Can babies have allergies?
Like older children and adults, babies can have allergies to the foods they eat, the things they touch, and the unseen particles they inhale in the home or outdoors. And when your baby has symptoms of any kind, it can be difficult to figure out what’s wrong because a little one can’t describe those symptoms. There are many allergies a baby can have, though they can generally be divided into one of three categories:
food and medicine
environmental
seasonal
Allergic reactions to food or medications usually happen soon after an item has been consumed. They can be either very mild or life-threatening. Environmental allergies can be things that touch your baby’s skin, such as detergent in clothes, or things that are inhaled, such as dust. Environmental allergies can affect your baby year-round. Seasonal allergies, however, are usually a problem during certain parts of the year or in specific locations. They tend to originate outdoors from trees and other plants that grow in the area. The term “hay fever” is sometimes used to describe these allergies.
Food and medicine allergies
Symptoms of a food or medicine allergy may appear very soon. The most common signs of food and medicine allergies include:
hives or rashes
itching
shortness of breath
Food allergies can also result in nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, or swelling of lips or tongue. A potentially fatal reaction to a serious food or medicine allergy is a condition called anaphylaxis. It occurs when exposure to an allergen triggers overproduction of certain body chemicals. Those chemicals can send you into shock. Blood pressure will also drop dramatically and the airways narrow, making breathing difficult. Anaphylaxis resulting from food allergies is rare in babies and is almost always due to cow’s milk protein allergy.
Environmental allergies
Though uncommon in babies, allergies to dust, pets, mold, insect bites, and other things in the environment may trigger allergy symptoms that
affect the head and chest, such as:
sneezing
red and itchy eyes
coughing and chest tightness
runny nose
Your baby may also develop hives, a rash, or itchy bumps if their skin is exposed to an allergen or something to which they are sensitive. Shampoos, soaps, detergents, and similar products are common triggers for a reaction called contact dermatitis.
Seasonal allergies
The main symptoms of seasonal allergies are similar to environmental allergy symptoms, and may include:
sneezing
itchy or watery eyes
coughing
runny nose
If your baby has these symptoms only at certain times of the year, they may have seasonal allergies.
How are allergies diagnosed in babies?
The only way to be sure your baby has an allergy, and not frequent upper respiratory infections or other condition, may be for a doctor to perform an allergy test or a combination of tests. These tests are often
less accurate in babies, though. Some of these tests can be performed by your pediatrician. However, your baby’s doctor may refer you to an allergist. An allergist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies. Some allergists specialize in working with babies and children, and will know what tests are safe and appropriate based on your child’s age.
- Skin test
During a skin prick test, a tiny portion or a diluted version of a specific allergen is placed with a needle just under the skin. The skin is observed for 15 minutes or so. This test is generally safe for anyone over 6 months of age.
- Blood test
Though not as sensitive as a skin test, a blood test may be helpful for younger babies or if a skin test isn’t appropriate. Certain medications, such as anything containing an antihistamine, can disrupt the accuracy of a skin test.
- Elimination diet test
For suspected food allergies, you may remove one possible allergen out of your baby’s diet for a week to see if it makes a difference. This can be difficult, because certain allergens, such as milk, can be found in many products.
How to prevent allergic reactions
You can’t tell what allergies your baby will have until they are exposed to an allergen. Sometimes, allergy symptoms in babies improve or go away as they get older.
Introduce new foods slowly and independently. The week you first give your baby an egg, don’t try any other new foods until you see how they react. If there are no signs of a food allergy, then introduce new food. If your baby is prone to allergies or asthma, reduce your baby’s exposure to dust mites. To help reduce dust mite exposure, use “allergen-impermeable” bedding. Also, regular cleaning other surfaces may help too. If you’re concerned that your baby is allergic to seasonal allergens, your best bet is to pay close attention to local weather reports and air quality alerts.
Medically reviewed by Melanie Santos — Written by James Roland on October 1, 2018
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