Full Description
The number of children with allergies is astounding-nearly one child in six is said to suffer from some sort of allergy. The problems of these allergic children can be as mild as occasional attacks of hay fever or as severe as disfiguring eczema and life-threatening bronchial asthma. In addition to the obvious health problems associated with having allergies, affected children may experience recurring colds, painful ear infections, and other allergy linked conditions, all of which cause frequent school absences. Childhood allergies affect school performance adversely; they may be instrumental in reducing attention span, and they are certainly a major social, psychologi cal, and financial burden for children and their parents. This book is a complete guide to childhood allergies presented in simple jargon-free language. It provides parents with comprehensive, up-to-date, and practical information and advice on how to help their allergic children. It identifies the many allergic symptoms, tells what they look like, how prevalent they are, what causes them, and what to do about them. It outlines steps parents can take to help their children understand, manage, and control their allergies. Its goal is to help parents and children cope effectively with a major childhood problem.
Contents
What Are Allergies, Why Do Children Have Them, How Can I Be Sure My Child Is Really Allergic, And How Best Can I Cope?.- Why Our Child?.- How To Know Whether Your Child Is Allergic.- GuidingYour Allergic Child into the Mainstream.- What Are Allergies' Triggers and How Can I Avoid or Control Them Effectively?.- Food and Food Additives.- Colds and Respiratory Infections.- Airborne Allergens.- Weather, Climate, and Exercise.- The Common Allergic Diseases, Why Children Develop Them, and The Steps You, The Parent, Can Take To Diagnose, Treat, Control, and Avoid Their Symptoms.- Skin Irritants.- Insect Stings or Bites.- Gastrointestinal Complaints (Colic, Constipation, Diarrhea, and Stomachache).- Asthma (Wheezing and Shortness of Breath).- Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis and Chronic Runny Nose).- Eczema and Dry Skin.- Hives.- Itchy Eyes.- Earache.- Plant (Poison Oak or Ivy) and Other Causes of Contact Dermatitis.- General Health Problems: Their Special Importance In Children With Allergies.- Headache.- Fever.- Coughs and Colds.- Other Allergic and Pseudo-Allergic Complaints.- Getting the Best, Most Effective Long-Term Care for Your Allergic Child.- Looking After Your Allergic Child.- Pitfalls to Avoid in Treatment.- Vaccines, Immunization, and Viruses.- The Long Haul: What Happens to Children with Allergies?.
