Navigating Your Child's Allergies - What You Need To Know

Symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, or a skin rash could all be signs your child has allergies. When symptoms flare up, they can cause discomfort and interfere with your child’s ability to fully enjoy playing outdoors and other activities. Fortunately, there are many effective options for managing symptoms and treating allergies. The friendly and caring board-certified pediatricians at Decatur Pediatric Group in Lithonia, GA, diagnose and treat allergies.

Allergy Symptoms  

Allergy symptoms occur as a result of the body’s response to an allergen, such as dust or pollen. Other common allergens include pet dander, insect bites, mold, medications, and certain foods, such as nuts, dairy products, or shellfish. Patients might experience different symptoms depending on the specific allergen. Examples of typical allergy symptoms associated with a diverse range of allergens include: 

• Skin rash or hives 
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, eyes, or face
• Coughing or wheezing
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Scratchy throat
• Sinus congestion
• Runny nose
• Sneezing

Allergy Testing 

We test for a broad range of allergies at our Lithonia, GA, pediatric office. Allergy tests help identify the specific allergens that are causing symptoms. An accurate diagnosis ensures the most effective method is selected for treating your child’s allergies. 

A typical allergy test involves exposing an area of the skin to different allergens and observing whether or not a reaction occurs. If a rash, swelling, or other symptoms develop in response to a specific allergen, it is an indication that your child is allergic to that item. Once that is known, the pediatrician can develop a treatment plan. 

Allergy Treatments

There are many ways to treat allergies. One approach is managing allergy symptoms through oral or topical medications, which can minimize or provide relief from symptoms. Another method for treating allergies is immunotherapy, which helps the body develop tolerance to a specific allergen. As the body gradually builds immunity over time, the allergen will eventually no longer produce an allergic reaction. 

Immunotherapy can be administered by injection or sublingually. Both methods gradually expose patients to small doses of an allergen over time so the body can build up resistance and no longer experience allergy symptoms. Injection immunotherapy involves giving patients a shot that contains a small dose of the allergen. With the sublingual method, a few drops of allergen extract are placed under the tongue. Both methods require administering repeated doses over a set period of time. 

Navigating your child’s allergies can be challenging, especially when they are not experiencing relief from symptoms. If your child is struggling with allergies, we can help. For the treatment of allergies in Lithonia, GA, call Decatur Pediatric Group at (404) 296-7133 to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician. We also have office locations in Clarkston and Smyrna, GA.