Allergies, Asthma & Eczema: The Triple Threat

4/1/2010 12:00:00 AM

Do you sneeze through the spring? Or wheeze when the temperature drops? Feel free to blame it on your parents! If a parent has allergies, asthma and/or eczema, there’s more than a 50 percent chance of it passing to the child. Dr. Jeff Wald, of KC Allergy and Asthma Associates (KCAA) says, “If both parents have one of the three, it jumps to 80 to 85 percent of illness.”

Allergies

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, approximately 2 million children in the United States have food allergies. The most common irritants: eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and wheat. Some food allergic reactions may require emergency treatment, due to the child’s breathing and blood pressure becoming compromised.

“Common (airborne) allergies are cats and dogs, pollens, tree pollen, grass, dust mites and mold in this part of the country,” Wald says. These can usually be treated and prevented with medication and/or allergy shots.

Other allergens:

• Chemicals (skin contact): detergents/cleaning products, pesticides or cosmetics.
• Medications: not only antibiotics, but some over-the-counter medicines.
• Insect stings: can require emergency treatment.

Asthma

This lung condition, which causes upper airways to inflame and clog with mucus, affects 20 million U.S. citizens. Wheezing and coughing are common signs of asthma. Wald says, “Common triggers would be respiratory infections, flu, virus, the common cold, cold air, exercise, secondhand smoke and inhaled chemicals.”

Parents must provide a rescue inhaler of Albuterol to the child’s school and an action plan for if the child wheezes at school.

Most children who have asthma have some type of allergy. The normal pattern is “an infant or toddler with eczema, then allergic rhinitis (allergies), then asthma,” warns Wald.

Eczema

Karna Gibson, a Kansas City Nurse Practitioner specializing in pediatric dermatology, explains, “Eczema is characterized by raised, red, itchy skin that often has overlying scratches and begins in infancy or early childhood. It may only involve a few areas of the body; however, some children have flares that involve the entire body.” Eczema is a chronic disorder. “There is no cure for eczema. It can, however, be managed or controlled. Some children outgrow their eczema,” Karna says.

Jacy Dunham, Leawood mother of four, says, “We have yet to determine what triggers (our son’s) eczema.” He was diagnosed in infancy. “It’s a never ending battle. It will be clearing up one day and then the next will be worse than before.”

Karna says they find some comfort in “daily bathing and frequent application of thick cream or ointment based moisturizers.” Topical steroids will be prescribed if necessary.

Wald encourages parents to seek a specialist if they are concerned. “There’s no magical age for allergies or asthma.” He disagrees with the theory that children can’t have allergies under the age of five, and suggests, “If the child is having problems, they need to be tested.”

For more information:

• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at www.AAAAI.org
• KC chapter of Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America at www.AAFAKC.org

Stacey Hatton is an Overland Park pediatric nurse, mommy of two and freelance writer who relied heavily on “spell check” as she typed the names of these conditions.