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Kids and allergies: Awareness is key to relief, treatment from from Military Health System in Washington, D.C., United States for Monday, 1 May 2017
Monday, 1 May 2017
Kids and allergies: Awareness is key to relief, treatmentFrom left, 9-year-old Declan and 2-year-old Maeve have allergies, but Saoirse, 5, and Eibhlin, 7, are allergy-free. The siblings posed for their mom near their home at Fort Meade, Maryland. (Courtesy photo)
by: Military Health System Communications Office
Recommended Content:Children's Health
Two-year-old Maeve broke out in hives while she was eating. Her dad, an Army sergeant first class, and mom are getting her tested for food allergies. This is familiar territory for the family. Nine-year-old Declan, Maeve’s brother, has a gastrointestinal disorder linked to allergies. He can’t consume wheat, corn, soy, oats, sesame, lemons, or dairy products.
Ten-year-old Isabella has respiratory allergies, or allergic rhinitis. She’s allergic to cats, dogs, and horses.
Maeve, Declan, and Isabella are among the 7 million American children under 18 with respiratory allergies, and 4 million with food allergies, according to the 2015 National Health Interview Survey. An allergy is simply an abnormal response of the body’s immune system to something inhaled, eaten, or even touched.
Children with food allergies are much more likely to have other allergies and related conditions such as asthma, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
Kids may grow out of some allergies, but there’s no cure, nor a way to prevent them. However, growing evidence suggests babies are less likely to develop allergies if they’re introduced to peanuts, pets, and other common allergens, said Col. Michael Nelson, an allergist-immunologist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and director of the Medical Education Directorate in the U.S. Army Office of the Surgeon General.
“That data is helping physicians better manage children at risk for developing allergies,” said Nelson, president-elect of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, which certifies doctors in this specialty.
Physicians advise new mothers to breast feed for at least four to six months, Nelson said, but there’s conflicting evidence this will prevent infants from developing allergies.
Pattern and signs of allergies
Allergies can develop at any age, but they’re most likely to occur early in life. They develop in a progression experts call the “atopic march.” Skin allergies are typically the first, starting in infancy with eczema, or skin that is red and itchy.
Food allergies come next, usually by age 2. The foods most likely to cause allergies are cow’s milk, eggs, fish and shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts, soy, and wheat. Respiratory allergies develop from ages 3 to 5, Nelson said. About 179,000 MHS beneficiaries 11 and under have allergic rhinitis.
Allergies to pet dander, dust mites, mold, and other airborne substances can be perennial, or year-round. Allergies to pollens can be perennial or seasonal – the so-called “hay fever.”
Signs of allergies in children include hives, like Maeve had, and wheezing, which happens to Isabella when she’s in an enclosed space with her pets.
Other signs include puffy eyes or dark circles underneath, or a blue color around the lips. More serious symptoms of allergies include vomiting or diarrhea, said Janice Daniels, a registered nurse and clinical nurse supervisor in the allergy and immunology clinic at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia.
Frequent nose-rubbing, mouth breathing, and throat clearing or coughing are other signs. Children grow accustomed to these conditions, so they’re unlikely to tell their parents they’re having problems, Nelson said.
Some allergies are life threatening. According to the nonprofit group Food Allergy Research & Education, more than 200,000 emergency room visits each year are attributed to food allergies. Less serious allergies can disrupt sleep, schoolwork, sports participation, and even family life. Isabella’s 10-year-old stepbrother sometimes worries his blended family will be forced to find a new home for the dog. “It’s been tough on him, but he’s handled it well,” Isabella’s dad said.
Treatment through MHS
Parents who suspect their child may have allergies should discuss their concerns with their primary care manager who may recommend a referral to a specialist, Nelson said. The specialist will do a thorough evaluation and develop a treatment plan. Prompt treatment can prevent allergies from becoming more severe or developing into an even more serious disease.
Addressing kids’ allergies also contributes to overall military readiness, Nelson said. Service members are happier and more prepared to do their jobs when they know their family members are being taken care of.
Another advantage of using MHS specialists: The electronic health records system enables continuity of care no matter where military kids move with their families. “Patients in the civilian sector have to get re-evaluated anytime they move or change providers,” Nelson said. “They can wind up with different treatments.”
Daniels said parents should teach kids about their allergies. They’ll understand what’s going on, and they’ll be able to relay information to others. Whenever Isabella has a play date with a new friend, her dad makes a point to talk to the other parents. Usually, though, Isabella has already asked about pets in the household and made plans to bring her inhaler, just in case.
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Two-year-old Maeve broke out in hives while she was eating. Her dad, an Army sergeant first class, and mom are getting her tested for food allergies. This is familiar territory for the family. Nine-year-old Declan, Maeve’s brother, has a gastrointestinal disorder linked to allergies. He can’t consume wheat, corn, soy, oats, sesame, lemons, or dairy products.
Ten-year-old Isabella has respiratory allergies, or allergic rhinitis. She’s allergic to cats, dogs, and horses.
Maeve, Declan, and Isabella are among the 7 million American children under 18 with respiratory allergies, and 4 million with food allergies, according to the 2015 National Health Interview Survey. An allergy is simply an abnormal response of the body’s immune system to something inhaled, eaten, or even touched.
Children with food allergies are much more likely to have other allergies and related conditions such as asthma, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
Kids may grow out of some allergies, but there’s no cure, nor a way to prevent them. However, growing evidence suggests babies are less likely to develop allergies if they’re introduced to peanuts, pets, and other common allergens, said Col. Michael Nelson, an allergist-immunologist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and director of the Medical Education Directorate in the U.S. Army Office of the Surgeon General.
“That data is helping physicians better manage children at risk for developing allergies,” said Nelson, president-elect of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, which certifies doctors in this specialty.
Physicians advise new mothers to breast feed for at least four to six months, Nelson said, but there’s conflicting evidence this will prevent infants from developing allergies.
Pattern and signs of allergies
Allergies can develop at any age, but they’re most likely to occur early in life. They develop in a progression experts call the “atopic march.” Skin allergies are typically the first, starting in infancy with eczema, or skin that is red and itchy.
Food allergies come next, usually by age 2. The foods most likely to cause allergies are cow’s milk, eggs, fish and shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts, soy, and wheat. Respiratory allergies develop from ages 3 to 5, Nelson said. About 179,000 MHS beneficiaries 11 and under have allergic rhinitis.
Allergies to pet dander, dust mites, mold, and other airborne substances can be perennial, or year-round. Allergies to pollens can be perennial or seasonal – the so-called “hay fever.”
Signs of allergies in children include hives, like Maeve had, and wheezing, which happens to Isabella when she’s in an enclosed space with her pets.
Other signs include puffy eyes or dark circles underneath, or a blue color around the lips. More serious symptoms of allergies include vomiting or diarrhea, said Janice Daniels, a registered nurse and clinical nurse supervisor in the allergy and immunology clinic at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia.
Frequent nose-rubbing, mouth breathing, and throat clearing or coughing are other signs. Children grow accustomed to these conditions, so they’re unlikely to tell their parents they’re having problems, Nelson said.
Some allergies are life threatening. According to the nonprofit group Food Allergy Research & Education, more than 200,000 emergency room visits each year are attributed to food allergies. Less serious allergies can disrupt sleep, schoolwork, sports participation, and even family life. Isabella’s 10-year-old stepbrother sometimes worries his blended family will be forced to find a new home for the dog. “It’s been tough on him, but he’s handled it well,” Isabella’s dad said.
Treatment through MHS
Parents who suspect their child may have allergies should discuss their concerns with their primary care manager who may recommend a referral to a specialist, Nelson said. The specialist will do a thorough evaluation and develop a treatment plan. Prompt treatment can prevent allergies from becoming more severe or developing into an even more serious disease.
Addressing kids’ allergies also contributes to overall military readiness, Nelson said. Service members are happier and more prepared to do their jobs when they know their family members are being taken care of.
Another advantage of using MHS specialists: The electronic health records system enables continuity of care no matter where military kids move with their families. “Patients in the civilian sector have to get re-evaluated anytime they move or change providers,” Nelson said. “They can wind up with different treatments.”
Daniels said parents should teach kids about their allergies. They’ll understand what’s going on, and they’ll be able to relay information to others. Whenever Isabella has a play date with a new friend, her dad makes a point to talk to the other parents. Usually, though, Isabella has already asked about pets in the household and made plans to bring her inhaler, just in case.
Read More ...
Celebrating Nurses, Every Day Patient Safety Champions
Questions for MHS? Contact Us
STAY CONNECTED:
Military Health System
The Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301
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