Common cold is one of the most widespread childhood illnesses. Catching a cold is no fun. Here are some toddler cold prevention tips to help you protect your toddler.

Wash Your Hands

This is the most important cold prevention tip. Encourage your toddler to wash his hands often especially after playing, after using the bathroom, before meals and each time he gets his hands dirty. Have him wash his hands with soap and water for at least 30 seconds or while singing “Happy Birthday”. Make sure you keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer handy in case soap and water are unavailable.

Cover Your Nose and Mouth

Millions of germs are expelled in the air when a person sneezes. Thus, it is very important that you teach your little one to cover his nose and mouth when sneezing. Have him use his elbow or sneeze into a tissue.

Hydrate

Limit your toddler’s intake of sugary and caffeinated beverages such as soda and iced tea. These drinks can deplete calcium (the most abundant mineral in the body) and weaken the immune system, making your toddler more susceptible to catching a cold. Make sure your toddler drinks at least 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. Fluids, particularly water, helps flush out toxins in the body.

Eat and Sleep Well

See to it your toddler is eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables. They are loaded with nutrients that help strengthen the immune system. Health experts recommend children to consume at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Getting plenty of sleep is also effective in preventing colds. Sleep can boost your child’s immunity to help fight-off cold viruses.

Get Fit

Exercising builds up immune cells in the body so encourage your toddler to be active. Walking around the neighbourhood, playing physically demanding games and riding a bike for 30 minutes every day can effectively boost immunity. Plus, exercise is also beneficial for your toddler’s overall health.

Bundle Up

Keep your little one dry and warm, especially during cold season. Your toddler can catch a cold from getting chilled. Pick clothes made of polyester to keep moisture off the skin. Dress him in a second layer of clothing such as a sweatshirt, fleece jacket, socks, hat, mittens and closed shoes or snow boots.

Avoid Sharing Personal Items

Give your toddler his own cup, spoon and fork, plate, toothpaste and the likes. This will protect your child from getting the virus if someone in your family has a cold.

Clean Your Home

Rhinovirus (virus that leads to common cold) can live up to 3 hours on surfaces. Hence, you should make it a point to clean your home regularly. Use a sanitizing spray to disinfect high-germ items such as doorknobs, countertops, toothbrush holder, bathroom faucet handle and other commonly used household items.

Limit Exposure

Keep your toddler away from people who are sick, including yourself. Kissing and touching the eyes, nose or mouth after being around an individual with a cold are the fastest way to transmit cold viruses.

Remember, prevention is better than cure. Common cold is very contagious and can be dangerous. Thus, it is best for you to take preventive measures to keep your toddler cold-free and healthy.

A heart murmur is an unusual sound heard during a heartbeat. It sounds like a hissing, whooshing or gurgling noise. It is not uncommon for children to have one at some time or another. Here are some information to help you better understand heart murmur in children.

Types of Heart Murmurs

• Innocent Murmurs – a harmless sound common in healthy children that is caused by blood flowing through a normal heart (no indications of a heart problem)
• Abnormal Murmurs – a toddler with an abnormal heart murmur normally has other symptoms of a heart problem due to congenital heart defects

Who are at risk?

Toddlers with a family history of a heart disease and those who were exposed to alcohol, drugs, certain medications and illnesses (e.g. diabetes, rubella infection) while inside their mothers’ womb are at risk of developing abnormal heart murmurs.

Causes

The exact cause of innocent heart murmurs is unknown. But, according to health experts, extra blood flow through the heart can result to innocent heart murmurs. Abnormal heart murmurs are caused by congenital heart disorders such as heart valve disease, holes in the heart, rheumatic fever and endocarditis (swelling of the inner lining of the heart and valves).

Signs and Symptoms

An innocent heart murmur does not cause symptoms. However, if a toddler has an abnormal murmur, he may display the following signs:

• Bluish skin
• Fast heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Excessive sweating
• Abdominal pain
• Poor appetite
• Exhaustion
• Vertigo

How is heart murmur evaluated?

Your toddler’s doctor will check his pulse and blood pressure and use a stethoscope to listen to his heart to gauge whether a murmur is innocent or abnormal. To check the murmur, the doctor will consider the following clues – how loud it is (rated on a scale from 1 to 6, 6 being the loudest), what pitch it is (high, medium or low pitched), when it happens and for how long, where the sound is heard and if the noise changes if your toddler changes his body position.

If the doctor diagnosed the heart murmur as normal, you do not have anything to worry about and treatment is not needed. If the doctor believes your toddler’s heart murmur is abnormal, the expert may recommend you to a pediatric cardiologist who will perform additional tests such as a chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG) which accounts the electrical activity of the heart or an ultrasound to examine and create an image of the heart.

Treatment

Treatment for abnormal heat murmurs depend on the type and severity of the problem. Generally, treatment is unnecessary since regular check-ups can help monitor the condition over time. But, if the heart murmur is severe, your toddler may have to take medications to control the heartbeat or undergo surgery or catheterization to correct the defect.

Most heart murmurs are safe and it is normal for your toddler’s heart to beat very fast at times especially when doing physically demanding activities, crying or if your little one has a fever. But if you are really worried, talk to your child’s doctor, just to be sure.

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions that affect children. It is a condition that causes harmful levels of sugar to accumulate in the blood. Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in children while type 2 diabetes usually affects older people. But according to recent studies, more and more children are diagnosed with it. Use this guide to help you educate yourself about diabetes in children.

Causes

Type 1 diabetes can be caused by an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack the healthy cells in the pancreas that create insulin (a hormone that regulates the level of glucose in the bloodstream). The cause of this attack is unknown, but according to child health experts, genetics and viruses can trigger the condition.

On the other hand, type 2 diabetes in children can be a result of the body’s inability to react to the insulin that is being produced. It can also be inherited or a result of being obese and physically inactive. Type 2 diabetes is more common in children of African American, Hispanic, Asian American and Native American descent.

Signs and Symptoms

You know your toddler has diabetes if he has one or more of the following symptoms:

• Abrupt weight loss
• Extreme thirst or dehydration
• Increased appetite
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Crankiness
• Yeast infection
• Stomach pains
• Vomiting
• Kussmaul breathing (quick and heavy breathing)
• Ketoacidosis (breath smells like acetone)

Once you notice any of these symptoms, consult with your pediatrician immediately. Diabetes is a lethal disease that can affect every major organ in your toddler’s body which can lead to heart, blood vessel, eye, kidney and nerve damage.

Treatment

Blood and Sugar Monitoring

You have to ensure your toddler’s glucose level stays in a healthy range by checking it three times a day with a blood glucose meter.

Medications

You will have to give your toddler daily shots of insulin, depending on your toddler’s age and needs. Insulin shots are available in different types – fast-acting insulin (starts working 5 to 15 minutes after injection, usually given during the day), slow-acting insulin (works 30 to 60 minutes after injection, normally given at night), long-acting insulin (provides coverage for as long as 20 to 26 hours) and intermediate-acting insulin (works 1 to 3 hours after it is taken).

Healthy Diet

Children with diabetes are advised to eat nutritious foods and limit the intake of carbohydrates, fats and sweets. You can consult with a nutritionist to determine the correct diet plan for your little one.

Physical Activity

A diabetic toddler will greatly benefit from exercising. Encourage your toddler to take a sport, play physically demanding games, walk around your neighbourhood or ride a bicycle together. Any activity that will get your toddler moving will be good for him.

Diabetes is one health condition that should be taken seriously. Talk to your child’s doctor and make a research so you can learn as much information as you can about diabetes.

Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix – a small organ that is attached to the large intestine. An inflamed appendix can cause severe pain which can easily be mistaken as stomach flu or other tummy problems. Use this guide to help you educate yourself and better understand appendicitis in children.

What causes appendicitis?

Appendicitis occurs when there is obstruction in the appendix caused by body wastes, infection that lead to inflammation and trauma. Once the appendix is infected, the blockage has to be taken out immediately to prevent it from rupturing and spreading the infection into the stomach.

What are the signs and symptoms?

A toddler with appendicitis may experience one or two of the following symptoms:

• Swollen tummy
• Abdominal pain near the belly button or lower right side of the stomach (pain increases as the condition aggravates)
• Low-grade fever
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea (in small amounts)
• Constipation
• Inability to pass gas
• Painful and recurrent urination

Who are prone to appendicitis?

Any child can have an infected appendix. But, according to child health experts, children with a family history of appendicitis, cystic fibrosis (a disease in the secretory glands) and a genetic disorder that causes digestive and respiratory complications are more likely to get appendicitis.

How is appendicitis diagnosed?

The symptoms of appendicitis are very common to a lot of conditions (e.g. UTI, pneumonia or kidney stones) making it difficult to diagnose. Often times, this condition is mistaken for a bad stomach ache. If you believe your toddler is suffering from appendicitis, the best way to confirm this is to consult with your toddler’s pediatrician. The doctor will perform an examination of the abdomen (a CAT scan, ultrasound or an abdomen and chest X-ray) to examine your toddler’s stomach. A blood or urine test may also be necessary in order to check if there is an infection.

How can appendicitis be treated?

Once it has been confirmed your toddler has appendicitis, there are two options the doctor can give – antibiotics and surgery. The doctor may first treat the appendicitis with antibiotics. Your baby will receive intravenous (IV) antibiotics in the hospital to eradicate the bacteria and reduce swelling. An appendectomy is performed by making an opening in the tummy with a laparoscope to create a smaller incision where the appendix can be taken out.

Your toddler will have to stay at the hospital for 2 to 3 days. However, if the inflammed appendix has burst, hospital stay might be longer for surgery and to let the antibiotics kill any bacteria that have spread throughout the body.

Although appendicitis affects people between the ages 10 to 30, it is still possible for toddlers to catch the disease. Hence, it is very important that you keep a watchful eye on your child especially if he develops the symptoms. Immediate medical attention can help prevent the condition from getting worse and reduce the risk of additional side effects.

Stomach pains are often associated to stomach ulcer. Although this condition is more common in adults, children are at risk as well. Here is some information to help you better understand the causes, symptoms and treatment of ulcer in children.

Causes

• H. Pylori – Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria that destroys the mucus that guards the lining of the abdomen and small intestine.
• Acid and Pepsin – A toddler’s delicate stomach is unable to defend itself from powerful digestive fluids, hydrochloric acid and pepsin that results to the formation of ulcer.
• Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) – Moderate intake of anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen can break down mucus barrier that can cause ulcer and bleeding in children.
• Caffeine – Toddlers who love taking caffeinated beverages such as soda, iced tea, and energy drinks are prone to developing an ulcer since caffeine stimulates acid discharge in the stomach.
• Stress – Children who are often under emotional and physical stress due to a medical condition or a grave injury are susceptible to ulcer.

Symptoms

Ulcer symptoms are similar to the symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases. Thus, it is very important to have the condition diagnosed by a doctor right away. Symptoms of stomach ulcer in children include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Chest pain (dull and achy)
• Lack of appetite
• Fatigue
• Belching (frequent burping)
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Blood in vomit or stools

Treatment

Consult With Your Pediatrician

The doctor may perform an upper IG series (set of x-rays of the esophagus, tummy and small intestine) on your toddler in order to get a close-up look at your toddler’s gastrointestinal area. Your doctor may also refer you to a gastroenterologist who will perform an upper endoscopy (inserting an endoscope (a flexible tube with a camera) into the mouth and through the esophagus). This procedure is not painful but your toddler has to be sedated.

Medications

Antibiotics can be given to your toddler to eliminate bacteria in the body if ulcer is caused by a bacterial infection. H2 blockers (acid reducers or antacids) and acid pump inhibitors are used to decrease acid production if your child’s ulcer is due to stress and NSAIDs. In addition, doctors advise parents to avoid giving their children NSAIDs.

Modify Your Toddler’s Diet

Eliminating certain foods in your toddler’s diet is unnecessary unless a particular food aggravates your child’s stomach pain. Just be sure your toddler gets his daily dose of fruits and vegetables. Also, have him drink water (no caffeinated drinks) and reduce his intake of hot, spicy and acidic foods until his ulcer is totally treated and also 1 to 2 weeks after that.

At times, children with severe ulcers that do not react to treatment have to go through surgery to remove them, but this is very rare. In order to avoid this, make sure you seek professional help immediately if you suspect an ulcer so proper action can be taken.

Rashes are very widespread during childhood. Since children have sensitive skin, exposure to elements can instantly trigger all sorts of itchy infections. Here is a guide to help you recognize and treat the most common childhood rashes.

Chickenpox

Also known as varicella, chickenpox is a transmittable disease that starts off with a few itchy, red fluid-filled bumps (often mistaken as insect bites). During the first few days, a toddler with chickenpox will have fever, a headache, feel exhausted and lose his appetite. The spots will turn into blisters that break open then crust over. It can appear all over his body, including the scalp, ears, mouth, throat and groin. Chickenpox typically lasts 5 to 10 days.

Treatment

Keep your toddler at home until he has fully recovered to prevent him from transmitting the disease. You can give him acetaminophen to reduce the fever and ease his discomfort. Control his scratching by giving your child a proper dose of OTC antihistamine (oral Benadryl). Bathe him in warm water every 3 to 4 hours and add baking soda or oatmeal to bath water to further relieve itching. After bathing, apply calamine lotion to the itchy bumps. Keep his fingernails short to keep your toddler from scratching which can cause scaring.

Diaper Rash

A toddler’s diaper area will appear red and irritated and skin will look swollen and warm when you touch it. This often occurs when a toddler is exposed to a wet or soiled diaper, chemicals in diapers or has had a bout of diarrhea (when toddler is taking antibiotics).

Treatment

Change your toddler’s diaper often. Clean his bottom by washing it with warm water instead of diaper wipes and air dry the area. After which, apply a small amount of diaper rash cream (choose one with zinc oxide) to protect his skin. You may also leave your toddler’s diaper off to expose the area to air which speeds up healing.

Impetigo

An infectious bacterial illness that look like small, delicate bumps that penetrate through a bug bite, wound or an open cut.

Treatment

Gently clean the scabs with antiseptic soap and warm water. Dab a thin coat of antibiotic cream and cover it with a gauze bandage.

Measles

Small, rough brownish-red spots that appear on a toddler’s face and neck and spreads down to the body and legs. Measles is also accompanied with fever, severe runny nose, cough and red eyes. If left untreated, it can lead to meningitis, ear infection, pneumonia and in some cases, brain problems.

Treatment

Give your toddler acetaminophen or ibuprofen to alleviate fever and pain. Cool compress his eyes. Make sure he gets adequate rest. Sprinkle oatmeal to his bath water to relieve itching. Have him drink plenty of fluids, particularly water. Give him vitamin C to boost his immune system.

Molluscum

Looks like tiny, flesh, pink or white-colored puffy spots with a dimple in the center that is spread by skin-to-skin contact or through contaminated toys, clothes, towels and pool water.

Treatment

Molluscum does not require treatment as it goes away on its own. However, you should wrap the bumps with clean gauze during daytime to keep your toddler from nicking them.

Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac

Also known as contact dermatitis, exposure to poisonous plants can cause inflamed, itchy rashes (with blisters) on the face, arms and legs.

Treatment

This childhood rash has no cure. You just have to wait it out until it goes away. But, you can help ease your toddler’s discomfort by washing the area with soapy water, bathing him in water with baking soda or Epsom salts, cool compressing his skin and rubbing ice cubes to the affected area for 10 minutes, twice a day.

Prickly Heat

Prickly heat or heat rash looks like red rashes with small blisters that appear on the forehead, lower back, trunk and in skin creases due to overheating.

Treatment

Dress your little one in lightweight, loose-fitting clothes made from breathable fabrics such as cotton to allow proper air circulation which will keep your toddler fresh. Cool compress the affected areas and apply cornstarch (not baby powder) to relieve the rashes.

If you are still clueless about your toddler’s rash, the best thing you should do is to call the doctor so appropriate diagnosis and treatment can be given.

Lactose intolerance is the inability to produce lactase enzyme that helps the body absorb lactose. While it is not lethal, it can be very uncomfortable, especially to children. Here is a guide to help you understand lactose intolerance in children.

What Causes It

Lactose intolerance is very widespread in the United States. It has been reported that 30 to 50 million Americans have this condition. A person may have lactose intolerance for these reasons:

• Ethnic Background – individuals of Asian American, Hispanic American and Native American race are more prone to developing lactose intolerance at an early age
• Medications – some medicines can impede with the intestine’s ability to generate lower levels of lactase
• Digestive Tract Illnesses – toddlers with conditions that affect the intestine (e.g.  Crohn’s disease or celiac disease) causes the body to suffer from lactose intolerance
• Infection – a toddler who has had a severe case of diarrhea can develop momentary lactose intolerance for a week or two

The Signs and Symptoms

Signs of lactose intolerance vary from child to child. Some toddlers will not have any reaction while others will be very uncomfortable within 20 to 30 minutes after consuming dairy products and can last for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Children with lactose intolerance will display the following symptoms:

• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting

How To Diagnose It

Some parents believe their children are lactose intolerant when they really are not. Hence, it is strongly recommended to consult with a pediatrician to verify whether or not your toddler has it. The doctor will check your medical history and perform a physical examination on your toddler. If your child has lactose intolerance, the doctor can also give suggestions on ways to manage it.

Treatment and Prevention

There is no cure for lactose intolerance. But, there are things you can do to help your toddler deal with it.

Modify Your Toddler’s Diet

If your little one is very sensitive, the best thing you can do is to eliminate dairy from your toddler’s diet. This means, he is not allowed to ingest cow’s milk or soy milk, butter, cheese, curd, yogurt and whey. You can give him lactose-free milk or expressed breast milk, green leafy vegetables, fortified bread, fortified juice, tofu and canned salmon or sardines to ensure he still gets the necessary calcium his body needs.

For mild lactose intolerance, you can give your toddler small amounts of dairy products or have him eat dairy products with other foods (e.g. drinking milk during dinner or mixing cheese to his pasta).

Read Food Labels

When buying food, always make sure to check the label first to ensure that the food does not contain any milk and dairy products. Common foods with these ingredients include bread, cereal, instant soups, lunch meats (cold cuts), margarine and cookie and pancake mixes.

Lactase Supplements

Talk with your pediatrician and ask if your toddler can take lactase supplements. They are available over-the-counter and come in drop and tablet form which your toddler can take with foods that contain lactose.

Lactose intolerance is a chronic condition. But, your child does not have to stop enjoying his food as long as you know how to deal with the condition.

Eczema or atopic dermatitis is a skin condition that is common in children under the age of five. It usually goes away on its own but it can be very uncomfortable for toddlers. Here is a guideline that will help parents understand the causes, signs and treatment of eczema in children.

What causes eczema?

The cause of eczema is indefinite. But many child health experts agree that the following elements can trigger an outbreak of this condition:

• Stress
• Extreme Sweating
• Overheating
• Food Allergens (cow’s milk, soy, dairy products, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish and wheat)
• Environmental Irritants (pollen, cigarette or tobacco smoke, changes in temperature, animal dander, etc.)
• Chemicals In Products (soap, lotion, detergent, bubbles and perfumes)
• Dry Skin
• Genetics (if a family member has a history of allergies, asthma, hay fever and eczema)

What are the signs and symptoms of eczema?

Itching

Extreme itching is the number one symptom of eczema. A toddler will often scratch the affected areas with his hand or anything within reach to ease the itching. However, too much scratching will only worsen the rash and may lead to skin infection.

Thick or Discolored Areas On The Skin

A toddler with eczema will have thick patches of skin all over his body. Generally, these abrasions are dry, flaky, inflamed and appear brown, gray or red in color. These rashes are visible on the face or scalp, nape, hands, elbows and at the back of the ears, knees, wrists and ankles.

Bumpy Skin Lesions

Children with eczema will develop bumpy skin lesions with pus, fluid or blood (similar to a pimple) that will leak out once a toddler excessively rubs them.

How can eczema in children be treated?

Know The Culprits

The first step towards treating your toddler’s eczema is to identify the triggers. Do what you can to help reduce your toddler’s discomfort and keep flare-ups from exacerbating.

Take Short Baths

Daily bathing is helpful for a child with eczema. But, keep it brief and keep the water lukewarm (not hot) since very warm water can rub the skin of its natural moisture. Only use mild, unscented soap cleanser and shampoo or those made for children with sensitive skin. After which, pat (not rub) excess water from his skin using a soft towel.

Moisturize

Moisturize your toddler’s skin after every bath to lock in moisture while pores are still open. Use creams and ointments that contain less water such as Aquaphor, Cetaphil or Eucerin.

Dress Appropriately

To let the skin breathe and stay fresh, dress your toddler in loose-fitting, lightweight clothes made from natural fabrics such as cotton. Also, do not bundle him in layers of clothes to avoid overheating. Wearing a soft jacket over a shirt is enough to keep your toddler warm during cold days.

Hydrate

Make sure your toddler drinks plenty of water throughout the day to keep his skin hydrated. Steer clear of fruit juices, smoothies and sodas as these can dehydrate the body.

Medications

You may apply a small amount of topical corticosteroid or cortisone cream to the affected areas as long as your doctor recommends it. Giving your toddler antihistamine also helps control itching.

If your toddler’s eczema continues or he develops a fever, visit your pediatrician at once. The doctor can suggest a more appropriate remedy.

Ear infection is one of the most common and worrisome illnesses for both parents and toddlers to go through. While it can naturally go away on its own, there are some things parents can do to help relieve ear infection in toddlers.

Give Prescription or OTC Medication

Give your toddler a child-formula prescription or over-the-counter pain reliever. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can ease pain and reduce fever while ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) can alleviate pain, fever and irritation. Make sure to follow dosage directions on the bottle or consult with your pediatrician for expert advice. Be careful not to give your toddler aspirin or any medicine that contains aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) as this can cause side effects such as stomach bleeding, ulcer, iron deficiency (anemia) and Reye’s syndrome (a rare but fatal disease).

You may also use prescription ear drops with an anesthetic to numb the pain. Shake the ear drops and warm it by rubbing the bottle in your hands before opening it. Lay your toddler on a flat surface, with his head tilted to one side (make sure the infected ear is facing upward). Squirt a small amount of ear drops into the ear. Lightly press on the ear flap for a few seconds or use a cotton plug to seal the ear.

Warm Compress

Placing a warm (not hot) washcloth or a water bottle over the ear can also help soothe the pain. Child health experts also recommend putting a few drops of lavender, garlic, olive, tea tree or vegetable oil in the ear for fast pain relief. Or, you can try putting a cup of rice or salt inside a sock, put it inside the microwave oven for 15 seconds and then place it on his ear. Test the temperature first to avoid burning his ear. Warm compress for 10 minutes.

Clear The Nose

Ear infection can be caused by a blocked nasal airway. Keep his nose clear by using saline nose drops or steam (run warm water in the tub and stay inside the bathroom with your toddler for 10 to 15 minutes) to help open up the nasal passage.

Elevate The Head

Raising your toddler’s head when he is lying down can provide comfort too. Use pillows or place something underneath the mattress to elevate his head and have him lie on his back. Doing this will help him sleep better at night.

Let Your Toddler Get Some Rest

Make sure your little one gets plenty of rest. A toddler with an ear infection can better fight the illness if he is well-rested. See to it he consumes adequate fluids (stick to water, no juice, smoothies and caffeinated drinks for now) to help clear the infection quicker and avoid dehydration if he has fever.

Provide A Distraction

The best thing you can do if your toddler is irritable and uncomfortable due to the pain he is feeling is to divert his attention. Read books. Play ball. Work on a jigsaw puzzle. Take a walk. Give him papers and crayons so he can draw and color.

If ear infection continues for more than 72 hours or if symptoms seem to be getting worse, call your pediatrician right away. Your toddler may require further treatment.

An allergy is a disorder of the immune system which usually occurs when a person’s immune system abnormally reacts to a harmless substance (known as an allergen) in the environment. Everyone is at risk to it, especially children. Hence, it is imperative for parents to learn about allergies in children so they can better manage the condition.

Most Common Allergens

The most common allergens are:

• Drugs – OTC (over-the-counter) and prescription medications such as aspirin and penicillin
• Food – products such as peanut, dairy (cheese, milk and egg), wheat, soybeans, seafood (crab, fish and lobster), tomatoes and strawberries
• Animal or Pet Dander – found in the animal’s hair, saliva and urine
• Environmental Factors – dust, dust mites, mold, pollen, hot or cold temperatures, sunlight
• Insect Stings – venom from fire ants, honeybees, wasps and yellow jackets

It is also true that allergy is hereditary. If both of the toddler’s parents have allergies, there is an 80% possibility the toddler will acquire an allergy of some sort. If only one is allergic, then there is a 25% to 50% chance.

Symptoms of Allergies

• Eyes – red, puffy and watery eyes
• Nose – sneezing, nasal itching, runny and clogged nose
• Stomach – bloating, diarrhea, vomiting
• Chest – asthma (difficulty breathing), coughing, wheezing
• Skin – eczema (dry, flaky, irritated skin particularly around the neck, arms and legs), hives (small, red bumps that spread around the body), contact dermatitis (red, swollen rashes that occur after direct contact with an allergen)

Diagnosing The Exact Cause of An Allergy

Detecting the exact cause of an allergy is quite tricky. It would be best to visit your toddler’s doctor so allergy testing can be administered. Your toddler might undergo skin testing - the most common method of allergy testing. It is done by putting a small amount of the suspected allergen to your toddler’s skin and then lightly piercing the area so the substance moves under the skin. The skin will then be observed for signs of a reaction.

A blood test may also be administered. But it is less accurate than skin testing.

Treatment

Keep Your Toddler’s Surrounding Clean

Keep your home as allergen free as possible. Remove any item from your home that collects dust (e.g. rugs, carpets, heavy curtains, etc.). Clean your home, especially your child’s bedroom frequently, at least 3 times a week. Change his beddings once a week and wash them in hot soapy water. Keep the windows closed, especially at night. During pollen or allergy season (spring, summer and fall season), let your toddler stay indoors. Keep pets and plants outside your home. If you run a humidifier, make sure to change the water to avoid mold and mildew from growing. Lastly, create a smoke-free environment. Do not smoke inside or outside your house.

Offer Medication

There are prescription and over-the-counter drugs that prevent and provide relief from allergies. Antihistamines and Corticosteroids (an anti-inflammatory medicine) are available in capsule, eye drop, liquid and nasal spray form. Make sure to consult with your pediatrician first for the correct dosage.

Allergy Shots

For severe allergy problems, allergy shots or immunotherapy may be given. Your toddler will receive weekly shots for 6 months. Once his body can endure the shots, it will be administered twice a month for 6 months, followed by monthly injections for a year.

Raising an allergic toddler can be difficult. But luckily, you can help manage it so he can outgrow it and live a normal life.