Preventing food allergies
Food allergies in children can cause a variety of problems that range from eczema to life-threatening allergic reactions. The major strategy for preventing food allergies is to delay exposure to potentially allergenic foods and liquids, since newborn infants may be more likely to become allergic to foods than older infants. Mothers should breast feed their infants for at least four to six months if possible, since breast milk is much less likely to produce an allergic reaction and can strengthen the child's immune system. Infants not being breast fed or fed with breast milk should be fed partially pre-digested, protein hydrolysate formulas such as Alimentum or Nutramigen rather than milk- or soy-based formulas.
Infants should not be fed solid foods until they are six months old. When infants are six to 12 months old, vegetables, rice, meat, and fruit can be introduced to their diets. Each food should be introduced one at a time so parents or caregivers can identify and eliminate any foods that cause a reaction. After the child is one year old, milk, wheat, corn, citrus, and soy may be added. At two years of age, the child may have egg. Finally, at age three, fish and peanuts may be introduced.
Preventing environmental allergies and asthma
It makes good common sense that, since some airborne substances may trigger allergy or asthma symptoms, reducing contact with these substances early in life may delay or prevent the onset of allergy or asthma symptoms. The evidence for this relationship is clearest in the case of dust mites, which are microscopic creatures related to spiders that are found in large quantities inside the home. Therefore, taking steps to aggressively control dust mites in the homes of high-risk children may reduce the occurrence of dust mite allergy in these children. These steps include using zippered, plastic covers on pillows and mattresses and washing bedding in hot water every seven to ten days. Indoor relative humidity should be kept below 50 percent and, optimally, carpets, upholstered furniture, or objects that collect dust should be removed from the infant's bedroom.
Recently published data has made the relationship between early life exposure to animals and the eventual development of allergies and asthma much more confusing. For example, some evidence seems to show that early life exposure to animals may make children more likely to develop allergies and asthma whereas more recent evidence seems to show that early life exposure to animals (dogs and cats, in particular) may protect children from later developing these diseases. Your allergist/immunologist can address this issue with you to give you the most current information and can match this current information with the needs of your family.
Other considerations in preventing asthma
Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with increased wheezing during infancy. Exposing children to secondhand smoke in the home has also been shown to increase the development of asthma and other chronic respiratory illnesses. Therefore, it is extremely important that infants not be exposed to tobacco smoke before or after they are born. Finally, respiratory infections are a common trigger of asthma. Breast feeding for the recommended time period of at least six months strengthens children's immune systems, which can be helpful in avoiding respiratory infections, and consequently, asthma. Also, it is best to avoid placing very young children in group day care, since this is more likely to increase their exposure to respiratory infections, and consequently, trigger asthma.
