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Is your child living with itching and sneezing? Do certain foods upset their stomach? Does their skin get irritated after contact with certain materials? In any of these cases, your child is most likely living with allergies. And, good news, those allergies are treatable. To get your child relief, call the offices of Dewi S. Sudjono-Santoso, MD, PA, in Cranbury and Trenton, New Jersey, or request an appointment online today.
What are allergies?
Allergies are the body’s improper response to substances. The body naturally defends itself against substances it thinks are harmful. This is helpful in most cases. When an infectious bacteria enters your system, for example, your body’s immune response attacks it, minimizing your chances of getting sick.
But in the case of allergies, your body has improperly identified a substance — called an allergen — as harmful even though it isn’t. Take pollen allergies, for example.
The pollen enters the person’s body and their immune response kicks into action, working to remove that pollen from the body by sneezing, a runny nose, and more. But because the pollen isn’t actually harmful, all of these symptoms are unnecessary.
There are different types of allergies. Some of the most common include:
- Food allergies
- Hay fever
- Allergic reactions to insect bites and stings
- Contact dermatitis (the skin’s allergic reaction to contact with certain substances)
- Drug allergies
The symptoms for each type of allergy vary. Hay fever, for example, is characterized by sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, and a runny or stuffy nose.
Contact dermatitis is marked by a rash or hives at the site where the allergen came into contact with the skin. Food allergy symptoms can range from a stomachache to facial swelling to anaphylactic shock, which is life-threatening.
How are allergies diagnosed?
If your child is living with allergies, you want to get them relief. And the first step is identifying their specific allergy triggers so the the team at the offices of Dewi S. Sudjono-Santoso, MD, PA, can offer them the right treatment to alleviate their symptoms.
To hone in on the allergens that are causing their allergic reactions, the team uses allergy testing. With a simple scratch test, they can accurately diagnose your child’s allergies.
How are allergies treated?
There are a number of different allergy treatments. In some cases of food allergies or contact dermatitis, avoiding the allergen is an easy, effective way for your child to get relief. In other cases, allergy medications help them manage symptoms so they can enjoy their favorite activities without any sneezing, itchiness, or rashes.
Once your son or daughter’s allergies have been diagnosed, the team tailors allergy treatment to them, helping them get fast, effective relief.
Don’t let allergies impact the way your kids feel. Help them find relief by calling the offices of Dewi S. Sudjono-Santoso, MD, PA, or requesting an appointment online today.