from Treating Asthma, Allergies and Food Sensitivites  
by Alan H. Pressman and Herbert D. Goodman, MD

Note: The information on this website is not a substitute for diagnosis and treatment by a qualified healthcare provider.

For the majority of people, allergies begin in infancy or childhood. Parents raising an allergic child are faced with the difficulty of handling a child who can turn from delightful to cranky and teary-eyed in the blink of an eye. Add a runny nose, sneezing, itchy skin, and a rash, and you get a not-quite-so-pleasant picture.

All parents want their children to be happy and healthy. During times of impaired health, parental support is more important than ever to accomplish such goals. When children are suffering from allergies, not only are they physically ill, but they are probably angry and upset about it. After all, if life is fair, why can't Susie or Jimmy: play in the grass and not break out in hives? Coping with your child's allergies isn't going to be easy, but there are enough treatment options to make it less difficult. Understanding the roots of allergies and why they affect your child in particular ways is a major step toward helping your child live comfortably with the condition. Since allergies affect infants and children in different ways than they affect adults, this chapter will offer solutions that are tailored exclusively for them. After reading this chapter you will feel more confident about having the necessary tools to help your child play, sleep, and generally spend the day more comfortably. There is no cure for allergies, but there are ways to make the symptoms almost disappear.

Anytime of year is a good time to consider good nutrition in children. The make-up of your child's diet certainly effects the brain and learning process.

One of the most vital nutrients is water, which should be the liquid most commonly consumed by your child. Many children who visit the doctor are found to be mildly dehydrated. Juice and other beverages that contain mostly water may no completely replace water in the diet.

Another vital nutrient important in the child's diet is fat. The proper balance of these nutrients help the nervous an hormonal systems develop and operate more efficiently. As long as the diet is basically good, and the child is active, good quality natural fats like unrefined oils, butter, egg yolks, real cheese and avocados, will enhance this function.