Tame Your Child's Allergies

Here’s everything you need to know about managing kids’ allergic reactions

- Lisa Twang

You don’t just have to put up with your child’s allergies. If you’re not getting good relief with over the-counter medicines, or you’ve experienced a severe reaction, it’s time to get a diagnosis.

When a person’s immune system reacts to a substance as though it’s harmful, an allergic reaction takes place. Childhood allergies were thrown into the spotlight last year when a three-year-old toddler had a severe allergic reaction to peanuts eaten by other passengers on board a Singapore Airlines flight. The boy experienced vomiting, swollen eyes, and was unable to speak properly.

“Food that mainly causes food allergy are cow's milk, egg white, tree nuts, shell fish and these are considered the top 90 per cent of food causing allergies,” says Dr Amir Hamzah Dato’ Abdul Latiff, Consultant Clinical Immunologist/ Allergist (Adults & Paediatrics) and Consultant Paediatrician at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

“There is no substantial data on allergic diseases in Malaysia, but in general the number would have increased by 30 to 50 per cent.”

Here’s what to do if you suspect that your child has an allergy.

1 Consult Your Paediatrician

It’s important to see your child’s doctor, who may recommend allergy testing to get to the root of the problem and tailor treatment to your child’s needs. “It has become a norm to think all allergy-like symptoms are due to an allergy, when in reality there is a likehood of no allergic disease present,” says Dr Amir.