Infant Allergies Often Misdiagnosed

Infant allergy symptoms are often hard to diagnose. They can be the result of foods, inhalants and the environment. When a baby has an allergic reaction to milk, the results can be tough for the parent and for your child. Here are some tips that will help you recognize some of the basic causes of infant allergies.

Since babies cannot soothe itchiness caused by an allergic reaction, unstoppable crying could perhaps be one of the main infant allergy symptoms you will detect. Depending on the age and mobility of the infant, they could also roll and wiggle in their effort to scratch the offending area. Dry skin may be visible behind the ears and on the scalp and may look like cradle cap. If it appears behind the ears it may look as if the child is not being washed thoroughly, but it will not wash off.

Swelling may also materialize in the face or lips and if swelling is found, the infant’s breathing must be watched carefully. As with most infant allergies the throat may also swell. This could bring about anaphylactic shock and conceivably death. Some infant allergies may create breathing problems or a drippy nose and be treated for colds. They may also exhibit sinus problems and can have a cough attributable to nasal drainage into the throat while sleeping.

Is Breast Feeding Causing Baby Allergies?

Many health professional suggest that nursing mothers to restrict foods known for causing allergic reactions such as corn and seafood, among others. If the child's allergies are brought on by something in your milk, your infant may develop a bloated stomach or persistent gas. They may throw up often or cry constantly. Many physicians will misidentify infant allergies as colic and tell parents to wait for the child to outgrow it, normally about six months. In most cases with allergies, if your baby has an allergy to milk, taking out dairy products from the mother’s diet will usually ease the symptoms.

If you think that the allergies are being caused by sources other than food, there are a few more products you can try to eradicate. Try using laundry detergent and fabric softeners without perfumes or dyes. Do not spray chemicals in the child’s bedroom, such as furniture polish or air fresheners and keep the room as free of dust as possible to reduce the conditions of an allergy to dust mites.

Until the sources of your infant allergies are diagnosed, do not allow pets into your child’s room and, when possible, change your child’s clothing at nap time and bed time, and always give the infant their bath at bedtime. Try to keep a journal of the infant allergy symptoms your child is displaying, and if you think your baby has an allergy to milk, consider substituting with a suitable replacement. Check all ingredients on packages, and note what you eat if you are breastfeeding. If you do not see any improvement in the rashes or other suspected signs of infant allergies, or if your infant just cannot stop crying, do not hesitate to seek medical care.