UNDERSTANDING ALLERGIES

Many parents frequently face phone calls from teachers who complain about their children who are easily distracted, hyperactive, disruptive or who have declining grades. Often, children are diagnosed with conditions such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or various learning disabilities. These same children may be prescribed medication or even be removed from regular classroom settings because of these problems. This does not have to happen. Many times allergies have been discovered to be the underlying cause of these medical conditions. In fact, there is often a distinct relationship between allergies and behavior and learning problems. Allergies are broad in scope and can affect almost every system in a child's body, especially the central nervous system. Allergies caused by pollen, food, chemicals and more can actually affect a child's brain and cause problems in school. At the office of Richard E. Layton, we strive to discover the underlying cause of a child's learning and behavior problems. If allergies are the cause, we can prescribe a treatment which will enable the child to experience a happier, more normal life.

WHAT CAUSES ALLERGIES?
I always thought that allergies were caused by the increase in pollen in the air during the spring and fall. Are there other causes for allergies? Yes, there are a wide array of causes of allergies. In fact, allergies are caused by common things that adults and children come face-to-face with every day, in their homes, schools, offices--even outdoors. Allergens, or substances which trigger an adverse reaction in the body, can include: Inhalants: trees, grass, weeds, molds; Animal dander: cat and dog; Chemicals: perfume, formaldehyde, pesticides, etc.; Food: wheat, sugar, corn, chocolate. The causes of allergies may seem harmless, but daily exposure to these items can cause chronic medical problems in adults and children. WARNING SIGNS--Are there any warning signs to indicate that my child may have allergies? Allergies are often difficult to detect because they are caused by common things a child is exposed to every day. It is an even greater challenge to parents of small children because the children often cannot express their discomfort. There are, however, several signs which can alert parents to possible allergies: Allergy Salute: children constantly rub their noses when experiencing allergies. Clucking Sounds: children often make "clucking" sounds when allergies cause sore and itchy throats. Dark Circles Under the Eyes: food, additive, chemical and pollen sensitivities may cause dark circles to appear under your child's eyes. Ringing in the Ears: food and additive allergies may cause children to experience a ringing in their ears. Abdominal Pain: food allergies often cause digestive complications in children.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Behavior:
Allergies can affect every system in a child's body including the central nervous system. When a child is experiencing an allergic reaction to a particular type of food, parents will often note a sudden change in behavior or mood. These signs are just guidelines or starting points for parents. A child experiencing the symptoms noted above should undergo a complete allergy evaluation with a family physician or pediatric allergist.

CAN ALLERGIES AFFECT LEARNING?
My child's grades are declining and his overall development at school has halted. I'm concerned that he may have a learning disability. Could his problems be caused by something else? During my 29 years as a pediatrician, I have often heard complaints from parents who know their child is bright, but cannot understand his or her developmental problems. Children who have difficulty learning do not necessarily have learning disabilities. Because the scope of allergies is broad, they can affect a child's brain and actually cause learning problems. Parents must carefully monitor their child's education records. If test results indicate erratic learning patterns, the child may have a food or chemical allergy. If a hidden allergy is detected, and subsequently treated, it is likely that the child's development will take a positive turn.

ALLERGIES AND COLIC:
I have read that babies with colic are allergic to milk. Is this true and does this present further medical problems as the child grows up? Even though many pediatricians do not recognize the relationship of food allergies and subsequent symptoms in children, milk appears to be the exception. Often pediatricians will eliminate milk from the mother's diet if she is breast-feeding or will switch formulas if colic appears to be formula related. In regard to colic, milk is not the only food culprit. One has to look at the foods ingested by a breast-feeding mother to see what effect each food may be having on the child. It may be necessary for the mother to eliminate foods one at a time to see what effect it will have on the infant's symptoms. Even though milk would be the most likely cause, any food ingested by the mother can be an underlying culprit of her child's colic symptoms. All to frequently, problems with milk ingestion do not stop with colic. Recurrent ear infections, chronic nasal congestion and behavior problems frequently occur in older children with milk allergies. We welcome any questions that you as parents might have concerning allergies. Please contact Teresita at our office at 410-337-2707, and we will address them.