Childhood Allergies: Recognition and Management

Guide to childhood allergies including types, symptoms, diagnosis, and management strategies.

10 min readLast updated: 2026-02-17

Quick Facts

Prevalence
8% of children have food allergies
Environmental
30% of children have allergic rhinitis
Cross-Reactivity
Allergies may overlap between food and environmental triggers

Overview: Understanding Childhood Allergies

Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to normally harmless substances. Childhood allergies range from mild (seasonal rhinitis) to life-threatening (anaphylaxis). Early identification and management prevent complications and improve quality of life .

Many childhood allergies resolve naturally over time, though some persist into adulthood.

Key Information
Common childhood allergies include food (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat), environmental (pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold), and medication allergies. Reactions range from mild rash to severe anaphylaxis.

Food Allergies

True food allergies involve immune system activation. Symptoms appear within minutes to 2 hours of exposure and may include itching mouth, swelling lips/tongue, hives, abdominal pain, vomiting, or anaphylaxis. Food sensitivities and intolerances (like lactose intolerance) differ from true allergies.

Environmental Allergies

Allergic rhinitis ("hay fever") causes nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy nose/eyes, and postnasal drip, typically seasonal or year-round depending on triggers. Allergic conjunctivitis causes eye itching and redness. Allergic dermatitis causes itchy skin and rashes.

Diagnosis and Testing

Diagnosis involves history of reactions, skin prick testing, or specific IgE blood testing. Oral food challenges (supervised) confirm or exclude food allergies when test results are unclear.

Warning
Anaphylaxis—severe allergic reaction—requires immediate epinephrine injection. All children with food allergies should carry epinephrine auto-injectors. Teach children, caregivers, and school personnel proper use and when to call emergency services.
Clinical Note
Food allergy management involves strict allergen avoidance and carrying epinephrine . Antihistamines treat mild environmental allergies. Nasal corticosteroids reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms. Immunotherapy (allergy shots or sublingual tablets) may desensitize children over time. Detailed allergy action plans and allergen awareness at school are essential safety measures.

Supporting Allergic Children

Education about triggers, reading food labels, dining out safely, and wearing medical alert identification helps prevent reactions. Many children outgrow food allergies with time; periodic re-evaluation is appropriate. Psychosocial support helps children cope with dietary restrictions.

Sources

  1. [1]American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. "Allergic Rhinitis in Children." Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2015.
  2. [2]Sicherer SH et al.. "Food Allergy: A Global Perspective." Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2016.

Medically reviewed by

Medical Review Team, Allergy and Immunology

Last updated: 2026-02-17Sources: 2

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