ALLERGIES IN CHILDREN
Kids are bio chemically different. The incidence of allergies in children has increased significantly in the last two decades. Ten years ago there was only a handful of sufferers, today an estimated 40 per cent of
children have an allergy of some sort, whether asthma, a food allergy or dermatitis. ALLERGY: Allergy is the term used to describe our immunologic sensitivity to an allergen (any substance that causes an allergic reaction). Normally Allergen could be any substance that under normal circumstances is harmless but in some people causes an allergic reaction. COMMON ALLERGENS: Pets (pet hair), Animal dander, Burning fuels, egg, nuts, Milk and milk products, Wheat, Mold, Dust mites, irritants and odors as perfume, tobacco smoke, and colognes etc and a varied range of substances like textiles etc are common allergens. ALLERGIC RESPONSES: Children can be sensitive toward certain types of food, materials, environments, substances etc. Children’s allergic response can be IMMEDIATE or DELAYED and ANAPHYLAXIS. Immediate reactions cause rashes, sneezes, itching upon contact with the allergen and is almost immediately identified and related with the food or the substance. Delayed Reactions normally occur hours, days or weeks after coming in contact with the allergen. These are often hard to trace and it takes expert diagnosis and some time to identify the cause of the allergy. A child who is allergic to wheat may react one or two days later with eczema on his cheeks. Then there is the severe and life threatening allergic reaction called Anaphylaxis. Of the 380,000 Australians with anaphylaxis, an estimated 5 to 8 per cent are children. That’s around 20,000 children who could potentially die if exposed to the slightest trace of foods as common as eggs, milk and peanuts. Though the reason is unclear, anaphylaxis can kill in minutes. A severe anaphylactic reaction includes difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue and throat, loss of consciousness etc. Urgent medical treatment is usually in the form of adrenalin shot called an EpiPen a disposable device designed to give a measured dose of adrenalin while urgent medical help is sought. This can save the person’s life. Life-long avoidance of the offending food makes sense if the risk is high. Allergies in children are very concerning as the child is not in a position to understand the implications or identify the allergen. It is only after a few episodes of the allergic reaction that the responsible allergen is properly identified. In most cases, the Allergen is simply avoided. When these allergies are not identified and treated, they manifest in other parts of the body as various forms of diseases. One may be surprised but diseases or ailments like Anxiety, Asthma, Attention-deficit disorder, Bed-wetting, Bronchial infections, Colic, Constipation, Ear infections Eczema, Infections, Hyperactivity, Irritable bowel syndrome etc can all be caused due to allergic reactions to certain substances. HOMEOPATHIC HELP: A growing number of parents today are concerned about the side effects of conventional drugs, especially in the treatment of babies and young children. Homeopathy is growing in popularity all over the world because its medicines are gentle, non-toxic aids, harmless. This makes Homeopathy safe to use when many other types of treatments may not be recommended, such as in case of newborns, children and during pregnancy. REINTRODUCTION: Homeopathy assists parents in slowly reintroducing the allergen back to the child’s body rather than totally avoiding it for life. This is done by enhancing the immune system’s power to accept normal substances as they are without causing adverse reactions. HOMEOPATHIC APPROACH: Homeopathy believes in a Holistic, Totalistic, and Individualistic approach toward disease. Child-Asthma (Asthmatic Bronchitis) is becoming a universal problem in children, where they are frequently down with attacks of wheezing, cough and breathlessness. Homeopathy has exceptional treatment for such suffering which helps in long-term as well as to fight effectively an acute episode of wheezing, whereby the child can be kept away from strong medicines like steroids. Besides the respiratory allergy, Homeopathy works miraculously for skin allergy, Eczema, Urticaria, food-allergy, etc. Contrary, to the common misbelief, Homeopathy is fast acting and brings back the healthy state in the quickest possible manner and is exceptionally effective for almost all sorts of health problems in children. HOMEOPATHY AND ANAPHYLAXIS: There is no denial that urgent medical help is life saving in cases of Anaphylaxis. However, continuous homeopathic treatment is of great assistance where if there is an accidental exposure, the chances of a severe reaction are greatly reduced. Homeopathy can be a safe and effective treatment for these conditions allergies, excema, ear aches, digestive issues childhood anxieties, fears, tantrums, hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder without side effects. Additionally, it can help children become more resistant to colds and flu. Homeopathy views food sensitivities (and allergies, too) as an expression of a disturbance in the patients energetic system. Homeopathic treatment can help strengthen the immune system. Often allergies, asthma and eczema go together and runs in families. Homeopathy strengthens children's body constitution means they will be less likely to express these familial diseases later in life. With the right homeopathic approach food allergies will completely disappear with proper treatment. This seems to be in contrast to the usual medical approach of eliminating the offending food or using digestive aids and then viewing the patient as cured. |