Don’t let allergy put your child down

May 16, 2011

WHEN Pamela Kyakyo turned three, she developed nasal congestion. Her eyes, nose and ears would itch, especially whenever it was cold or when she got in contact with dust. A doctor diagnosed Kyakyo with rhinitis allergy, a condition where the inside of the nose becomes swollen and sore.

By Agnes Kyotalengerire
WHEN Pamela Kyakyo turned three, she developed nasal congestion. Her eyes, nose and ears would itch, especially whenever it was cold or when she got in contact with dust. A doctor diagnosed Kyakyo with rhinitis allergy, a condition where the inside of the nose becomes swollen and sore.

According to Dr. Aida Nankinga, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist at Mulago Hospital, allergies in children are a common health problem.

Nankinga cites allergic rhinitis as the commonest, saying it affects about 5% to 10% of children with allergies.
She says allergic rhinitis causes inflammation of the nasal membranes, and is characterised by sneezing, nasal congestion and itching. Nankinga says the eyes, ears, sinuses and throat can also be affected.

Though allergic rhinitis is not a life-threatening condition, it can result in health complications that can significantly impair the quality of a child’s life.

How do allergies occur?
Dr. Michael Awubwa, an ENT specialist working with Mulago Hospital, says allergy is an abnormal reaction by a person’s immune system against a normally harmless substance.

According to Awubwa, a person without allergies would have no reaction to this substance, but when a person who is allergic encounters the trigger, the body reacts by releasing chemicals which cause allergy symptoms.

Who is prone?
Awubwa says any child may become allergic, but genetic predisposition is the major risk factor. He notes that children from families with a history of allergy stand a higher risk of developing allergy.

At birth, children do not react because their immune system has not developed anti-bodies, but as a child grows, allergies begin to occur. Other factors include exposure to coldness and organic materials for example pets’ fur, pollen, flakes from synthetic materials, smoke as well as fumes from chemicals.

Food allergies
This involves a child reacting to a particular food and the reaction happens every time that food is eaten. Although food allergies are rare, they are common in children under the age of four.

The common food allergens include milk, eggs, fish and beef. Children with food allergies often have different symptoms which include severe eczema or skin rash, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Handling allergies
Nankinga says allergies have no treatment, and the goal is to prevent their development. This can be done by identifying anything the child reacts to, and avoiding it.

She says common indoor allergens include pet fur and dust mites. So avoidance of these triggers is important in the prevention and treatment.
She adds it is wise to keep a child dressed in warm clothes, especially at night or whenever it is cold.

Besides, it is important to ensure that the rooms are well ventilated and free of smoke and fumes which can trigger allergy.

However, avoiding outdoor allergy triggers such as plant pollens and moulds can be difficult since these allergens are blown by the air.
Parents are, therefore, encouraged to minimise a child’s exposure to pollens and outdoor moulds.

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