"Achoo! Siniffle, Sniffle"

"Gosh, my eyes are ichy. Every time I go near my best friend's cat, my eyes start to water and I start sneezing. What's wrong with the cat? And every spring and fall, my dad gets a runny nose when he goes outside in the park. What's going on?"

Well, nothing is wrong with the cat, and there is grass pollen in the air at the park - Tommy and his father have allergies.

What is an Allergy?

An allergy is your body's reaction to animals, flowers, plants, food, insects, and other things that don't bother most people. Allergies are caused by your body's immune system. Your immune system protects you from disease by making antibodies that fight bacteria, viruses, and germs, but when you have allergies, it can go crazy, and try to protect you from ordinary things like grass pollen and foods like peanuts or milk. Allergens are the things that cause allergy symptoms. When your body reacts to an allergen, you are allergic to it.

You can be allergic to many things, such as:

• dust mites (tiny insects that live in dust that collects all over your house)
• dander (like dandruff) of cats, dogs and many other animals
• grass, flower, and tree pollen (fine dust from plants - particularly in the spring and fall)
• mold and mildew (tiny plants that grow on damp surfaces, often in basements)
• foods including milk (cheese, yogurt, ice cream), wheat (in bread, cake cookies, etc.) soy, eggs, nuts, legumes (peas or dried beans), seafood and many others foods

Do I have a cold or an Allergy?

Sometimes it is hard to tell whether you have an allergy, or you have a virus or a cold that is making you sick. Allergies can cause sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes and ears, and sore throats. Hay fever is an allergy that people get when certain plants and grasses bloom in summer or fall, and this feels very similar to a cold. Food allergies may cause hives (an itchy skin rash), a stuffy nose, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, or even breathing problems, such as wheezing.

Because the symptoms of colds and allergies are similar, here are some ways to help you determine if you have a cold or allergies:

• If your cold symptoms last more than 2 weeks, you might have an allergy
• Allergies itch. Colds don't itch. Your eyes, ears and nose may really drive you nuts if you have allergies
• With allergies the mucus in your nose and throat is clear like water; with colds, it is usually yellowish and thick

Why Do Kids Get Allergies?

Do your parents have any allergies? Most allergies are hereditary, which means you have a better chance of having allergies if your mom or dad or other relatives have them. But, even if your parents don't have them, you can still get them, just because of the way you are made.

Many people outgrow allergies they have while they are children. Other allergies can last your whole life. People can develop allergies when they are babies, children, teens, or adults.

Even though an allergies sometimes look, feel and sound like a cold, with coughing and wheezing, allergies aren't contagious. You can't catch them from someone like you can catch the flu or a cold.

How Do I Find out if I Have Allergies?

If you sneeze and itch a lot, or if you get sick after eating a certain food, your doctor may want to check you for allergies. Your doctor may ask you to stay away from your best friends dog, or stop eating your favorite peanut butter sandwiches, or something else to see if your symptoms go away.

Your doctor may even send you to an allergist, a special doctor for allergies. An allergist may give you a skin test by injecting a tiny bit of an allergen under your skin - it only hurts a little bit. If you are allergic to the substance, the spot becomes raised, itchy, and red. Some doctors may also test a little bit of your blood to look for allergens, this is called a rast test, and is used for testing food allergies. To learn more about these tests, visit the Allergy Care Centers web site.

How do I control my Allergies?

Although you can not always control your allergies completely, you can try to stay away from anything that causes allergy symptoms. If you are allergic to animal dander, don't let pets go in your room, and bathe them once a week.

• Ask your our mom or dad to use special covers for your bedding, and wash your sheets and blankets in hot water to get rid of house dust mites.
• Your parents may be able to get a special kind of air cleaner for your room.
• Keep your room clutter free and organized, so everything can easily be cleaned on a regular basis to get rid of the dust.
• If you have food allergies, learn to read food labels to check ingredients. If you're not sure whether a food has something in it that you're allergic to, don't eat it. Ask your parents or teacher to provide safe treats for parties or other activities. For example, if you're allergic to peanuts, you might ask talk to your school about setting aside a special "peanut-free" table in the lunchroom. It can be tough, but it is very important for you to do these things so your allergies don't get worse.

If your allergies are not too bad, your doctor will ask you to avoid the allergen. If you can't avoid it, or your allergies make you feel really bad, your doctor may prescribe a medication. Allergy medicine can be pills, liquids, or even sprays for your nose. If your symptoms don't get better, your doctor may recommend allergy shots. Allergy shots make your immune system less sensitive to the allergens, and can reduce your symptoms. The shots hurt a little, but you get used to them. And you know that they help you feel much better.

People with food allergies have to learn to avoid any foods that contain the ingredients they're allergic to because shots and medicine don't help with food allergies. If you have food allergies, you will have to learn how to read all your food labels to see if the food you are allergic to is in a product. Your parents and doctor can help you read the ingredients on food label at first. The labels must be read very carefully because many products you buy have hidden ingredients (such as peanuts and wheat flour) to help them be thicker or taste better, and people with allergies to these things need to be very careful with what they eat.

allergies | asthma | parents & babies | fun & games | teachers | glossary | home

This site is sponsored by Allergy Care Centers, a complete allergy care facility

This site was created by "Creative Alternatives, LLC", last updated 10/14/99
Copyright, 1998,1999 Creative Alternatives, LLC.