Just two centuries ago, no one in the world even knew such a word as “allergy,” and you don’t have to talk about the disease at all. Allergic reactions of the human body were first noted only at the beginning of the twentieth century. At present, almost every third child is faced with a particular type of allergy. How is an allergy to dust in children, we consider in this article.
What is it?
Allergy is a high sensitivity of the body to any substances. Such hypersensitivity manifests itself in the form of pathological reactions that occur when interacting with various provoking factors. The most common allergen is ordinary house dust. If the child has an allergy of this kind, then it has a clear clinical picture and requires serious treatment. Symptoms of dust allergy in children are presented below.
Causes of Allergies
When an allergen enters the body, the secretion of antibodies is activated. Physiological processes give way to a strong release of inflammatory mediators and histamine. If the allergen re-enters the body, then excess histamine entails too high arousal of nerve branches and certain symptoms.
How does dust become an allergen? To answer this question, you need to know its composition, and the cause of dust allergies in children (we will analyze the symptoms later) can be any kind of dust, for example, the following:
- Streetwear. Such dust contains wood elements, exhaust gases, etc. The body produces a reaction to any of its components, rightly perceiving them as dangerous to humans. During flowering, a large amount of pollen, which is a strong allergen, is mixed into the dust.
- Home. No matter how much a person wants it or whatever he does, the dust settles immediately after the cleaning and gradually accumulates in all corners of the house or apartment. The child is allergic to such dust because it contains particles of animal hair, paint, mold, etc. In addition, a lot of dusty substances enter the room from the street. Signs of dust allergy in children should be detected in a timely manner.
- Paper. Such dust is observed in high concentration if there are a large number of books in the house. Among allergy sufferers, a dust allergy in the library is a fairly common reaction, especially when mold occurs on books. In children, this reaction is based on frequent visits to the library. Library dust may also include the vital components of various microorganisms and even ticks.
Of course, dust surrounds us everywhere. However, not every child develops an allergy. Why is this so? The answer lies in the risk factors that influence the occurrence of the reaction. Household dust allergy is the most common.
Low immunity. Due to diseases that weaken the immune system, as well as an unfavorable situation from an environmental point of view in a person’s habitat, a deficiency of vitamins and trace elements affect the sensitivity of the body. As the child’s body is just starting to form, such factors exacerbate the situation. It was found that children living outside the city are much less likely to experience allergic reactions to dust.
High amount of dust. The more particles of it in the environment that surrounds the child, the higher the likelihood of a painful reaction.
The effect of heredity. If there was a sensitivity to dust among parents, grandparents, then the risk of a similar problem in posterity also increases. Symptoms of dust allergy in children are characteristic and difficult to confuse.
Pyroglyphide mites, i.e. dust mites. There are more than a hundred of their varieties, however, only two of them can provoke an undesirable reaction. These microorganisms cannot be seen, their nutrition is carried out due to the keratinous elements of the skin, which are part of the dust. Such mites live in a warm and humid environment. Tick-borne dust in especially large quantities is present in carpets, on beds, shelves, etc. It is terrible to think, but there are more than ten thousand ticks in just one gram of dust. Although they do not bite and are not spreading the infection, a child’s allergy is caused by their waste products and chitin components that cover these microorganisms.
Psychophysiological factors. The occurrence of allergies is affected by depression and emotional fears. Strong experiences that are felt at a subconscious level also have an effect. If the child has negative memories associated with any toy or thing, an allergic attack can occur even when they are completely cleaned. So, what are the symptoms of dust allergies in children?
Symptoms
In every child, allergies can manifest themselves in completely different ways. The most common symptoms are:
- rhinitis (discharge transparent);
- tearing;
- itching inside the nose;
- headache;
- frequent sneezing
- burning in the eyes;
- conjunctivitis;
- swelling of the eyelids;
- redness of the eye proteins;
- dermatitis, manifested in rashes, swelling and redness of the skin. Book dust allergy is just that.
In the presence of allergies, breathing difficulties are often experienced, wheezing in the chest area is heard, a cough of an unproductive nature occurs. Similar allergic manifestations can cause bronchial asthma. Such symptoms can cause inconvenience to the child throughout the year, but most often exacerbations occur in autumn and winter, since dust mites breed mainly during this period. In addition, the severity of signs of dust allergy in children is noted at those times when they are present during cleaning.
How to diagnose an allergic reaction to dust in a child ?
The diagnosis of diseases of this kind is within the purview of the allergist. To make a correct diagnosis, he takes an integrated approach, taking into account: symptoms, examination results, results of dermatological tests, anamnesis, information from an immunological blood test. Certain diagnostic difficulties are experienced because, due to its symptoms, an allergy to dust resembles other diseases. For example, cough and rhinitis can be attributed to the common cold, and skin rashes - to diseases of a dermatological type. In order for the diagnosis to be made correctly, it is necessary to resort to the help of differential diagnosis.
What is an allergy to household dust dangerous?
Potential complications
If there is an allergic reaction to dust, then it must be treated. Otherwise, a fragile childish body can be negatively affected. In a neglected form, there is a likelihood of an allergy developing into a chronic one. In this case, the following possible complications are noted:
- Quincke's edema;
- bronchial asthma;
- inflammation of the cornea of ​​the eye.
We consider the treatment of dust allergies in children below.
In most cases, a dust allergy causes bronchial asthma, which is caused by the typical route of exposure to the allergen, i.e. through the respiratory tract. As soon as the allergen is localized in the bronchi, an active struggle immediately begins in the immune system. The result is a spasm of the bronchi, and if such manifestations are regular, asthma develops.
How can parents treat a child?
Therapy of an allergic reaction to dust needs the supervision of a doctor. If the child has its characteristic signs, you need to make an appointment with an allergist. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, all recommendations must be followed. Close attention must be paid to creating a hypoallergenic domestic environment, as well as strengthening children's immunity. In addition, you need to minimize the interaction of the child with dust. Regular cleanliness, scrupulous cleaning, regular linen change in a baby bed, getting rid of all kinds of “dust collectors”, daily airing of the room, and frequent washing of soft toys will help in this. In addition, parents can alleviate certain allergy symptoms in their child. So, if you have a runny nose, you can help get rid of it with rinses with saline.
Dust allergy treatment in children should be comprehensive.
What actions does the doctor take?
Since dust allergy is one of the pathological reactions of the immune system, in most cases treatment with medications will be required. It is not prescribed only with a weak manifestation of allergies, and also when, when minimizing interaction with a provoking factor, the symptoms have completely disappeared. If this does not happen, the allergist will prescribe such drugs as antihistamines, sprays to combat the common cold, ointments, healing inflammations on the skin. Since some allergens enter the intestine along with saliva, enterosorbents are prescribed. In addition, you need to take vitamins that support the immune system.
How to prevent allergies to book dust?
Even one book from a shelf can cause an allergic reaction. It is best for people suffering from this ailment to use electronic formats so that their health does not deteriorate. Symptoms with this form may be similar to a common allergy: accompanied by a runny nose, sneezing, tearing of the eyes.
Prevention
There are many measures designed to help prevent a child from becoming allergic to dust. They are relevant for any home in which there are children, but the most important thing is to follow such rules if there is a predisposition. For prevention, it is necessary:
- regularly moisten and thoroughly clean all surfaces;
- ventilate the room as often as possible;
- observe minimalism in your interior (that is, do not use heavy curtains, carpets, smaller open shelves with books, furniture and various accessories);
- wash pillows, blankets and soft toys as often as possible;
- do not start pets and fish;
- introduce a taboo on smoking in the house;
- strengthen children's immunity through sports, a healthy diet, hardening and good sleep.
Since the well-being of the child should always be in the first place, it is necessary to make every possible effort so that an allergic attack can not develop.
Dust allergy diet in children
A diet to promote health is recommended. All fatty, fried, smoked, any fast food, chips are subject to an exception. The menu needs fruits, vegetables, various cereals, purified water. If the baby is breastfeeding, then it is necessary to continue it. This will help to cope with any allergic reaction, but at the same time, mom should monitor her diet.