The way allergies can develop over time is called the allergic march or atopic march. It usually starts with eczema or atopic dermatitis and skin irritation in infancy. Babies with eczema are more likely to have allergic reactions to food when they begin eating solids. As they reach school age they may start showing signs of respiratory allergies and allergic asthma. The risk of developing allergies and allergic asthma is potentially higher among babies with severe eczema or atopic dermatitis.

One of the challenges of life with allergies is that triggers and symptoms can keep changing. Allergies to certain foods might disappear as children grow older. Respiratory allergies on the other hand can cause chronic, even life-long, symptoms. Closely following your child's allergy symptoms and communicating any changes or increased severity of symptoms to your doctor is important, so that your child can get the help they need.

There are also some signs to look out for. You might notice your child frequently rubbing their eyes. Or you might see them do the so-called allergic salute, rubbing the nose upwards, which can cause a crease over the bridge of the nose.

Sometimes respiratory allergies can cause a local reaction in the face, mouth and throat when your child eats certain foods. This is called oral allergy syndrome (OAS) or pollen food syndrome (PFS). Some proteins in pollen can have a similar structure to proteins in food. The immune system recognizes the structure and triggers a response. This is a cross reaction. Speak to your doctor to find out what’s causing your child's symptoms.

Food allergy symptoms can occur very soon after eating a problem food or might take up to a few hours to kick in. Some warning signs include:

• Tingling or itching in the mouth
• A raised, itchy red rash (hives) – sometimes the skin can turn red and itchy but not raised
• Swelling of the face, mouth, throat or other parts of the body
• Difficulty swallowing
• Wheezing or shortness of breath
• Feeling dizzy and lightheaded
• Feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting
• Abdominal pain or diarrhea

Food allergies are one of the most common causes of severe allergic reactions in children. These reactions are called anaphylaxis.

• Flushed or pale skin, itching or hives
• Swelling of the tongue or throat
• A weak or rapid pulse
• Diarrhea, feeling or being sick
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Narrowing of the airways, which may cause wheezing and trouble breathing
• Dizziness or fainting

Read more about the treatment for anaphylaxis below.

Be prepared to provide information about when symptoms occur, how severe they are, and what appears to trigger them. It’s a good idea to keep an allergy diary for your child to be able to give in-depth information about your child’s symptoms.

Your doctor or allergist might suggest a skin prick test or a blood test. These allergy tests help them make their diagnosis.

If your child has allergies, it's important to work with your doctor to develop a plan. Of course, the precise details will depend on the trigger. However, a plan is likely to involve these elements:

• Avoiding their allergens wherever possible
• Finding the right short-term symptom relief
• Thinking about retraining the immune system with allergy immunotherapy
• Safeguarding children at risk of anaphylaxis with a medication to use in emergencies

Avoidance is an essential part to managing any allergy. But no child wants to be told they have to stay indoors and can’t play football in the park when pollen counts are high. Or that they must never accept snacks, if they have a food allergy. Dust mites love soft toys but saying no teddy in bed is not going to be popular either. So, pick your battles and negotiate.

Maybe they can meet friends somewhere indoors or at a different time when pollen isn’t at its peak. Send them to school with yummy but safe snacks to share. And agree on a regular bath-time in the washing machine for teddy (or a spell in the freezer if he doesn’t like getting wet – check the washing instructions).

There’s stuff you can do behind the scenes too, all depending on their allergy. Watch the pollen forecast, use mite-proof covers for your child's bedding, and talk to anyone who’ll be in charge of your child about their allergies. Talk to your child too.

But the dose is likely to be lower and the instructions and other information will be specific to children, so read those carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on what’s best for a child of their age. Many types of short-term symptom relief are available as over-the-counter, others only with a prescription.

You can also try drug-free remedies to support treatment. Saline nasal sprays help loosen and thin mucus if your child has a blocked nose. They can help flush out allergens and may also make short-term allergy medicines like antihistamines work better. Try soothing itchy eyes with saline eyedrops or artificial tears.

It may be difficult to keep symptoms under control, in which case allergy immunotherapy might be an option. The treatment is available for certain triggers such as pollen, dust mite and insect sting allergies.

The idea of allergy immunotherapy is to teach the immune system that the allergen is not the enemy. Repeated tiny doses of the trigger can help your child's body learn not to overreact but to accept contact with the substance.

The goal is to alleviate symptoms during treatment and in the long term, helping to reduce the need for medication. Symptoms may improve after a few months, as the child's body begins to get used to the allergen. But the immune system needs time to relearn and remember so treatment usually lasts three to five years.

Allergy immunotherapy can be given as tablets that dissolve in seconds under the tongue (SLIT) or injections under the skin called allergy shots (SCIT), depending on the allergy and the child’s age. Immunotherapy is not usually given to kids under the age of five.

Ask your doctor about it. We can also help you find an allergist nearby then you can ask for a referral.

Epinephrine is another word for adrenaline. Your child should carry two auto-injectors with them at all times as one dose may not always be enough. They must still go to the hospital even if the injection makes them feel better. This is because it’s possible to have a secondary delayed anaphylactic reaction.

Practice with a training auto-injector and get your child to do the same when they’re old enough. It’s also a good idea for them to wear an allergy alert bracelet.

Allergies in children are the result of an overactive immune system, which tries to fight otherwise harmless substances. This can cause allergy symptoms. Common allergens in children include pollen, dust mites, mold, certain foods and insect bites and stings. Respiratory allergies triggered by airborne allergens usually cause an itchy, runny or stuffy nose as well as itchy, watery eyes. Food allergies can cause various digestive symptoms, but also skin reactions. In children food allergies and insect sting allergies are the most common causes of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.

Allergies tend to run in families. They often start with eczema in very young children. This might be followed by food allergies in toddlers. Hay fever and other respiratory allergies typically begin in school-aged children and can lead to allergic asthma. This is called the atopic or allergic march.

It's important to communicate your child's symptoms and their frequency and severity clearly to your doctor. It helps make a diagnosis and get your child the best care for their specific allergy, may that be medication such as antihistamines or retraining the immune system with allergy immunotherapy. Getting to the root of the problem early may help stop symptoms from progressing.

Every parent wants their child to be healthy and happy. You may worry that your kid’s allergy undermines those goals. It doesn’t have to. If you think your child might have allergies, or if their current allergy treatment isn’t working, ask for help. Allergies are becoming more common. Your child is not alone and neither are you.