What to do if the child is allergic: advice to parents

 Allergies have been talked about relatively recently — in early twentieth century. Previously, such a concept simply did not exist, and allergic reactions were either ignored or perceived as symptoms of diseases. Today they are celebrated in every third child. Parents have to make a lot of efforts to provide their children with conditions in which they will feel comfortable. What is the right thing to do if the child is allergic? How to organize life in order to avoid negative reactions of the body?

• Varieties and features of allergy in children
• External manifestations of allergic reactions of the body
• How to organize life if the child is allergic
• How to properly care allergic bed
• How to furnish rooms and plan furniture
• Soft toys, flowers & pets
• The main thing about the arrangement of life for children with allergies

Varieties and features of allergies in children

The exact causes of allergies in children have not yet been identified. It is believed that the body is genetically predisposed to certain reactions. The  individual tolerance of various substances is influenced by the type of feeding of the infant and many other circumstances.

Allergies can manifest themselves in different depending on the irritants that cause it. There are such types of reactions:

• Allergy to  dust. House dust consists of  particles of dead skin, hair, animal fur. It is an excellent nutrient medium for saprophytes — dust mites. They reproduce at a crazy rate and in the course of life they release toxic substances that cause allergic reactions.

• Allergy to animal hair.The peculiarity of animals is that they lick themselves and leave saliva on wool, which contains proteins that cause negative reactions of the body in human. That is why replacing a Siberian cat with a sphinx may not give the expected improvements in the child's health.

• Food allergies. Many people have intolerances to certain foods: milk protein, fish, nuts, eggs; sugar, salt, spices, coffee, etc. In fact, any food can be an allergen, it depends on individual characteristics, but there is a list of foods that most often cause reactions.

• Allergy to  pollen (hay fever). When plants bloom, pollen containing proteins that can cause allergic reactions enters the air. Pollinosis manifests itself in the form of sneezing, tearing, runny nose.

• Allergy to "chemicals".Many synthetic substances contained in drugs, cosmetics and household chemicals cause a defensive reaction of the body.

These are the main types of allergies, but there are other reactions — to  cold, sun, insect bites, etc.

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External manifestations of allergic reactions of the body

Although external irritants can vary significantly, allergy symptoms are most often typical:

• Diathesis, atopic dermatitis. These are skin rashes that can appear in both infants and adults.

• Allergic rhinitis. Manifested as an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which causes a runny nose. It is also called "hay fever". May result in Quincke's edema.

• Urticaria. Skin rash resembling nettle burns. Her feature — severe itching.

• Allergic conjunctivitis. It manifests itself in the form of eyelid edema, lacrimation. Due to inflammation, pain and pain in the eyes, especially in the light.

• Bronchial asthma. This is a complication that occurs due to narrowing of the airways.

If the child is allergic, at the first symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor, since everything can end in a serious chronic disease. Having identified the allergen, you need to get rid of it and arrange your life in such a way as to exclude contact with irritant.

Read also: What should be in a baby first aid kit

How to organize life if the child is allergic

It is impossible to completely eliminate irritants, but reduce their  — quite. First of all, take care of the temperature and air humidity. The house should maintain a stable temperature 20-22 ºC, and humidity should not exceed 45%. If the air is drier, it will affect the condition of the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, which is fraught with frequent colds. A humidity over 50% is ideal for the reproduction of fungi, whose spores cause a strong reaction.

In a house with a allergic child, it is necessary to constantly ventilate the premises, it is forbidden to smoke and use aggressive household chemicals.

It is undesirable to use air fresheners, fragrances. Detergents and washing powders must be phosphate-free and made from environmentally friendly ingredients.

It is important to create conditions in which the dust mite will not multiply. Most of the parasites in & nbsp; bedding, mattresses, soft floor coverings. Therefore, regular cleaning of textiles is necessary, and it is better to get rid of carpets and carpets immediately.

How to properly care allergic bed

Don't make the bed as soon as the child gets out of bed. You need to wait until the humidity of the bed linen normalizes. You can clean up about an hour after the child wakes up.

The mattress needs to be changed every 8-10 years, but more often is better. Experts say that under adverse operating conditions, the weight of the mattress can double in 3 years of use. And all that extra weight — saprophytes. The same goes for pillows that need to be changed every 2-3 years, and duvets that can last no more than 5-6 years.

Mattresses, pillows and blankets should be cleaned or washed at least once 1-2 months. Excellent prevention — periodically take out bedding to  frost or to bath with temperature not lower than 60°C. Dust mite dies at high and low temperatures.

Effective Protection — special thick mattress toppers and dust-proof pillowcases. They prevent dust from getting into bedding. You can also use special aerosols against ticks.

Read also: Dangerous games: how harmful toys affect your child and what to do about it

How to arrange rooms and plan furniture

First of all, you should take care of good ventilation in all areas of the house. Leaking pipes must be replaced, the floor insulated and waterproofed. It is necessary to get rid of fungus in bathrooms and rooms. To do this, use special compounds that can be purchased at hardware stores.

It is advisable to clean the dust every day, and carry out wet cleaning at least once a week. For carpets, you need to purchase a powerful vacuum cleaner, ideally — with air filter to prevent  dust mites from returning to room air.

To make things easier, it's best to get rid of  all dust collectors like paintings, souvenirs, draperies, extra textiles. Ideal — curtains made of fabrics that are easy to clean, blinds with aluminum slats. Books and things are best stored in closed cabinets. Furniture should be made of materials with smooth textures so that  dust does not accumulate in it.

Soft toys, flowers and pets

A toy with wool can cause a severe allergic reaction. To eliminate irritants, all textile toys should be frozen in a freezer or steamed in a bath for 1 hour. After that, they can be washed or shaken outdoors. It’s better, of course, not to buy soft toys at all and ask your friends not to give them for holidays.

Home flowers can cause a variety of allergic reactions. "Trust" not even the most reliable plants, because their effect on allergy sufferers is unpredictable. If you decide to leave indoor flowers, let them be with smooth, well-washed leaves. Dry flowers and  mold on the ground should be removed immediately as soon as they appear. From their children's bedroom it is better to take out the plants.

The hardest thing to part with pets. Pets become so dear that they cannot be torn away from the heart. Such a separation can cause a child a deep trauma, cause feelings of guilt and inferiority. If it is not possible to get rid of a woolly friend, limit the area of ​​\u200b\u200bhis residence to the hallway, do not let on sofas and beds. If the allergy shows up, you still have to look for a new home for him.

The main thing about arrangement of life for children with allergies

Take your child's allergies seriously and do your best to avoid complications. To do this, follow a few rules:

• Go to the doctor, identify the allergen and treat.

• Observe the temperature and humidity conditions in the  house.

• Dust and vacuum every day or at least every other day.

• Wet clean once a week.

• Repair all pipes, remove fungus and  excess moisture.

• Once a month, clean the mattress, do not forget to take it out in the winter to frost.

• Wash pillows and blankets and replace with new ones regularly.

• Get rid of carpets and extra textiles.

• Freeze soft toys in the freezer.

• Limit your child's contact with houseplants and pets.

Allergy is not a sentence. Over the years, the body will adapt to environmental conditions and will be better protected from aggressive substances. Be patient and help your child overcome difficulties.

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