Signs Of Allergy In Children

Allergy Signs In Children by Jane Thurnell-Read

Sadly more and more children are suffering from allergies, and there are certain signs that indicate when allergies are causing or significantly contributing to health problems. Here's a short list of what to look out for.

DARK CIRCLES OR BAGS UNDER THE EYES

making the child look permanently tired. In Chinese medicine this area of the face is linked to the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are one of the main organs of the body involved in stress reactions and exposure to allergens certainly produces stress in the body. Thecrease seen under the eyelids of some allergy sufferers is referred to as a Dennie Line.

DRY OR FLAKY LIPS

Often the edge of the lip is an indistinct blur rather than there being a definite line between it and the rest of the face. Michio Kushi in his book Oriental Diagnosis says that different parts of the lip correspond to different parts of the digestive system. The upper lip represents the stomach. The lower part corresponds to the intestines. These parts of the body are often involved with allergic reactions particularly if the problem is with foods.

SWEATY FEET

The liver is the main detoxifying organ of the body. When it is not functioning properly or has to work overtime then the feet tend to be very sweaty. In allergic reactions the liver is coping with an overload of toxins.

ONE OR BOTH EARS RED (AND SOMETIMES BURNING)

The reaction usually starts about one and three quarter-hours after exposure to the offending substance and lasts for about half an hour. I do not know whether it is significant if it is one ear or both ears, but the timing seems very precise. The redness usuallylasts for about half an hour.

One client walked in with one very red ear. I asked him what hed eaten about 1.75 hours before. He was adamant that he hadnt eaten anything, as he was in the car on his way to see me. I was certain he was wrong and asked him the same question several times during the consultation, but he always replied in the same way.

Just before he left he remembered that he had had a mint at about that time. I tested the mints, and sure enough he was allergic to them. He was very impressed by this. This particular reaction can become a very useful self-help diagnostic technique if you explain it to clients.

Children with a tendency to allergies are often BLOND HAIRED. They are usually PALE; in fact so pale that sometimes they are suspected of suffering from anaemia. In some children this paleness is not at first sight evident, because they have very rosy cheeks either all the time or some of the time. Sometimes if you feel the childs cheek it will be hot and burning or papery and dry.

A child with a lot of food sensitivities will often be A FUSSY EATER. The parent will often say: My child would be happy if he could live on X. The child is probably allergic to X, whatever that is. Frequently they become irritable and bad-tempered if they have to go without their favourite food for even a short period of time

Breast fed babies are either DIFFICULT FEEDERS or need to be constantly fed both day and night and may be difficult to wean.

Babies and children with food allergies are usually EITHER VERY GOOD-TEMPERED OR VERY BAD-TEMPERED IN THE MORNING.

Very often there is A FAMILY HISTORY OF ALLERGIES with near relatives suffering from eczema, hay fever, etc.

Allergic children (and adults) often LIKE PECULIAR SMELLS: they sniff felt tip pens or enjoy the smell of petrol (gas) at petrol stations. They are nearly always allergic to the smell they like so much and, like a drug addict, are seeking out a fix!

My book Allergy A To Z has lots more information.