies most likely haven\u2019t progressed to an advanced stage, and can be helpful in preventing asthma in some patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>What Is the Purpose of Sublingual Immunotherapy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of SLIT is to enable the body to build up a tolerance to a specific allergen by introducing it through controlled doses over a period of time. Gradually the size of the dosage is increased, and the immune system becomes less sensitive to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Does Pediatric Sublingual Immunotherapy Work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In children, the benefits are especially strong. Studies show that SLIT not only decreases the immunological response to allergens, but it prevents the onset of new allergic reactions and, as previously stated, has been shown to limit the onset of asthma in patients who suffer from allergic rhinitis. From a safety standpoint, SLIT is considered a better choice for children because traditional allergy shots carry a risk of severe side effects in younger patients. Additionally, the medication consists of drops that are kept under the tongue for a minute or two and then swallowed, so home-based treatment is easily managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Who Can Benefit Most From Sublingual Immunotherapy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Children suffering from allergies (hay fever, dust mites, animal dander, etc.) that are unresponsive to medical treatment are good candidates for SLIT. The first step involves finding out which allergen is triggering your child\u2019s immune response. Once that has been identified through allergy skin testing, an extract is prepared in drop form to be taken daily. The full course of treatment lasts three to five years.<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Allergy and sinus conditions are common in children, whose sinuses continue to develop well into the teen years. Allergy and sinus symptoms are similar, making a proper diagnosis a bit challenging. An ENT specialist can recommend diagnostic testing to help pinpoint the cause of what is ailing your child. Common Causes of Child Allergies When&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":394,"menu_order":42,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"(260) 426-8177 | Allergies affect children differently than adults. Learn about children&#039;s allergy types and symptoms. Schedule an allergy evaluation today.","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"","fname":"","lname":"","position":"","credentials":"","placeID":"","no_match":false,"name":"","company":"","review":"","address":"","city":"","state":"","zip":"","lat":"","lng":"","phone1":"","phone2":"","fax":"","mon1":"","mon2":"","tue1":"","tue2":"","wed1":"","wed2":"","thu1":"","thu2":"","fri1":"","fri2":"","sat1":"","sat2":"","sun1":"","sun2":"","hours-note":""},"service_tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/290"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=290"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2272,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/290\/revisions\/2272"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"service_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/service_tags?post=290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}