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The right professional to treat a respiratory allergy is the allergist. Attached to a hospital or practicing in private practice, this doctor specializing in allergies in children and adults works in all major cities. Either by causing the reaction or by removing the allergen, the specialist manages to determine the elements responsible for the respiratory allergy of your baby. For this, he may have to perform several specific tests.
Allergy: possible tests
To determine the origin of your child’s allergy, the allergist may resort to:
- skin tests. Achievable from the age of six months, however, they are rarely practiced before nine months. The allergist introduces the allergen using a small plastic tip on the skin of the forearm or back. Your baby will be more surprised than scared.
- blood tests. They consist of a simple blood test and look for all the usual allergens. If the test is negative, it does not mean that your child does not have a respiratory allergy. There are indeed false negatives, such as false positives.
If these exams seem trying for your little one, think about the relief found once the culprit has been exposed! Also be aware that there are pain relief remedies during these exams. Do not hesitate to discuss it with your doctor.
Practical advice in case of allergy
First of all, remove from Baby’s environment the element responsible for his allergy. This is called theeviction. “If your child is allergic to cats, take your precautions before spending the weekend with his grandmother who has one! Even if she does keep it during your stay, the house remains contaminated with hair that could trigger a seizure. Same thing with pollens, if he fears birch trees for example, avoid walks in the forest! ”Advises Dr. V. Marchac.
Also watch out for carpets, cushions, mattresses, rugs, plush… these are real dust nests and dust mites’ paradise! Good reflexes to have:
- ventilate the baby’s room for twenty minutes a day;
- wash your sheets at 60 ° C once a week;
- put your blanket in the freezer (dust mites are not resistant to negative temperatures), then put it in the washing machine regularly;
- cover your mattress and pillow with an anti-dust mite cover.
Allergies: what treatments for babies?
If foreclosure is not enough, as in most cases, resorting to pharmaceuticals will be needed to relieve your child. The allergist or pediatrician administers a antihistamine. It should be prescribed with caution in infants, because of its slight sedative effect. As homeopath Dr. Pierre Popowski also points out, “homeopathy has invaluable curative and preventive effects. It is also part of the allergy management strategy. ”