Allergies and Asthma
Due to the common misunderstanding that younger children don't get allergies and asthma, many of these ailments are undiagnosed or undertreated. Complicating matters even further is the fact that most viral illnesses, which are very common at this age, can also cause runny noses, coughs, and wheezing, just like allergies and asthma. However, if your child always gets sick with a cough or runny nose, you should suspect allergies, asthma, or both, especially if these conditions run in the family.
Allergies
Infants with allergies are often misdiagnosed as having colds and sinus infections. Because the average child has six to eight upper respiratory tract infections each year, it is possible that kids who almost always have a runny nose do indeed continually get sick. However, a more likely reason for a chronic runny nose is allergies, especially if your child typically has a clear runny nose and no fever.
In addition to being difficult to diagnose, allergies can be difficult to treat at this age, because few medicines are approved for use in children so young.
Although it was long thought that having pets was bad for kids at risk for allergies or asthma, several recent studies have shown that children who grew up around allergens might have a decreased chance of developing allergies and asthma later in life. Some experts believe that the recent increased incidence of allergies and asthma is because we live in too “sterile” an environment, and pets may help to make it less so.
Asthma
Asthma can also be difficult to diagnose at this age, when kids may just have a chronic cough and not the typical wheezing that older children with asthma often have. Some features that might indicate asthma as the cause of a chronic cough include worsening of the cough at night or with any kind of activity, especially once your child starts walking and running around.
The importance of daily preventive medications to manage asthma is now well known. Medicine such as inhaled or nebulized steriods can prevent further asthma attacks and allow your child's lungs to heal, so early diagnosis is important.
Avoiding Triggers
In addition to preventive medicines for allergies and asthma, it can be even more helpful to learn what is triggering your child's symptoms and then avoid those things. Common triggers can include:
Secondhand smoke
Pet dander
Dust mites
Mold
Pollens
Foods and food additives
Strong odors
Air pollution
Cockroaches, rodents, and other pests
Things such as changes in the weather, gastroesophageal reflux, and viral infections also have been known to cause allergic reactions, although these things obviously are harder to avoid than are the triggers listed here.
