Child Allergies

Allergies

An allergy is an over-reaction by the immune system to a particular substance. Although the term is often used to refer to dust allergies or airborne allergies (pollen allergies/hay fever), any possible substance can cause allergic reactions in different people. Thus there are also animal allergies, dust allergies, food allergies (e.g. peanut allergies, shellfish allergies), drug allergies (e.g. penicillin allergy), insect sting allergies, mold allergies, and many others. Allergies causing skin conditions may result in eczema or dermatitis. The effect of an allergy ranges from mild to very severe, and prompt profesional medical advice is required. Many types of allergy are difficult to diagnose and thus may be both over-diagnosed and under-diagnosed at different times.

Symptoms of Allergies

* General symptoms possible from allergies:
o Allergic dermatitis
o Itchy rash
o Eczema
o Hay fever