Allergies are on the increase - according to Allergy UK, four in 10 school children have at least one allergic condition, one in five has asthma and 85 per cent of these are allergic to house dust mites. Coping with an allergy can be difficult for adults, but for children it can make life miserable. But what are common allergies, what impact do they have and what can be done to make life more bearable?

A recent report by the Royal College of Physicians claimed that, “The incidence of allergy has increased dramatically in the UK in recent years and is still rising.” In fact, they say that more children than ever before are now affected with allergies, and one in 70 has a severe allergy to peanuts – yet only 10 years ago it was a rare disorder. 

What are allergies?

Allergies are caused by an immune system reaction, which causes the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE) to be produced. For some, it causes a slight inconvenience, but for others it can create a great degree of stress. Some of the most common allergens include:

* Tree and grass pollen

* House dust mite

* Food, such as dairy, wheat, shellfish, nuts, gluten or fruit)

* Animals, such as cats or dogs

* Chemicals, such as household cleaning products

* Medicines, such as penicillin

Allergic reactions can occur quickly, with the IgE causing symptoms such as rashes, abdominal pain, headaches, sickness, diarrhoea or breathing difficulties. In rare cases, severe allergies to foods such as nuts or shellfish can cause anaphylaxis shock and even result in death.

Food intolerances are often confused with allergies. They’re more common and can cause similar symptoms, but the effects are less severe. In the case of food intolerances, it usually occurs when the digestive system is unable to produce enough of the normal enzymes and chemicals needed to breakdown food and aid digestion, causing unexpected effects.

The impact on children’s lives varies, but it can be very disruptive and interfere with what should be normal activities. Eating out at friend’s houses, going to parties or sleepovers can be problematic and a real worry – not only for the child and their parents, but also the people whose house or party they’re going to.

“We found it difficult when Rosie was invited to birthday parties,” explained mum Patricia. “Other mums weren’t exactly impressed to be given a list of foods she couldn’t eat, and it was embarrassing having to mention it.” These days she’s dealing with the problem by baking allergy-free foods herself. “If Rosie’s been invited out, I bake gluten-free food for her in advance. That way no-one’s embarrassed and she can go off and have a good time with her friends.”

Spotting an allergy

As parents, it’s likely you may be able to identify potential sources of children’s allergies. For example, coughing and sneezing that occurs after being out in a pollen-ridden area, or a rash that flares up after touching animals.

With food allergies it can be a bit more problematic narrowing down the likely allergens. If you suspect your child could be suffering from a food allergy, it’s helpful to keep a record of what he eats and drinks each day for a few weeks, and make notes of any accompanying reactions that occur. It’s possible that you may be able to start identifying familiar patterns with certain foods, but even if you can’t, the notes will be helpful for a professional to see.

It’s important that you don’t try and diagnose your child yourself or stop him consuming particular foods on a whim that they may be the culprits. Instead, seek advise from a doctor or allergy specialist – they’ll be able to run tests and identify the cause of the problem.

Allergy tests

There are a number of tests available that can help pinpoint the cause of allergies, with some common options being:

* The skin prick test: IgE levels are measured by putting a small amount of the potential allergen onto the skin and watching the reaction. It’s most reliable for detecting allergies to inhaled substances, such as pollen. 

* RAST (Radio Allergo Sorbent Test) test: A blood test, where a small sample of blood is taken and tested for levels of IgE. It’s most reliable for detecting food allergies.

* The patch test: Used to detect cases of contact dermatitis/eczema, it involves suspected allergens being put onto small allergen-free metal discs and taped to the skin for 48 hours.

There are also a range of other alternative tests such as applied kinesiology, vega testing, and hair analysis. Although some people find them helpful, they’re not highly thought of by the medical profession.

Coping tips

Once an allergy is confirmed, you need to be prepared to act on the results. For example, children may have to adapt to avoiding certain foods, animals or particular behaviours, and as parents you might have to learn to cook with different ingredients or buy alternative household products.

If you find that normal family life is disrupted for a while, don’t panic, as it’s a common reaction. Jenny from Reading, whose son Thomas is allergic to dust mites and pollen, admits that discovering the allergy caused disruption to the whole family. “We were forced to change our normal habits – everything from the cleaning regime to changing carpets to wooden floors,” she said. “Initially it was a shock to the system and took us a while to adjust, but seeing the improvement in Thomas is well worth it.”

Although it can initially be an upheaval, these days there are lots of alternatives out there to help make life easier. Some top tips include:

* For asthmatics and dust mite allergy sufferers, special bedding is available – it works as barrier prevention, stopping dust mites from getting through. Other measures include regular cleaning, ventilation of the room and washing bedding at high temperatures. Trendy wooden floors not only look fashionable, but can help prevent dust gathering in carpets.

* Although typically associated with summer hay fever, different pollens exist throughout the year. In general, pollen levels are lowest after dark, so keeping children’s windows closed in the day can help. Other useful measures include keeping car windows up, getting them to wear wraparound sunglasses, and encouraging children to change their clothes after playing outside.

* For travel abroad, Allergy UK produce a series of translation cards in most of the major languages. They can help convey the nature of the allergy – particular severe reactions – and help with ordering allergen-free foods in restaurants.

* If chemicals are a problem, there are alternative ranges of paints available and less toxic household cleaning products.

Discovering your child has an allergy can be a worrying and stressful time. However, as time goes by and you all adjust to the new eating or lifestyle routine required, the chances are it will become second nature and you’ll wonder why it seemed such a major upheaval.

By Rachel Newcombe