All about
allergies!
• Medicines. Antibiotics are the most common type of
medicines that cause allergic reactions. Many other
others, including over-the-counter medicines (those
you can buy without a prescription), also can cause
allergic reactions.
• Chemicals. Some cosmetics or laundry detergents
can make people break out in hives. Hives are red raised
bumps or welts on the skin.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Allergies?
Allergy symptoms are different for everyone. Allergies may
show up as itchy eyes, sneezing, a stuffy nose, throat tightness,
trouble breathing, vomiting, and even fainting or passing out.
Kids with severe allergies (such as those to food, medicine, or
insect venom) can be at risk for a sudden, potentially life-threatening
allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can result in difficulty
breathing, among other things. So doctors will want anyone
diagnosed with a life-threatening allergy to carry an epinephrine
auto-injector in case of an emergency. Epinephrine works quickly
against serious allergy symptoms.
How Are Allergies Treated?
There's no cure for allergies, but there are some things that can
help. The best way is to avoid the things you are allergic to. That is
not always possible.
Your teachers, friends, and parents of your friends should also
know about your allergy.
If avoiding things you are allergic to isn't possible or doesn't help,
your doctor might prescribe medicine to take away some of the
symptoms.
In some cases, your doctor might recommend allergy shots. They
work by helping your body to stop reacting to an allergen.
(Source: kidshealth.org)
Of f icialKidsMag.com • APRIL 2020 • 37
