Allergies - Marietta,GA

My son has had allergies since he was about 3. We had him take the allergy scratch test when he was 5 and found out about all kinds of stuff - grass being his biggest. How in the world do you keep an active 5 yr old out of the grass was my question. There are lots of kid friendly allergy meds out there. We did the claritin dissolve tabs (they melt on the tongue) and we did zyrtec syrup, too.

Many children can have allergies, but also food sensitivities. Milk intolerance can cause the runny nose, coughing symptoms. To get tested for food sensitivities, you will need an IGG test which most allergies think is silly....but the results are often the key to getting them better. Good luck.

As a parent of a child with allergies, I have found that allergic reactions can come in many different forms and vary from time to time. You should see an allergist and they can guide you. Even very young children can be tested for allergies. Hope you find some answers!

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Yes children can and do have allergies. My son who is 3, was tested the month after his birthday (in December) and the doctor found that he was allergic to many things.
Before this he had been so sick with similar symptoms that you described but my son's symptoms turned into five ear infections in three or four months.
Even if there are no allergies in the family, Atlanta is particularly bad for allergies, children and people who have allergies in no other part of the country come to Atlanta and have to be treated. Ask your pediatrician for a referral and make an appointment.
Another cause of concern would be if your child is having problems with his speech. This might be a problem with fluid in his ears causes by the continuous "cold" in which case he should see an ENT (ear nose and throat) doctor.
Sometimes allergist are both allergist and ENTs. Talk to you pediatrician and discuss the different options, and for some insurances you don't even need a referral to see these specialist (but make sure you ask the specialist when you call to make the appointment)

We just moved back to Georgia and it has been the worse experience for me and my kids because allergies. I've lived here many times because my dad was in the Army and never had I had an allergy problem. My son was born in NJ and then we moved to CA and then back here. Hubby is on a carrier... he's from GA too. My son was coughing all the time and had runny noses and then I took my daughter in for a check up (2 years old) and the doc just looked up her nose and saw it was a little inflamed and said, yep... allergies. I kept having a drip at the back of throat that made me cough and hack all the time and would turn into infections. We all take different allergy meds every morning. So much fun! My five year old hates it and says he wants to move back to CA. So do I, LOL! So just have your doctor look into it. The kids and I hate taking it every day but I wouldn't skip it.

I would talk to you kid's doctor. It could just be post-nasal drip and/or it could be allergies... and they can be tested as infants.
If you need a name of a good Allergist...I would recommend the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic Dr. Guydon or Dr. Tanner are both excellent... just different in their bedside manner.

Yes, kids can be tested for allergies. The Atlanta Allergy & Ashma Clinic is located all around the Atlanta area - I use the one in Woodstock, GA, but have been to the Marietta, and Canton offices. Check with your pediatrician, and get a referral if he/she thinks your child should be tested. The testing is the hard part.

Good luck - E. F.

When my daughter was 5 I was having the same problems with her. She used to get sick at the beginning of the school year. So I thought it was allergies. I had her tested, but she wasn't allergic to anything but dust mites. I figured out that she was getting sick becasue she was not exposed to may illness as a child. She was in a private daycare. Once she started school and was exposed to many children she got sick a lot. But now she hardly ever gets sick. Check your child out for allergies to rule them out, but it could be that they are just getting exposed to more germs. It'll build the immune system. And then they will hardly get sick at all!!! Best of luck

yep they can be tested for allergies. this time of year it prob is allergies, and the coughing , runny nose and pink eye are symptoms of allergies. I would give him some benedryl.

Yes Kids most deffenitly can be tested for allergies. You can ask his doctor for a referal to an allergy specaliest, and he/she should have no prob. with it. Good luck, everyone in my family has allergies to pollen and dust and all that stuff, it sucks.

Hi there C.! I would take him to the doctor for testing. They can do a prick test on his back (we've had this done for some of my children) which can identify what they are responding to. Atlanta is famous for allergens - in fact, I didn't have allergies until I moved here in '93. We have used children's claritin during the spring and it helps my 4 & 5 year olds. Claritin Reditabs are great for older kids. I wish you the best!

Warmly - J.

Hi C.,

It's very possible that your son has allergies and asthma. My son is 3 and has suffered from allergies/asthma since he was 7 months old and I just found out that my 7 month old son has the same. I would suggest having him tested to be absolutely sure but if his symptoms last more then a week then its allergies and not a cold. The most important thing is to figure out if he has inside or outside allergies or both. That way you can learn to to do things differently or make changes within your household. With my 3 year old he has inside and outside allergies but my 7month only has outside. Good luck and hope he gets better soon.

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Hi C.,
Please take your son to see his Ped. that way you will get the correct answere from someone who knows. Just because no one in your family has ever has any type of allergies there is always a first.Take Care

Neither my husband nor I have food allergies, but all of our children have tested positive to them. Our first son had an obvious reaction to eggs and that is what began our testing. He was tested at 2 1/2, and our other 2 have been tested at 18 months. Our second son's only sign of the allergies was that he constantly had sinus infections. Both boys have been much healthier since they've been under the care of an allergist.

You may have to have a recommendation from your child's doctor to get into an allergist. We did with our first child. The testing is uncomfortable for them, because of the itching from the tests, but not really painful for them. It's over pretty quickly too.

Did you just recently move to the area you are living in from another state? If so, that can cause stuff like this to happen. My Daughter and I moved from up north to SC and she had never had a problem with allergies till we moved here!! I do but it went into high gear after the move and now I get us on treatment in mid to late Janurary!!
Also, another thought is the low rain count all of us have been dealing with. There isn't enough rain falling to keep the tree and weed pollen at bay. Dust either for that matter. Which could be another reason if your son all of a sudden started to have a constant cold.

I have the Weather Channel on my desktop and I can check the pollen level for my area so I can kind be forwarned I guess. But take him to the DR and let him look him over. My Daughter is almost 8yrs and she normall does well with Flonase from Feb to Aug. There is also Nasanex that works well also.

Good luck!!
~S.

I had that problem last year with my daughter. My Dr. kept saying it was her daycare. I changed her daycare this year- and no problems.

Well check with his pediatrician to make sure of the diagnosis but it sure sounds like allergies! I don't think you can live in GA and escape them. Kids can be tested but I'll bet your doctor will hear the symptoms, may check the lungs to be sure it's not reactive airway and put your son on allergy meds.

Hi C.!

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My youngest son was 4 when he was tested for allergies. He was constantly having colds, sinus infections, and ear infections...so badly that we thought he was deaf in one ear.

Ask your pediatrician for a referral to an allergist who specializes in working with small children. Since Ian has been on his allery meds, we have had a LOT less problems.

It's possible that your son has allergies. Coughing and runny nose alone are symptoms of allergies, and these can symptoms can develop into an infection. Have you been to your pediatrician? They can tell if he is developing allergies. We had a similar experience with our son. Last week, we went to the doctor for a check-up, and she could tell that he has allergies just by examining his nose. No one else in our family has allergies either. Good luck!

yes, kids can get tested for allergies. my daughter has ezema. I was determined to find out what was the root of these outbreaks. I took her to an immunologist and he tested her skin first and determined that she is allergic to dust mites. Her symptoms would be runny nose, ezema in the bend of her arms,legs, ect. I later went back and had the blood test for allergies. It determined a mild allergy to beef, milk, and one other food. Since they are mild, the doctor and I agreed that she should continue with them. I purchased hypoallerginic mattress & pillow case covers, and treated my carpet. I also make sure her skin stays moisturized daily. She is doing very well, no more outbreaks in a long time. Thanks to God.

HI C.,
Sorry to hear about your son's problems. Allergery testing on children are extremely painful. I would suggest giving him a whole food supplement for children to boost his immune system. With what your describing and then it progressing into pink eye, it almost always indicates an decreased immune respose. If he currently isn't seeing a chiropractor it would be a good idea. They can offer a lot of healthy advice and boost his immune system naturally. Also keep a close eye on his diet. I would stay away from dairy as it will constantly increase his 'snot' secreation. Hope it helps! Best of luck!

Jamie

Hi.
My children react to the allergens negatively whenever we visit North Carolina also. I feel your frustration! We don't believe in pushing meds, but use it as a last option. So, when our daughter's allergies got worse than ever we gave her echinacea and golden seal root (capsules go down well). It's customary to wash both of their sheets and pillow cases every 3 days during pollen season -- especially when there's been no rain for a week or so. Pollen gets on clothes, inside the car and we bring in it on our shoes, hair etc., so we religiously dust and shampoo the carpets every 2 months during the warm season. The Eureka carpet shampooer saves us bundles. Dusting, and keeping the air on instead of opening the windows during high pollen count days works wonders! The babies must have water, when the dryness and coughing gets going, they'll need that water as will you. On the highest peak days, we give them liquid benedryl and it calms things for more than a week. It's our policy to resist Claritin, and those harsh medicines which all cause nose-bleeds, coughing, headaches, sinus infections and worse symptoms. You can look up all of their side effects online to make your best decision. I hope you'll try to the at-home changes and modest cure like Benedryl first, before subjecting your little one to the other stuff. All the best to you and yours!