Treating allergies in babies can be much more difficult than managing them in children, teenagers or adults. Why? Babies can't specifically express what they're suffering from. While they may show signs of allergies, it's often guesswork for parents who find themselves asking whether their baby has allergies, is sick or is naturally sneezing because of some floating dust.
Here's the positive news: The chance babies are suffering from hay fever is slim to none, according to Parents.com.
"Allergies develop after a cumulative exposure to an allergen," said pediatric allergist Anne Miranowski. "An infant doesn't spend enough time outdoors to develop a reaction to tree pollen, grass, or ragweed."
That privilege (insert sarcasm) is left for the rest of us to handle.
However, just because babies don't have to deal with pollen allergies, doesn't mean they're not prone to allergic reactions due to dust or pets. If a parent is allergic to dust and pets, their baby also has a great chance of developing similar health conditions. It also doesn't help that allergy cases are on the rise, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Dr. Foggs brought up a great point when he said, "With more people being affected by seasonal allergies, it may seem like every year is the worst yet for sufferers. But in reality, there might just be more people complaining about symptoms."
If your baby suffers from dust or pet allergies, you should take a proactive approach. This could mean cleaning the home more regularly, establishing pet-free zone, something Parents.com advises families to do. For more allergy solutions, visit Allergy Be Gone's store for a wide range of allergy control products.
