Childhood Allergies

Dawn Lim Dr

Description

Whether you are a parent, relative, caregiver or teacher of an allergy-prone child, you know how challenging it is to keep that child safe, happy and healthy. You want to determine what is 'safe' and what is not, educate others about your child's allergies, turn your home into a 'safe haven', create an ideal school and day care environment, handle parties or family get-togethers in your home with ease, take vacations, go anywhere to eat without a second thought, know the potential hazards lurking outdoors, and help your child enjoy sports, camps or other co-curricular activities without worry. From how and why different allergies occur to what the common triggers are, and how to manage these symptoms effectively, this book will provide all that and more, including: comprehensive information of the most common allergies what doctors do to diagnose and treat allergies sample forms of what information to prepare checklists to keep track of the allergy various allergy tests available practical tips for organising an allergy-safe home what to do during emergencies travel tips real life accounts by allergy patients where to find support

Sujets

• Allergies
• Allergy
• Allergie

Informations

• Publié par: Marshall Cavendish International
• Date de parution: 01 août 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789814516693
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 5 Mo

Extrait

CHILDHOOD
ALLERGIES

CHILDHOOD
ALLERGIES
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CHILD S ALLERGY
DR DAWN LIM
2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited
Designer : Lynn Chin Nyuk Ling Editor : Mindy Pang Photographer : Joshua Tan, Elements By The Box
Published by Marshall Cavendish Editions An imprint of Marshall Cavendish International 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Request for permission should be addressed to the Publisher, Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited, 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196. Tel: [phone], fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail] . Website: www.marshallcavendish.com/genref

Other Marshall Cavendish Offices: Marshall Cavendish International. PO Box 65829 London EC1P 1NY, UK Marshall Cavendish Corporation. 99 White Plains Road, Tarrytown NY 10591-9001,

USA Marshall Cavendish International (Thailand) Co Ltd. 253 Asoke, 12 th Flr, Sukhumvit 21 Road, Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Marshall Cavendish (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Times Subang, Lot 46, Subang Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Batu Tiga, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
National Library Board Singapore Cataloguing in Publication Data Lim, Dawn, 1973- Childhood allergies / Dawn Lim. - Singapore : Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2011. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13 : 978-981-261-877-1 eISBN-13 : 978 981 4516 69 3
1. Allergy in children - Asia - Popular works. 2. Allergy in children - Asia - Prevention - Popular works. 3. Allergy in children - Treatment - Asia - Popular works. I. Title.
RJ386 618.9297 - dc22 OCN659479294
Printed in Singapore by Fabulous Printers Pte Ltd
Playing in the garden is no problem for me now that I know how to manage my allergies.
I Love fruits! But what should I do if I am allergic to them?
acknowledgements
I d like to thank my patients and their parents who have all so generously contributed their stories, photos and time, in particular: Clare, Joshua, Joel, Charlotte, Olivier, Rania, Yasmin, Hannah, Ben Tan, Sarah, Bryan, Gloria, Samantha, Brandon, Laura, Aaron, Lucas, Giliah, Alyssa, Vanessa, Joella, Benjamin, Dylan, Rebecca, Jenny, Zoe, Victoria, Kaelin, Frank, Sarah, So a, and Maria.
And of course, a big thank you to my family and friends for their support and encouragement throughout the writing of this book-I couldn t have done it without you.

contents
FOREWORD 11
INTRODUCTION 13
Part I:
COMMON ALLERGIES
Asthma 27 Allergic Rhinitis (AR) 63 Eczema 81 Food Allergies 101 Anaphylaxis 129
Part II:
MANAGING ALLERGIES
Common Allergens 149 Allergy Testing 187 Allergen Immunotherapy 201
INDEX 215

foreword
Dr Dawn Lim is a practising paediatrician in private practice in Singapore. Her training in Paediatric Allergy was obtained in the 1990s from the Children s Medical Institute at the National University Hospital in Singapore, where we were colleagues. She is passionate about her work and enjoys caring for her patients the most. Her training in allergy and experience in managing these disorders has motivated her to share her knowledge in this book.
This book provides readers with a comprehensive perspective of the gamut of allergic disorders - asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema and food allergies. Dr Lim has been able to capture the scientific aspects of each of these conditions in a way that is easily understood by laypeople. Readers can expect to be empowered with a clear understanding of these disorders, as well as learn about the medical and day-to-day management of these conditions. The case studies at the end of each chapter provide useful illustrations that readers will be able to relate to, while the chapter on unproven tests and treatments is useful to parents in helping them to discern controversial tests from mainstream ones.
The last few decades has witnessed a global epidemic of asthma and allergic disorders, most of which has been more pronounced in affluent and urban communities. It is not surprising that city states like Singapore have also witnessed a dramatic increase of these disorders over the last three decades. To optimise the management of any long-term medical problem - like asthma and allergies - it is essential to educate the allergy-sufferers, their caregivers and the general public. This book will interest anyone who wants to know more about allergic disorders, and if your child has asthma or any of the allergic disorders, this book is a must-read.
Dr LEE Bee Wah
Paediatrician Adjunct Professor, National University of Singapore (NUS)
11
Why does my nose itch all the time?
introduction
Allergies are so common nowadays that we all know of someone who suffers from some kind of allergy. In the United States, billions of dollars are spent each year on managing patients with allergies.
Asthma is a frequent reason for children missing out on school and physical activities. If not managed correctly, it can also cause death. Allergic rhinitis and eczema result in disturbed sleep and greatly reduce your child s quality of life. Food allergies can be life-threatening but at the same time, if incorrectly diagnosed, cause nutritional deficiencies from unnecessarily avoiding certain foods. Knowing more about your child s allergies will help to improve the overall management of his allergic condition. As parents, your goal is for your child to lead a normal lifestyle and to be able to participate in all activities freely.
What is an allergy?
An allergy occurs when the body reacts in a hypersensitive way to something that is usually harmless. As seen in the diagram below, the key cause of allergic reactions is the Immunoglobulin E, or IgE, which are found in large numbers in people with allergies. IgE are attached to the mast cells which are present all over the body. So, when an allergy causing substance - allergen - enters the body, it attaches itself to the IgE. This causes the mast cells to release inflammatory substances, which give rise to allergic symptoms.
13
What are the allergic diseases?
The main allergic diseases are covered in the first part of this book. These include:
Asthma Allergic rhinitis (also commonly known as hay fever) Eczema (or atopic dermatitis) Food allergies Anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reactions)
Asthma
This is an allergy of the lungs, where the airways (breathing tubes) become inflamed and narrow, leading to breathing difficulties. This common affliction affects 20 million people in the United States alone. In developed countries, it can affect up to one in every five children. Asthma is a common reason why a child has to visit the doctor, miss school or skip physical activities. It can also cause death. However, medical advancement has now made asthma one of the most manageable of childhood conditions. The advent of anti-inflammatory treatments has revolutionised the way asthma is treated. A child with well-controlled asthma should be able to participate in all physical activities and have minimal disruptions to his lifestyle. The causes, symptoms, diagnosis and management of asthma will be discussed in the chapter on Asthma.
Allergic rhinitis
This is an allergy of the nose, where the linings of the nose become inflamed, causing a child to sneeze frequently and have a runny, itchy and blocked nose. This occurs as a reaction to the presence of something in the environment that a child is allergic to. Although not life-threatening, allergic rhinitis is a constant bother and can adversely
14
INTRODUCTION
affect your child s quality of life. Moreover, many children with allergic rhinitis also suffer from allergic conjunctivitis, where their eyes are constantly itchy, watery and red. The causes, symptoms, diagnosis and management of allergic rhinitis will be discussed in the chapter on Allergic Rhinitis.
Eczema
This is an allergy of the skin, where the skin gets inflamed, causing it to be red and itchy. Although this allergy is not life-threatening, eczema can also be very troublesome. Children with eczema feel itchy all the time, they find it hard to concentrate on everyday tasks and suffer from interrupted sleep. To manage eczema, parents need to identify all the everyday triggers that are irritating the skin, and follow up with good skin care and appropriate medication to combat the itch and inflammation. The causes, symptoms, diagnosis and management of eczema will be discussed in the chapter on Eczema.
Food allergies
Although food is often blamed for many allergies, food allergies are the least common of all allergic conditions. Generally, if your child displays an allergic reaction to a certain type of food, or something found in that food, it may indicate that he has a food allergy. These reactions are varied and can range from a mild rash to a serious life- threatening situation known as anaphylaxis. Food allergies are often misdiagnosed as many tests are not accurate enough to pinpoint the cause. As a result, some parents unnecessarily prevent their children from consuming certain foods. This can do more harm as the child is prevented from taking the healthy nutrients important for a growing body. Likewise, if a child truly has a food allergy and this is not picked up, serious reactions can occur when a child unwittingly consumes the problem food. The causes, symptoms, diagnosis and management of food allergies will be discussed in the chapter on Food Allergies.
Anaphylaxis
This is the most severe of all allergic reactions. It can cause breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure and even death, so it is important for parents to be prepared when anaphylaxis strikes. The most common trigger in anaphylaxis is food but it