Symtoms.org - Allergy Symtoms. Treatment & Signs

Dust, cats, peanuts, cockroaches. An odd grouping, but one with a common thread: allergies - a major cause of illness in the United States. Up to 50 million Americans, including millions of children, have some type of allergy. In fact, allergies account for the loss of an estimated 2 million school days per year.

What Are Allergies?

An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a substance that's harmless to most people. But in someone with an allergy, the body's immune system treats the substance (called an allergen) as an invader and reacts inappropriately, resulting in symptoms that can be anywhere from annoying to possibly harmful to the person.

In an attempt to protect the body, the immune system of the allergic person produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Those antibodies then cause mast cells (which are allergy cells in the body) to release chemicals, including histamine, into the bloodstream to defend against the allergen "invader."

It's the release of these chemicals that causes allergic reactions, affecting a person's eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, or gastrointestinal tract as the body attempts to rid itself of the invading allergen. Future exposure to that same allergen (things like nuts or pollen that you can be allergic to) will trigger this allergic response again. This means every time that person eats that particular food or is exposed to that particular allergen, he or she will have an allergic reaction.

Who Gets Allergies?

The tendency to develop allergies is often hereditary, which means it can be passed down through your genes. However, just because you, your partner, or one of your children might have allergies doesn't mean that all of your children will definitely get them, too. And a person usually doesn't inherit a particular allergy, just the likelihood of having allergies.

But a few children have allergies even if no family member is allergic. And if a child is allergic to one substance, it's likely that he or she will be allergic to others as well.

What Are the Most Common Airborne Allergens?

Some of the most common things people are allergic to are airborne (carried through the air):

Dust mites are one of the most common causes of allergies. These microscopic insects live all around us and feed on the millions of dead skin cells that fall off our bodies every day. Dust mites are the main allergic component of house dust, which is made up of many particles and can contain things such as fabric fibers and bacteria, as well as microscopic animal allergens. Present year-round in most parts of the United States (although they don't live at high altitudes), dust mites live in bedding, upholstery, and carpets.

Pollen is another major cause of allergies (most people know pollen allergy as hay fever or rose fever). Trees, weeds, and grasses release these tiny particles into the air to fertilize other plants. Pollen allergies are seasonal, and the type of pollen a child is allergic to determines when he or she will have symptoms. For example, in the mid-Atlantic states, tree pollination begins in February and March, grass from May through June, and ragweed from August through October; so people with these allergies are likely to experience increased symptoms during those times. Pollen counts measure how much pollen is in the air and can help people with allergies determine how bad their symptoms might be on any given day. Pollen counts are usually higher in the morning and on warm, dry, breezy days, whereas they're lowest when it's chilly and wet. Although they're not exact, the local weather report's pollen count can be helpful when planning outside activities.

Molds, another common allergen, are fungi that thrive both indoors and out in warm, moist environments. Outdoors, molds may be found in poor drainage areas, such as in piles of rotting leaves or compost piles. Indoors, molds thrive in dark, poorly ventilated places such as bathrooms and damp basements with water leaks or floods. A musty odor suggests mold growth. Although molds tend to be seasonal, many can grow year-round, especially those indoors.

Pet allergens from warm-blooded animals can cause problems for kids and parents alike. When the animal - often a household pet - licks itself, the saliva gets on its fur or feathers. As the saliva dries, protein particles become airborne and work their way into fabrics in the home. Cats are the worst offenders because the protein from their saliva is extremely tiny and they tend to lick themselves more than other animals as part of grooming.

Cockroaches are also a major household allergen, especially in inner cities. Exposure to cockroach-infested buildings may be a major cause of the high rates of asthma in inner-city children.

What Are the Most Common Food Allergens?

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology estimates that up to 2 million, or 8%, of children in the United States are affected by food allergies, and that eight foods account for most of those food allergy reactions in kids: eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.

Cow's milk (or cow's milk protein): Between 1% and 7.5% of infants are allergic to the proteins found in cow's milk and cow's milk-based formulas. About 80% of formulas on the market are cow's milk-based. Cow's milk protein allergy (also called formula protein allergy) means that the infant (or child or adult) has an abnormal immune system reaction to proteins found in the cow's milk used to make standard baby formulas.

Eggs: One of the most common food allergies in infants and young children, egg allergy can pose many challenges for parents. Because eggs are used in many of the foods kids eat - and in many cases they're "hidden" ingredients - an egg allergy is hard to diagnose. An egg allergy usually begins when children are very young, but most outgrow the allergy by age 5. Most kids with an egg allergy are allergic to the proteins in egg whites, but some can't tolerate proteins in the yolk.

Fish and shellfish: The proteins in fish can cause a number of different types of allergic reactions, including a gastrointestinal reaction that leads to diarrhea and vomiting. Children can also have skin reactions to fish causing itching and dryness. Fish allergy is also one of the more common adult food allergies and one that children don't always grow out of.

Peanuts and tree nuts: Peanuts are one of the most severe food allergens, often causing life-threatening reactions. About 1.5 million people in the United States are allergic to peanuts (which are not a true nut, but a legume - in the same family as peas and lentils). Half of those allergic to peanuts are also allergic to tree nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, and often sunflower and sesame seeds.

Soy: Like peanuts, soybeans are legumes. Soy allergy is more prevalent among babies than older children; about 30% to 40% of infants who are allergic to cow's milk are also allergic to the protein in soy formulas.

Wheat: Wheat proteins are found in many of the foods we eat - some are more obvious than others. As with any allergy, an allergy to wheat can happen in different ways and to different degrees. Although wheat allergy is often confused with celiac disease, there is a difference. Celiac disease is caused by a permanent sensitivity to gluten, which is found in wheat, oat, rye, and barley. It typically develops between 6 months and 2 years of age and the sensitivity causes damage to the small intestine.

What Are Some Other Common Allergens?

Insect Stings: For most children, being stung by an insect means swelling, redness, and itching at the site of the bite, in addition to a few tears. But for children with insect venom allergy, an insect bite can cause more severe symptoms. Although some doctors and parents have believed that most children eventually outgrow insect venom allergy, a recent study found that insect venom allergies often persist into adulthood.

Medicines: Antibiotics - medications used to treat infections - are the most common types of medicines that cause allergic reactions. Many other medicines, including over-the-counter medications, can also cause allergic reactions.

Chemicals: Some cosmetics or laundry detergents can cause people to break out in an itchy rash. Usually, this is because the person has a reaction to the chemicals in these products. Dyes, household cleaners, and pesticides used on lawns or plants can also cause allergic reactions in some people.

Some children also have what are called cross-reactions. For example, kids who are allergic to birch pollen might have reactions when they eat an apple because that apple is made up of a protein similar to one in the pollen. Another example is that children who are allergic to latex (as in gloves or certain types of hospital equipment) are more likely to be allergic to kiwifruit or bananas.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Allergies?

The type and severity of allergy symptoms vary from allergy to allergy and child to child. Symptoms can range from minor or major seasonal annoyances (for example, from pollen or certain molds) to year-round problems (from allergens like dust mites or food).

Because different allergens are more prevalent in different parts of the country and the world, allergy symptoms can also vary, depending on where you live. For example, peanut allergy is unknown in Scandinavia, where they don't eat peanuts, but is common in the United States, where peanuts are not only a popular food, but are also found in many of the things we eat.

Airborne Allergy Symptoms

Airborne allergens can cause something known allergic rhinitis, which occurs in about 15% to 20% of Americans. It typically develops by 10 years of age and reaches its peak in the early 20s, with symptoms often disappearing between the ages of 40 and 60. Symptoms can include:

These symptoms are often accompanied by itchy, watery, and/or red eyes, which is called allergic conjunctivitis. (When dark circles are present around the eyes, it's called allergic "shiners"). Those who react to airborne allergens usually have allergic rhinitis and/or allergic conjunctivitis. If a person has these symptoms, as well as wheezing and shortness of breath, the allergy may have progressed to become asthma.

Food Allergy Symptoms

Insect Venom Allergy Symptoms

Being stung by an insect that a child is allergic to may cause some of the following symptoms:

What's Anaphylaxis?

In rare instances, if the sensitivity to an allergen is extreme, a child may experience anaphylaxis (or anaphylactic shock) - a sudden, severe allergic reaction involving various systems in the body (such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system).

Severe symptoms or reactions to any allergen, from certain foods to insect bites, require immediate medical attention and can include:

Anaphylaxis can happen just seconds after being exposed to a triggering substance or can be delayed for up to 2 hours if the reaction is from a food. It can involve various areas of the body.

Fortunately, though, severe or life-threatening allergies occur in only a small group of children. In fact, the annual incidence of anaphylactic reactions is small - about 30 per 100,000 people - although those with asthma, eczema, or hay fever are at greater risk of experiencing them. Most - up to 80% - of the anaphylactic reactions are caused by peanuts or tree nuts.

How Are Allergies Diagnosed?

Some allergies are fairly easy to identify because the pattern of symptoms following exposure to certain allergens can be hard to miss. But other allergies are less obvious because they can masquerade as other conditions.

If your child has cold-like symptoms lasting longer than a week or 2 or develops a "cold" at the same time every year, consult your child's doctor, who will likely ask questions about your child's symptoms and when they appear. Based on the answers to these questions and a physical exam, your child's doctor may be able to make a diagnosis and prescribe medications or may refer you to an allergist for allergy skin tests and more extensive therapy.

To determine the cause of an allergy, an allergist will likely perform skin tests for the most common environmental and food allergens. Skin tests can be done in young infants, but they're more reliable in children over the age of 2 years.

If reactions to a food or other allergen are severe, a blood test may be used to diagnose the allergy so as to avoid exposure to the offending allergen. Skin tests are less expensive and more sensitive than blood tests for allergies. But blood tests may be required in children with skin conditions or those who are extremely sensitive to a particular allergen. Blood tests are also helpful in deciding whether a child has outgrown a food allergy, because the skin tests tend to remain positive even after the food allergy has disappeared.

Even if a skin test and/or a blood test shows an allergy, a child must also have symptoms to be definitively diagnosed with an allergy. For example, a toddler who has a positive test for dust mites and sneezes frequently while playing on the floor would be considered allergic to dust mites.

How Are Allergies Treated?

There is no real cure for allergies, but it is possible to relieve a child's symptoms. The only real way to cope with them on a daily basis is to reduce or eliminate exposure to allergens. That means that parents must educate their children early and often, not only about the allergy itself but also about what reaction they will have if they consume or come into contact with the offending allergen.

Informing any and all caregivers (from child-care personnel to teachers, from extended family members to parents of your child's friends) about your child's allergy is equally important to help keep your child's allergy symptoms to a minimum.

If reducing exposure isn't possible or is ineffective, medications may be prescribed including antihistamines (which you can also buy over the counter) and inhaled or nasal spray steroids. In some cases, an allergist may recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots) to help desensitize your child.

Food allergies usually aren't lifelong (although those to peanut, tree nut, and seafood can be). Avoiding the food is the only way to avoid symptoms while the sensitivity persists. If your child is extremely sensitive to a particular food, or if he or she has asthma in addition to the food allergy, your child's doctor will probably recommend that you carry injectable epinephrine (adrenaline) to counteract any allergic reactions. He or she may also recommend carrying injectable epinephrine if your child is allergic to insect venom.

Available in an easy-to-carry container that looks like a pen, injectable epinephrine is carried by millions of parents across the country everywhere they go. With one injection into the thigh, the device administers epinephrine to ease the allergic reaction.

An injectable epinephrine prescription usually includes two auto-injections and a "trainer" that contains no needle or epinephrine, but allows you and your child (if he or she is old enough) to practice using the device. It's essential that you familiarize yourself with the procedure by practicing with the trainer. Your child's doctor can also give you instructions on how to use and store injectable epinephrine.

If your child is 12 years or older, make sure he or she keeps injectable epinephrine readily available at all times. If your child is younger than 12, talk to the school nurse, your child's teacher, and your child-care provider about keeping injectable epinephrine on hand in case of an emergency.

It's also important to make sure that injectable epinephrine devices are available at your home, as well as at the homes of friends and family members if your child spends time there. Your child's doctor may also encourage your child to wear a medical alert bracelet. It's also a good idea to carry an over-the-counter antihistamine, which can help alleviate allergy symptoms in some people. But antihistamines should not be used as a replacement for the epinephrine pen.

Kids who have had to take injectable epinephrine should go immediately to a medical facility or hospital emergency department, where additional treatment can be given if needed. Up to one third of anaphylactic reactions can have a second wave of symptoms several hours following the initial attack, so these kids might need to be observed in a clinic or hospital for 4 to 8 hours following the reaction even though they seem well.

The good news is that only a very small group of kids will experience severe or life-threatening allergies. With proper diagnosis, preventive measures, and treatment, most children will be able to keep their allergies in check and live, happy, healthy lives.

Updated and reviewed by: Barbara P. Homeier, MD
Date reviewed: June 2005
Originally reviewed by: Denise DiPrimio-Kalman and Kathleen Trzcinski, RN, MSN