Pediatric allergist in Mykolaiv

At the first signs of allergy in a child, you need to make an appointment with a pediatric allergist. The doctor will diagnose, determine the allergen and prescribe a therapy that will save the child from unpleasant manifestations of the disease and prevent complications.

How does allergy manifest in a child?

Allergy symptoms in children manifest in different ways, depending on the type of allergen and the individual body’s response to it. The main symptoms of allergies are the following:

• sneezing;
• nasal congestion, runny nose;
• watery eyes, “sandpaper” in the eyes;
• eye redness, itching of the eyelids;
• intolerance to bright light;
• heavy breathing;
• cough;
• constipation or diarrhea;
• headache.

A typical external manifestation of allergies is a rash on a child’s body. The rash appears as a reaction to various irritants - dust, skin particles and pet hair, certain food. Diseases characterized by the appearance of allergic rashes on the child’s body:

• Atopic dermatitis (diathesis). Allergy on the child’s face manifests in the form of reddish spots on the cheeks, which itch, become covered with a thin dry crust and flake off. The rash can be weeping. Allergies on the cheeks appear mainly due to intolerance to certain food.
• Urticaria can cause allergies throughout the body. An itchy, reddish rash looks like insect bites or a sting. In most cases, urticaria is a manifestation of a food allergy in a child or the result of skin contact with an allergen.

Why allergies in children are dangerous?

The most dangerous manifestation of allergies in children is anaphylactic shock. It develops within minutes or hours after exposure to an allergen. Anaphylactic shock can be triggered by an insect bite, medications (mainly administered intravenously), food, pollen, animal hair.

Anaphylaxis manifests in different ways, depending on which body system is affected:

• skin: redness, rash, itching, Quincke’s edema (massive swelling of the face and neck that develops within a few minutes);
• nervous system: convulsions, severe headache, fainting;
• respiratory system: laryngeal edema, cramping in the throat, choking. If a child is not provided with medical aid in a timely manner, a lethal outcome is possible;
• cardiovascular system: acute inflammation of heart muscle, heart attack.

With a tendency to anaphylaxis, contact with allergen shall be completely eliminated and you should always carry around an anti-allergic drug prescribed by a doctor in case of emergency.

In the absence of timely treatment for allergies, complications may develop in children such as bronchial asthma and chronic rhinitis. After urticaria and atopic dermatitis, scars may remain on the skin if the child scratches the allergic rash until it bleeds and infects them. Therefore, at the first manifestations of allergy in a child, it is necessary to make an appointment for a consultation by a pediatric allergist in order to prevent the development of disease complications.

How to distinguish allergies from dermatological problems?

A child’s body allergy can be easily confused with infectious rash or dermatological disease. Before taking any action, you need to find out the nature of the rash, since the choice of treatment tactics will depend on this. Therapy will be prescribed by a doctor after examining the child and making a diagnosis.

Signs of allergic rash in a child:

• rash manifests both in the form of small dots and large blisters, and can form large foci (merge into a large spot);
• rash is rarely accompanied by elevated body temperature (no higher than 38°C) and disappears soon after taking an anti-allergic drug;
• rash comes with other allergic symptoms - lacrimation, cough, red eyes, runny nose and nasal congestion;
• rash is localized mainly on the arms, legs, face, neck and buttocks. Allergic rash on the abdomen in a child appears less often;
• rash is accompanied by skin swelling in the area of eruption.

What diseases does a pediatric allergist treat?

Pediatric allergist treats the following:

• food allergies;
• seasonal allergies (pollinosis);
• allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis;
• atopic dermatitis;
• urticaria;
• allergies to insect bites;
• allergies to drugs;
• bronchial asthma.

Treatment of food allergies in children includes temporary complete refusal from food allergens and symptomatic therapy if necessary. Re-introduction of food products into the child’s diet is further discussed with the doctor. Treatment for seasonal allergies in children usually includes regular nasal rinsing with sea salt water, steroid nasal sprays, or prescribed antihistamines.

Take care of your child’s health and make an appointment with a pediatric allergist at the medical center “ON Clinic Mykolaiv”. Our doctors will conduct a thorough diagnostics and select a treatment that will significantly reduce or completely eliminate the disease manifestations. An appointment with a pediatric allergist is made by calling the phone number indicated on the website, or through the online application form.