Can Allergies Be Detected?

Allergies are noticeable but not always, and especially not in babies. For instance, many babies develop a wheeze when they get an upper respiratory tract infection. It isn't usually the sign of an allergy, and most babies outgrow the tendency to wheeze when they have a cold as they mature. If the wheeze often occurs in the absence of a cold, and it's still there at age three, your pediatrician may ask you to keep a diary of when your child develops symptoms. Asthma is usually diagnosed through the child's history and response to bronchodilators.

Common allergy-related conditions, such as asthma and eczema can usually be readily diagnosed. However, a person can develop an allergy to almost anything from cat fur to polyester. Morning congestion which lasts all year long is commonly due to dust-mites or pet allergies. When there are symptoms but no easily discernible cause, you may want to consult your pediatrician.

The two main types of allergy tests are skin tests and blood tests. In a skin test, a very small amount of an allergen is placed underneath the skin. If the area swells up and becomes red (like a mosquito bite), the test is said to be positive, meaning that the child might be allergic to that substance.

A blood test (sometimes called a RAST test or radioallergosorbent test) may be used if your child is extremely sensitive to certain allergens, has uncontrolled asthma, or has a skin condition that does not allow a skin test to be performed. Talk to your doctor or allergist about the specific test that will be done.

Another way to detect the cause of an allergy is with skin prick tests, especially for allergic contact eczema, but these are unreliable in babies under 18 months of age. You may also want to check with your doctor if new symptoms develop or if they persist. If your baby has trouble breathing, pants, appears disoriented, has a rapid pulse or is pale or cold, call your pediatrician immediately.

There are many herbal and homeopathic remedies that have been proven to have a very positive effect on those suffering from allergies while exerting balance between body systems. While conventional medicine works by often treating just the symptoms, natural medicine seek to produce holistic balance in the body to sustain systemic health, relieve ailments, and help prevent future disease.