Hello my dear sisters, guess who in Desi momz club today?! ;D
Yes! It's me Asha of
Foodies Hope, bringing you my first post here at Desi Momz club which I am proud to be associated with friends like Sandeepa and Indosungod. Hopefully,many more of you mommies will join us here to lend a hand.I am a mom of two and have been one for 16yrs!! No, I am not a doctor but can speak from experience as a mother:)
I usually hesitate to commit to any new projects and bring on more things to do on myself but I thought this club created by Sandeepa for helping young moms with their questions or general info about child rearing appealed to me.I do have 16 yrs of experience as a mom to boot!! So here I am, bringing you a subject close to home.
This article is just for your information,not my opinion or advice to you.For any proper advice or diagnosis of allergies,you have to consult your doctor.Thanks.Allergies!!!As most of you know by now,I do suffer from Spring allergies.People who think "oh! few sneezes a day doesn't hurt!" , have no clue what they are talking about!Let me tell you,you will live in a haze day in and day out with medication with dry throat and discomfort which is lot better than living like a zombie without medication!;D
As an adult I can cope somehow,but can you imagine when a child gets affected by these seasonal or food allergies?! So why not educate ourselves about the basics and be aware of Allergic symptoms.
What is Allergy?Allergy is a physiological reaction caused when the immune system mistakenly identifies a normally harmless substance as damaging to the body.
Normally, the human body defends itself against harmful substances such as viruses or bacteria, but sometimes the defenses aggressively attack usually innocuous substances such as dust, mold, or pollen and the reaction can be mild or even life threatening.
Symptoms that occur in certain seasons are usually caused by specific pollens:Spring - tree and grass pollen
Summer through fall - weed pollen
Late summer through fall - ragweed pollen.
What are allergic reactions?An allergic reaction may occur anywhere in the body, in the skin, eyes, lining of the stomach, nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs -- places where immune system cells are located to fight off invaders that are inhaled, swallowed, or come in contact with the skin.
Who is affected by allergies?Allergies can affect anyone regardless of age or gender.There is a tendency for allergies to occur in families.In susceptible people, factors such as hormones, stress, smoke, perfume, or other environmental irritants may also play a role. Often, the symptoms of allergies develop gradually over a period of time.
Allergy sufferers may become so accustomed to chronic symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, or wheezing, that they do not consider their symptoms to be unusual. Yet, with the help of an allergist, these symptoms can usually be prevented or controlled and quality of life greatly improved.
How is allergy diagnosed?By skin test, or by blood test by qualified Doctors.
Treatment:Treatment is first directed at limiting exposure to individual allergens and irritants. When this is not effective, medications are then given."Allergy shots" are given when environmental control and medications still do not adequately control the symptoms.
Basic prevention:Vacuum the carpet often if you are allergic to Dust mites.Keep the blinds clean and keep the doors and windows closed as much as possible in spring and Summer.If you spend time outside,change the clothes ASAP to avoid spreading pollen inside the house.Wash your hands often.Avoid being outside for too long.
Tricks for feeding medicine to children:To teach a child to swallow pills: Nearly all children over the age of 5 years can be taught to swallow pills, even when they are bitter.
1. Have a drink of juice or water and a straw ready
2. Simply place the pill on the tongue in the mid-line, as far back as possible.
3. Immediately have the child take a strong suck on the straw to swallow the pill with the fluid.
To prevent eye drops from missing the eye and running down the cheek:1. Lie down or sit with the head extended over the back of a chair.
2. Face the ceiling directly and pull down the lower lid with a finger below the eye.
3. Hold the bottle vertically above the eye and squeeze out the drop.
Stinging from some antihistamine eye drops can be reduced by keeping the eye drops cold in the refrigerator.Apart from the seasonal allergies kids can suffer,there are food allergies you have to watch out for as well.Food Allergy:What is food allergy?Food allergy is a physiological reaction caused when the immune system mistakenly identifies a normally harmless food as damaging to the body.
What is the difference between food allergy and food intolerance?
Food allergy causes an immune system response, causing symptoms that range from uncomfortable to life-threatening. Food intolerance does not affect the immune system, although some symptoms may be the same as in food allergy.
What foods most often cause food allergy?Approximately 90 percent of all food allergies are caused by eight foods:
milk, eggs,wheat,peanuts, soy, Tree nuts,fish,shellfish,Eggs, milk, and peanuts are the most common causes of food allergies in children, with wheat, soy, and tree nuts also included. Peanuts, nuts, fish, and shellfish commonly cause the most severe reactions. Nearly 5 percent of children have food allergies. Although most children "outgrow" their allergies, allergy to peanuts and tree nuts may be life-long.
What are the symptoms of food allergy?Allergic symptoms may begin within minutes to an hour after ingesting the food. Symptoms can include:vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, hives, swelling,eczema,itching or swelling of the lips,tongue, or mouth,itching or tightness in the throat, difficulty breathing,wheezing,lowered blood pressure,hives, eczema, asthma.
Although hundreds of ordinary substances could trigger allergic reactions, the most common triggers -- called allergens -- are:pollens, molds,household dust, dust mites and their waste,animal protein (dander, urine, oil from skin), industrial chemicals, foods, medications, feathers,insect stings and cockroaches and their waste.
At this time, no medication is available to prevent food allergy. Treatment involves avoiding the food that causes the symptoms.People with food allergy must be prepared to treat any accidental ingestion of the foods that cause the allergic reaction.All of the above information are obtained from these wonderful sites which are there to educate the public.Hope you go there and learn about them and for your kids' healthy future by avoiding at least some of the Allergens which are responsible to trigger allergies.
The Allergy AuthorityU of Maryland MedicineU of Maryland Medicine for Food allergiesAlso check out; National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
A fun allergy site for kids;
FankidsAllergen free food store;
Kids allergy stop That's it from me.Hope you all have a wonderful safe and healthy weekend.See you all in the next post here at Desi Momz club!:))
