When my son was just one-month old, he developed a respiratory infection accompanied by a mild wheeze and rashes all over the face and neck. This quite alarmed our pediatrician, who is also a pulmonologist.

She told me that, although it was too early for a definite diagnosis as to my son being atopic or asthmatic, it was better to put some preventive measures in place. In retrospect, I am thankful for our pediatrician’s sound advice.

According to the WHO, asthma is leading chronic disease among children. It is also the most common cause of hospitalization in this age group. Because of this, experts are continually studying

Experts agree on the following measures to prevent or delay the onset of allergic diseases in children:
1. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 9 months
2. Use of hydrolyzed milk formulas
3. Maternal avoidance of allergenic food during pregnancy and while breastfeeding
4. Delaying the introduction of solid food, especially allergenic ones
5. Exposure to endotoxin

Hay fever is an allergic reaction caused by the pollens of ragweed, grasses and other plants whose pollen is spread by the wind.

Usually, rag weed season starts around August until around mid-October.
These months are probably the most dreaded for people suffering from hay fever. During these times, they experience severe allergic symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, red, itchy eyes and even fatigue.

Sometimes, they develop Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), where the mouth becomes extremely itchy and swollen when eating certain foods. The explanation for this phenomenon is that certain proteins present in these foods are similar to those in ragweed. Fruits and vegetables that may trigger an OAS are melon, banana, potato, cucumber and zucchini.

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“It’s called the hygiene hypothesis,” says Marc McMorris, M.D., a pediatric allergist at the University of Michigan Health System. “We’ve developed a cleanlier lifestyle, and our bodies no longer need to fight germs as much as they did in the past. As a result, the immune system has shifted away from fighting infection to developing more allergic tendencies.”

The body’s immune system is designed to fight infections, but also recognizes foreign substances as allergens. The use of vaccines and antibiotics has eased the immune system of the burden of fighting.

Even our homes have changed how our immune system functions. Air tight doors and windows – designed to save energy – have created an increased concentration of indoor allergens.

“The natural immune system does not have as much to do as it did 50 years ago because we’ve increased our efforts to protect our children from dirt and germs,” says McMorris.

He advises parents to just let kids be kids. Let them play outside and with friends, and don’t worry about them coming into contact with dirt and germs. But always be cautious with children with life-threatening food allergies, he cautions.

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True to all disease and illnesses – prevention is the best cure. For “asthmatics”, or people with an asthma condition, they can choose to live a healthy lifestyle and enjoy more years free of asthma attacks.

Proper diet and exercise is a must. Although an appropriate exercise plan should be discussed with a doctor to avoid triggers, and a dietician or nutritionist can come up with the right diet plan. Smoking is definitely a no-no for those with lung asthma.

Be aware what triggers an asthma attack – and avoid it. Involve the family so they can make the necessary adjustments like cleaning more often or replacing the carpet with hardwood floorings.

Stick with your treatment. Be disciplined and you’ll be worry free.

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After following the elimination diet, your doctor will ask you to gradually reintroduce the foods you were avoiding into your diet, one at a time. This process helps link symptoms to specific foods.

Again, you will be asked to record in your food journal any symptoms that arise with each food being re-introduced. This will enable the doctor to confirm the cause of allergy. As a final confirmatory step, you will be asked to eliminate those foods that caused symptoms upon re-introduction to check if the symptoms go away.

It is important and highly recommended to seek the expert advice of your doctor before starting the elimination diet. Removing certain foods may lead to an unbalanced diet and, consequently, other health problems.

Read Part 1 here.

The elimination diet involves removing specific foods or ingredients from your diet that are suspected to be causing your allergy symptoms. These are usually the common allergy-causing food such as milk, eggs, nuts, wheat and soy.

During this time, you will need a food diary for keeping track of the food you eat, and to read food labels carefully. If the symptoms are relieved once a certain food is removed, your doctor will be able to identify the cause of allergy.

It is important to make sure that you eat the equivalent substitute of the food you have eliminated from your diet. For example, drink tofu-based milk in place of cow’s milk.

Read Part 2.

When children with allergies reach school age, they are more exposed to allergens and bacteria that can trigger symptoms. The most common are nasal allergies, where symptoms include runny nose and sneezing. This is usually triggered by pollen from plants and trees, dust and mold.

Once your allergic child starts school, take time to talk with the teachers and the school’s nurse. If your child is allergic to certain foods, you may also want to talk with the person in charge with the canteen. Ask them to inform you of any symptom or changes in your child’s performance, which may be associated with his condition.

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Certain jobs expose you to environments where molds thrive like logging, baking, mill work, carpentry, plumbing, gardening, house cleaning, carpet washing and furniture repair. People allergic to molds should take caution, or prepare doctor recommended remedies just in case symptoms start to show.