Selecting the right allergist is key to optimal allergy health throughout one’s lifetime. This is also true for children, who tend to have particularly sensitive needs with regard to treatment for children’s allergies. Below we present a guide for choosing an allergist for your child.
Allergists are experts of allergies and the respiratory system who will have the strongest level of knowledge in terms of adequately preparing your child for their set of respiratory challenges. Having an allergist paired throughout one’s lifetime can significantly reduce the chance of encountering some kind of severe issue related to allergies.
Guide to Choosing an Allergist for Your Child
If you’re looking for an allergist for your child, take a look at this set of guidelines for selecting the right one.
Why See an Allergist?
An allergist is a specialist who can help with managing the chronic respiratory issues that come along with allergies. Allergies can come from a variety of sources, and also have a very wide range in terms of their severity.
Allergies can quickly become a problem, and even one that is life-threatening should they be severe enough. Some of the signs that you might need to have allergies addressed include:
- Your symptoms interfere with daily activities
- Your symptoms wake you up at night or distract you at school or work
- You cough or wheeze during exercise or during your daily routine
- You have sought out emergency treatment in the past for your allergies or asthma
An allergist is able to administer certain tests, such as a skin test, to see what you are allergic to. In addition, an allergist can give allergy shots to a patient to relieve asthma and allergy symptoms. These types of tools can give a child a leg up on handling any tough allergy experiences that might come up.
How Do I Know If My Child Has an Allergy?
Allergic reactions can be subtle, or they can be intense and unmistakable. Keeping an eye out for the various symptoms surrounding them can be the key to discovering what triggers asthma attacks in your own child.
There are environmental triggers, such as certain foods and pollen, that can trigger asthmatic attacks in children. In addition, there are certain asthmas that are triggered by exercise or stress conditions.
Determining the exact source of a child’s asthma isn’t always completely apparent. This is why having access to a trained professional with the right expertise and tests becomes an essential part of correctly diagnosing the source of a patient’s allergies.
The wellness plan for your child will vary depending on the source of your child’s allergies as well as the severity and nature of the attacks that express themselves. Following this plan should result in a long-term boost in wellness for your child.
How to Find a Child Allergist
An interesting fact is that almost all accredited allergists are trained at least somewhat in pediatric allergy studies. There are many different conditions that a trained allergist is competent to recognize in children. Some of the following conditions can be diagnosed by a trained allergist:
- Asthma
- Hives
- Eye Allergies
- Eczema
- Sinus Infections
- Allergic rhinitis
Because most allergists are trained to diagnose and treat allergies in children, you should be able to seek out the services of your closest family allergist to discuss the specific symptoms of your child’s specific case.
The Advantages of Finding a Child Allergist
Asthma can impact the life of a child in innumerable ways that will impact their long-term development. For example, childlike activities that help children develop and bond such as playing sports and attending class may become more challenging for a child with asthma. This has the potential to impact children down the line in their adult life.
A trained allergist can help a child and their family prepare a management plan that fits in with their school and social schedules. This can save a family endless amounts of time and stress when they try to manage these things themselves.
In the case that your child has life-threatening allergies, your child allergist can prescribe an emergency action plan that can ultimately prove life-saving should your child experience an acute asthma attack. In addition, they can provide information and advice regarding changes that you should make around the house if it has possible triggers, such as clearing dust and mites.
The Allergy Expert of New York
Dr. Mayank Shukla is New York’s premiere allergist for both children and adults. If you’re looking for a quality allergist to assist your child in managing a normal level of respiratory health, contact Dr. Shukla today in order to set up an appointment.
