Managing your child’s allergies is an important part of keeping your children healthy and enabling them to thrive. Allergies can have a major impact on many aspects of your children’s life, from academic performance and sleep quality to mood and behavior.
Your children’s allergist helps you determine what is causing their allergies, and then creates an appropriate treatment plan that limits their exposure to allergens and reduces their symptoms.
At Riviera Allergy Medical Center in Redondo Beach, California, allergy specialist Dr. Ulrike Ziegner diagnoses and treats a full range of allergic conditions that can affect children and adults.
If you need help with your child’s allergies, an appointment with a specialist is the best place to start.
Managing your child’s allergies begins with a visit to Dr. Ziegner for a thorough evaluation. Because your child’s symptoms may have causes other than allergies, it’s vital to get a proper diagnosis.
Children visiting Riviera Allergy Medical Center receive the highest quality of care. The diagnostic process takes place in our office and begins with a detailed medical history. It’s important to tell Dr. Ziegner about any family history of asthma or allergies. Dr. Ziegner is not only a board-certified allergist, she is also a board-certified pediatrician.
Skin testing is the most common way to detect allergies. It involves pricking a concentrated dose of specific allergens onto your child’s skin to check for a reaction. Allergy tests can evaluate as many as 80 potential allergens at once. The test checks for common airborne allergens including:
The most common food allergies in children are:
If your child develops a small, raised bump on their skin at the site of the testing, it signals a positive response to that particular allergen. This form of allergy testing is safe and has been used successfully for more than 100 years, and it produces fast results.
Allergies affect up to 35% of children. Common allergens include:
Children can also be allergic to medicines, latex, and cockroaches.
Allergy symptoms vary and depend on the type of allergy your child has. An allergic reaction can occur anywhere in the body, including the skin, stomach, nose, throat, and lungs. Some warning signs of an allergy include:
If you notice your child has any of these symptoms, discuss them with an allergist. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction that require immediate medical attention are:
Dr. Ziegner recommends an individual treatment plan to address your child’s allergy symptoms. Factors include your child’s symptoms, age, type of allergy, and its severity.
Managing allergies typically involves avoiding the allergen, of course, and in the case of airborne allergies, taking medicine to suppress symptoms. Allergy shots are a treatment option to prevent allergic reactions by desensitization.
One example of limiting your child’s allergen exposure: For those who have dust mite allergies, measures to control dust in the home, especially in your child’s bedroom, play an important role in preventing allergy symptoms.
With the right plan, you can confidently manage your child’s allergies. For all of your child’s allergy needs, book an appointment online or over the phone with Riviera Allergy Medical Center today.
