Allergies in Children: Causes, Symptoms & Care

By Tagore Hospital
Posted August 06, 2025

Allergies in Children: Causes, Symptoms & Care

Introduction

Allergies are progressively becoming a feature among children and can touch on everyday living experiences in subtle or serious manifestations. Sneezing, skin rash, and more serious breathing difficulties-allergic reactions manifest themselves in a hundred different ways.
For parents to ensure the child's welfare, it is an imperative step to understand the causes of allergies, how to detect them in their early stages, and what they can do in management or prevention.
At Tagore Hospital, Jaipur, we understand the special healthcare needs of a child, and this all-round handbook will aid you in dealing confidently and caringly with allergic reactions.

What Are Allergies?

Allergies take place when the immune system reacts to a substance that normally poses no threat to most people. Such substances are allergens, found in foods, environment, medicines, or insect venom.
The reaction takes place when a child's immune system goes into overdrive upon exposure to these allergens, producing antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE), which stimulate the secretion of chemicals such as histamine. The secretion may cause anything from mild discomfort to a life-threatening situation, such as anaphylaxis.

What Are the Common Causes of Allergies in Children?

Children can be allergic to various substances, with some different allergens being the most popular:

1. Food Allergens

Most common offenders: milk, eggs, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish.
These allergies commonly come to light during infancy and sometimes fade into the background as a child ages, yet some are life-long.

2. Environmental Allergens

Pollen: From trees, grass, and weeds, especially in certain seasons.
Dust mites: Microscopic organisms residing in bedding, carpets, and furniture.
Mold: Found in damp or humid areas of the home.
Animal dander: Proteins from skin, saliva, or urine of pets such as cats and dogs.

3. Insect Stings

A single sting from a bee or wasp can cause anaphylaxis in some children or swelling and hives.

4. Medicines

Some children might develop reactions following antibiotics such as penicillin or other medicines, with skin eruptions or difficulty in breathing being some of the expressions.

5. Latex

Rarely, a child might have a latex allergy from gloves, balloons, and certain medical equipment.

Symptoms of Allergies in Children

Mild to severe allergic reactions can target different parts of the human body, including the following common symptoms:

Skin: Eczema, hives, or rashes.
Respiratory: Strong sneezes, bouts of coughing, nasal blockage, wheezing, or shortness of breath.
Digestive System: Vomiting, unusual stomach cramps, and diarrhea (all common food allergy symptoms).
Eye and Nose Sensations: Eye redness, itchiness, and watery eyes; itchy nose and runny nose.
Anaphylaxis: Rare but life-threatening; a sudden difficulty in breathing, swelling of the throat or tongue, and sudden loss of blood pressure. This is a medical emergency.

Sometimes the allergic reaction occurs immediately within minutes or can be delayed by hours.

Allergy diagnoses

In diagnosing allergies in children, an attempt is made to characterize the history of exposure and the child's symptoms in detail on the part of the pediatrician or allergy specialist. commonly used methods are-

1. Medical History
The physician will inquire about symptoms, their frequency, duration, and possible triggering factors.

2. Physical Examination
A general examination can identify obvious signs such as a rash, nasal inflammation, or signs indicating difficulty in breathing.

3. Diagnostic Tests for Allergy

Skin Prick Test: Small amounts of suspected allergens are injected inside the skin and checked for reactions.
Blood Test: They check for increased IgE antibody concentrations produced by mast cells against a specific antigen.
Elimination Diets or Food Challenges: Refers to the suspected allergens either removed or reintroduced under medical supervision in the presence of food allergies.

An accurate diagnosis would be highly necessary because then can it be treated in time so as to prevent future allergic reactions.

How about Preventing Allergies in Children?

While not all allergens can be prevented, parents should take a number of proactive measures to reduce a child's risk for or lessen severity of:

1. Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding for the first 6 months exclusively is known to be associated with lowered allergy risk in infancy.

2. Introduction to Allergenic Foods : Introducing potentially allergenic foods such as peanut products or eggs at 4 to 6 months of age between medical supervision may help ward off food allergies.

3. Reduce Allergen Exposure:

Use dust mite-proof covers for bedding.
Mold formation should be prevented by routinely cleaning the air filters and dehumidifying the room.
Keep these little nuisances off your carpet-rug..."
Avoid smoking around children, as active or secondhand smoking may aid in respiratory allergic reactions.

What is Treatment for Allergies in Children?

Treatment for allergy depends on the disorder type and severity. The common approaches include:

The most common one is:
1. Allergen avoidance
The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid allergens altogether.
2. Medicine

Antihistamines: They relieve sneezing, itching, and hives.
Decongestants: These reduce swelling of the nasal passage and congestion.
Corticosteroids: Either topical steroid or inhaled steroid can be used to reverse inflammation in more chronic cases.
Leukotriene Modifiers: Used for allergic asthma or allergic rhinitis.

3. Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots)

Long-term treatment that slowly desensitizes the immune system against specific allergens.

4. Treating Anaphylaxis in Emergencies

Epinephrine auto-injectors may need to be carried at all times by children at-risk (EpiPen). Training for use should be provided to both parents and children.

Signs Your Child Needs to See a Doctor for Allergies

If an allergy can be handled at home some of the time, it is wise to consult a doctor when any of these symptoms are present:

Symptoms that persist and worsen in spite of home care..
Trouble breathing or wheezing.
Skin rashes or eczema flare-ups.
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating due to allergy symptoms.
Swelling of the face, lips, or tongue.
Severe allergic reaction in the family.
If your child has previously experienced anaphylaxis.

Conclusion

At Tagore Hospital, Jaipur, we recognize that early realization and individual care are essential in the management of childhood allergies. Our pediatric and allergy specialists provide state-of-the-art diagnostic services, individually crafted treatments, and supportive counseling for children, parents, and families dealing with allergies.
Families are encouraged to stay informed, to be prompt when symptoms appear, and to have regular checkups. When appropriately treated, most allergic children live a happy, healthy, and active life.
If you suspect your child may have an allergy, please feel free to consult our experts for a thorough evaluation and an allergy care plan.