Allergies are a significant health risk to
infants and young children, especially children with GERD, whose diets are
very often already restricted due to their reflux. Allergic reactions can
paralyze a parent, preventing them from trying new foods for their baby.
Parents may even avoid taking their children outside for fear of causing a
reflux episode due to an allergic response. Allergies are very
mysterious. Most of the fear associated with allergies stems form the fact
that most parents do not know much about them. With the help of this
article, you will learn exactly what an allergy is, how it develops, and
what you can do to minimize allergic reactions.
You’re Overreacting
With all of this talk about allergies, it’s best to describe precisely
what allergies are first.
An allergy is a function of your body’s immune system. Your body can
develop an allergy to anything foreign, from plants (ragweed, oak trees,
etc.) to animals (cats, dogs, mice, etc.) and even foods (chocolate,
peanuts, etc.). Your body normally reacts to foreign particles only if
they are dangerous. In the case of allergies, the immune system overreacts
to these normally harmless substances. The level of reaction can be mild
(stuffy nose, watery eyes) to severe (swelling, drop in blood pressure,
difficulty breathing).
Allergies usually develop very early in life when our immune systems
are still under construction. The immune system can get confused easily
during these early stages. This is he reason why pediatricians suggest
avoiding foods that have allergenic potential - like peanuts and certain
berries - during pregnancy and the first year or so of a child’s like.
Allergies may not present themselves in full force until later on.
Because allergies are part of the immune system, a child’s immunity may
not be strong enough to show an allergic response until as late as six
months or longer. This is why foods that at one time seemed okay may
produce an allergic response later on.
Allergies vs. Lactose Intolerance
Many people think that lactose intolerance is the same as being
allergic to milk. This is incorrect. Lactose intolerance happens when a
person does not produce enough of a certain enzyme called lactose. Lactose
helps digest the sugars in milk. Allergies to milk can occur, but the
reaction is in response to the milk proteins, not sugars. Also, lactose
intolerance is not an immune response; it is actually just severe
indigestion die to improper digestion of milk sugars.
Testing, Testing
The only way to avoid exposing your child to allergies is to find out
what your child is allergic to. The first test your pediatrician will
perform will most likely be the “scratch test.”
The Scratch Test
The scratch test works by exposing your child to a variety of allergens
through the skin. It sounds like backward logic: in order to tell what
your child is allergic to, your doctor must induce a reaction. So to avoid
exposure to allergens, you’re exposing your child to allergens. Trust me,
it does make sense if you think about it.
There are some drawbacks to the scratch test. First, it is a subjective
test. Some reactions may go undetected, and the severity of your child’s
allergies cannot be determined with this test. Also, not every allergy can
be tested with this method. Interference is also possible with the scratch
test.
The scratch test us meant to serve as a screening test only. If the
doctor wants to confirm a reaction or get a more detailed profile, your
pediatrician may order an IgE test.
IgE/RAST Testing
You may be asking what an IgE is. IgE is a supercharged antibody that
functions only in allergic reactions. IgE antibodies are formed to react
specifically with the substances you are allergic to and create an
allergic response. In essence, your IgE antibodies are your allergies.
The IgE test measures your IgE response levels in accordance with
specific allergens. High response levels indicate allergies while no
response shows no allergy for that particular substance. This test offers
some advantages over the scratch test. The test is more accurate with less
possibility of interference. The severity of the allergy can also be
determined by this test. Another advantage is the wide array of allergens
that can be tested. The lab I work at can test for over 150 different
types of allergies.
Another advantage to the IgE test is there is less discomfort in
comparison to the scratch test, where skin rashes are a concern. However,
blood must be drawn for the IgE test. This may prove difficult for infants
and young children.
Knowing is Half the Battle
Allergies can be a touchy subject with most parents. Parents with
GERDlings are especially sensitive to their childrens’ comfort. Allergies
present a challenge to is GERDling parents, but it is not a challenge we
cannot overcome.
Armed with knowledge from the test profiles, you can take steps to
minimize exposure to the substances your child is allergic to. Discuss
possible prevention options with your pediatrician as well as intervention
alternatives should an allergic reaction occur. |
