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All About Baby Allergies: Common Food Allergies, Causes, and Cure

Team AckoFeb 9, 2024

Babies may suffer from baby allergies even if they are just a few months old. Skin rashes are the most common allergies in babies, next one being a runny or a dry nose which leads to breathing difficulties. Reddening of skin can be seen in babies when they eat food they are allergic to.

Contents

Causes: Things that cause baby allergies
Common baby allergies that you should know
Tips to prevent baby allergies in your baby

Allergies may last for a few days, months and a few may last into adulthood, depending on the severity of the allergy. Since babies can’t speak; you must rely on your observations to know what might have caused the allergy. Usually, skin related allergies are due to an allergic reaction to food and chronic asthma is caused due to poor air quality.

Allergies in babies have increased in recent times due to adulteration in food and environmental pollution. Even extreme cleanliness can cause allergies, as sanitizers and cleaning solutions kill good microbes along with the bad ones, which in turn reduces the baby’s immune system to fight against external factors. It is difficult to state what exactly causes allergies in babies.

Check out: How to handle food allergies in babies

Causes: Things that cause baby allergies

Most of the babies are allergic to things mentioned below, try to keep your baby away from these:

• Pollens of flowers, grass, and weeds.

• Dust mites that reside on beds and cushions.

• Pet’s fur, skin flakes, dried urine and even the saliva of a pet.

• Milk can cause allergies in some babies; formula fed babies have a higher risk of it.

• Nuts, especially peanuts are a common food allergy seen in babies.

• Babies show allergic reactions to wheat and barley in the beginning years.

• Yeast is another possible allergic agent for babies but it is quite rare.

Besides this, babies are prone to various allergies and infections. It’s difficult to decide whether the baby is suffering from some problem or minor allergy. You have to take extra care while observing symptoms in your baby, in order to understand what type of allergy she is suffering from.

IMPORTANT: 5 common skin allergies in babies

Common baby allergies that you should know

You should be aware of the types of allergies, babies can prone to. Some of the most common allergies, babies suffer from are:

Respiratory allergies

These allergies are caused due to poor air quality, too much dust around your baby and even pollens, these causes breathing difficulties. Coughing, sneezing, asthma, runny nose, and watery eyes are common symptoms of this allergy.

Contact allergies

Metal, perfumes, soaps, detergent, harsh cleaning agents or woolen clothing cause contact allergies. Try keeping these things far away from your baby. When babies come in contact with any of the above items, their skin might get affected. Blisters and itching are the most common symptoms in this case.

Seasonal allergies

According to this, allergies can occur in any season like summer, winter, autumn or spring. You have to observe and check in which season your baby gets affected the most. For example, few babies suffer from fever in the rainy season and ear pain, runny nose in the winter season. Not all kind of weather is best suited for babies. Sneezing, runny nose, ear pain, nasal congestion, watery eyes are common symptoms here.

Coeliac disease

It is an immune reaction to eating gluten which is a protein found in wheat and barley. This is mostly a hereditary disease. It can be treated but cannot be cured completely. Bloating, anemia, diarrhea and lack of energy are its known symptoms.

Anaphylaxis

This is a severe life-threatening allergy which would need an immediate medical diagnosis. This allergy is mostly caused by insect bites, trees, shellfish, and peanuts if your baby is allergic to them. It takes a few days or weeks to get cured. Itchy skin, swollen tongue or throat, wheezing, dizziness are the visible symptoms.

Delayed onset

Few babies show late reactions to a certain food. 1-2 hours after feeding they start exhibiting some discomforts. It is because your baby is finding hard to digest the food given to her. Vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms.

Food allergies

Certain foods affect your baby’s gastrointestinal system that is when it causes an allergy. Among these, peanuts, fish, eggs, wheat, milk and other nuts are the main ones. Babies outgrow food allergies as they become older but for a few, it remains for their entire life. Skin rashes, swelling of the throat, diarrhea, reddening of the skin are its main symptoms. The best way to prevent an allergy is to identify it early and avoid repeated exposure to allergens.

Tips to prevent baby allergies in your baby

Few simple tips have been mentioned below that might help you protect your baby from irritating allergies:

1. Avoid carpets at home or your baby’s room as it can contribute to dust mites and mold.

2. Do not let pets sleep with you.

3. If available, run your air conditioner for a longer duration as it is the best way to prevent pollen from entering the house.

4. Keep your bathrooms clean.

5. Leave your footwear at the door as you don’t want unnecessary germs entering your home.

6. Clean your baby’s toys often in hot water.

7. Avoid using packaged foods.

8. Introduce new foods at least every four days.

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

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