Common allergens in children include:
✖ Food (For example, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat and fi sh)
✖ Pollens from tree and grasses ✖ House dust mite ✖ Insect stings
Allergic symptoms can affect the nose, throat, ears, eyes, airways, digestion and skin in mild, moderate or severe form. The impact symptoms have on a child’s general health and well-being can sometimes go largely unnoticed until they have been suffering for some time. Typical symptoms include rashes, runny nose, swelling of the lips/face and wheezing. When a child fi rst shows signs of allergy, it is not always clear what has caused the symptoms, or even if they have had an allergic reaction. However, if the reaction is severe, or if the symptoms continue to re- occur, it is vital to investigate the problem. This is key, because with early diagnosis and treatment it will be easier to manage symptoms and help minimise the effects on the child’s daily life.
Spotting allergic symptoms:
✖ Allergy symptoms may appear in just one part of the body, or can affect several areas
✖ Allergy symptoms can appear suddenly, can be persistent, and may have no obvious cause
✖ It is possible to have delayed allergic reactions
✖ Allergy symptoms commonly affect breathing, digestion, eyes and skin. If your child has eczema they will have itchy, sore skin whereas an asthma sufferer will have diffi cultly running and being active with their friends
✖ Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe
✖ Only the immediate-type reaction can cause immediate severe, life-threatening reactions (anaphylaxis)
✖ Untreated symptoms of allergy can lead to more serious health problems
✖ Diagnosis and treatment can bring allergy symptoms under control.
ALLERGIES IN THE UK The UK is one of the top three countries in the world for the highest incident of allergy, along with Australia and New Zealand. In the UK, around 21 million adults suffer from at least one allergy and numbers continue to rise. Each year, allergy sufferers are increasing by 5%, with half of all those affected being children.
‘Seasonal allergic rhinitis’ or hay fever is the most common allergy with an estimated 15 million people in the UK suffering from March to September. The usual trigger is tree and grass pollen, which often affects children at school during spring and summer. Broken nights can also have an impact on concen- tration and productivity, which can be problematic during exam time. A study by Dr. Samantha Walker showed that students with hay fever can lose as much as one grade due to their condition. Allergy UK has repeatedly called for the exam time to be moved outside of the hay fever season. Rhinitis is a condition that causes infl ammation of the nose and can cause symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itching and ‘post-nasal drip’ (mucus at the back of the throat). It can also cause red, itchy and watery eyes. Other symptoms include blocked nose which can lead to headaches and diffi culties sleeping. People who suffer rhinitis are also at a greater risk of developing asthma.
ALLERGENS IN THE HOME Sufferers of ‘perennial allergic rhinitis’ tend to experi- ence symptoms all year around, and the condition can be easily mistaken for an ‘all-year cold.’ However, it is often caused by indoor allergens such as house dust mites, pets or indoor moulds, some of which are microscopic and therefore invisible to the naked eye. Symptoms tend to be worse in winter time when we have our central heating high and double glazing fi rmly sealed, making an ideal environment for the house dust mite. Allergy UK estimates around 12 million people
in the UK suffer due to indoor allergies dubbed as ‘home fever’. In a recent survey we found 58% of allergy sufferers react to house dust mite allergen. But it’s not the only cause; 31% of sufferers are allergic to mould, and 45% of sufferers say their allergy is triggered by pets. On top of that, the chemicals in cleaning products cause a reaction in over 30% of sufferers.
Because the most common symptoms of an
indoor allergy or ‘home fever’ are a runny nose and sneezing, people often confuse the symptoms with a common cold or fl u and so don’t treat the cause of the problem. Our survey revealed people just aren’t doing enough to reduce the house dust mite allergen. 59% of indoor allergy sufferers said their symptoms are worse in the bedroom. Not surpris- ing when you consider the average bed harbours two million house dust mites and the average pillow doubles in weight over a period of six months due to dust mite faeces.
VACUUMING IS
NOT ENOUGH by Paul Fildes, Marketing Manager, Rug Doctor
25% of the UK population suffer from respiratory allergies and one of the most common triggers of these modern day allergies is the dust mite, which feeds on the human skin that’s found in our carpets and upholstery. They excrete faeces that irritate the lungs and skin causing allergies such as asthma and eczema. Carpets and upholstery are a prime breeding ground for dust mites and a deep cleaned carpet will help to relieve allergic reactions caused by their droppings.
Many homeowners don’t think twice about vacuuming their carpets, but 1 in 4 people have never deep cleaned them. Regular vacuuming can only ever remove the surface dirt – and not the deep down dust mite droppings, pollen and other harmful allergens that accumulate in the carpet pile and which then go on to trigger allergies, particularly in children.
WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDES.CO.UK 19
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