The hypothesis is that children gain natural immunotherapy from exposure to the dog and becomes more tolerant of allergies. The study was done using newborns in Cincinnati whose parents had allergies and/or eczema, which makes it more likely for the children to develop the condition.

The study and tests show the children who tested positive for a dog allergy and did not live with a dog had 4 times the risk of getting eczema than those who tested positive and did own a dog by age 4. Humans can test positive for an allergy but not have any symptoms. The higher the dog allergen levels were in the home, the lower the risk was for the children to develop eczema by age 4.

The study also looked at eggs, milk and nuts for more information on its link to eczema. It is recommended to delay such common allergic foods with young children. It is also good to keep in mind aeroallergens for children, as well as food allergies.

There is no definitive answer as to whether or not dogs will prevent the onset of eczema or that cats will increase the risks. The research was done to encourage deeper analyses and better intervention strategies.

A 12-year-old boy recently developed a sponge-patterned discoloration on his left thigh after playing computer games for few hours per day for several months. Lesions are typically found on only one leg because the drives of laptops are located on one side. A computer places on a lap may completely obstruct the ventilation fan exhaust, making it heat up faster. The popularity of laptops will likely increase and so will this diagnosis. Especially for children, they have very sensitive skin which is more susceptible to heat. Parents should factor heat effect when purchasing computers for their children.

What causes poison ivy? The ivy contains an oil called urushiol, which is found in all parts of the plant (the leaves, stems, flowers, berries, and roots). Urushiol is an allergen, so the rash is a reaction to the allergen. Indirect contact with urushiol can also cause a rash. So if you touch clothes, pet fur, sports equipments or other objects that have come in contact with the ivy, you will also get the allergic reaction. However, the urushiol does not cause a rash on everyone.

Symptoms of the rash typically are:

• Itchiness
• Red streaks or general redness
• Small bumps or raised areas
• Blisters filled with fluid

The rash usually appears 8 to 48 hours after initial contact and will continue to spread in new areas of the body. The rash is not contagious; you cannot spread it or catch it after it appears. More serious symptoms of poison ivy include: swelling of the face, mouth, neck, genitals, or eyelids.

Treatment for poison ivy can be done at home. Initially, you must wash off the infected area with copious amounts of water. To relieve symptoms, use wet compresses and take cool bats. Calamine lotion can also help relieve symptoms. More moderate cases of the rash may require doctor treatment and medications such as corticosteroid pills, creams, ointments, or shots.

The best way to avoid getting a poison ivy allergic reaction is to learn to identity the plants and avoid them. Also, heavy clothing and barrier lotions may help for protection as well.

Here are 3 of the most common hives triggers:

• · Food allergies. The most common culprits include nuts, eggs, shellfish, strawberries, and tomatoes. Food additives, including monosodium glutamate, also cause hives in some children.
• · Prescription and over-the-counter drugs. These include codeine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, and antibiotics like penicillin and cephalosporin
• · Insect bites. Children tend to react much more strongly than adults to bites from mosquitoes, fleas, and red mites (commonly known as chiggers). Stings from bees, wasps, scorpions, spiders, and jellyfish can also cause hives.
• · Changes in the environment. It’s rare, but occasionally cold, heat, and sun exposure can trigger hives in susceptible individuals.

How Can You Treat Hives for Your Child?

Generally, parents use cool compresses and a cool bath to relieve the itching. Antihistamines, such as Benadryl, are usually the best treatment. These are available at drug stores in liquid and pill form. The hives should eventually fade if your child continues to take Benadryl as instructed. There is also pediatrician-recommended hydroxazine, commonly known as Atarax, that could effectively treat hives. Keep in mind that these antihistamines make most children a little drowsy.

You can always prevent your child from acquiring hives by letting them know what to avoid. Teach your child to avoid allergic foods, and to be weary of insects and bugs. Most hives are not life threatening, but there is a rare possibility of hives becoming anaphylactic shock, which is potentially fatal. For these episodes, swelling happens very rapidly and causes to block the airway. It is recommended that children who have severe allergies carry around an epinephrine pen to inject in case of a reaction. And of course, always seek medical attention immediately.

Eczema often starts in childhood—about 1 in 10 kids develop the condition. Some doctors say that kids can be predisposed to get eczema through a familial history of hay fever, asthma or other allergies. It has also been linked to an overactive response by the body’s immune system to unknown triggers; however, the exact cause of eczema is unknown.

” alt=”" width=”345″ height=”241″ hspace=”5″ />Symptoms include:

• Itchiness
• Dry, scaly skin
• Redness
• Small bumps
• Raised rashes
• Commonly in the bends of the elbows, behind the knees, backs of wrists and ankles

Treatment

Although there is no real cure for eczema, many kids outgrow their eczema or their conditions improve with age. On a side note, eczema is not contagious so there is no need to isolate a child with the condition.

When eczema flares up, there are topical steroids to help relieve the itching and redness. These range from mild hydrocortisone creams to stronger creams such as triamcinolone and mometasone. There are also steroid-free medications called immunomodulators. For more difficult cases of eczema, there are other treatments available. Consult your physician for further details.

It is recommended to apply moisturizers on top of the other topical medications and also take long baths to add moisture to the skin. Eczema might worsen during winter due to the dryness. Lastly, people with eczema are more prone to skin infections, so they may have to take an antibiotic in addition to the eczema treatments.

Bug bites: Children are more likely to get bigger reactions to bug bites. Typically children will get much bigger bumps from a bite than an adult would.  For mild mosquito and ant bites, you can generally apply anti-itch hydrocortisone cream, which can be found at any drug store. For more severe bites such as spider bites and bee stings, apply an ice pack right away to prevent swelling (make sure to alternate on and off to prevent tissue damage) and apply antibiotic ointment and hydrocortisone cream. If the bite doesn’t seem to be getting better, consult a doctor right away.

Scrapes: Since children spend a good chunk of time playing outdoors, it is very common for them to get scraped and bruised. The best way to care for a scrape or cut is to follow this procedure: clean, treat, protect. First, clean off the cut with water and soap or antiseptic fluid. Second, treat the cut with antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin. Lastly, protect your cut with a Band-Aid and give it time to heal.

Bruises: Bruises occur when the body is hit by a blunt force. The blood vessels under your skin tear and blood leaks, causing them to look reddish purple in color. How to treat: rest the bruise, apply an icepack to prevent the bruise from spreading, and elevate the bruise area above heart level. You can also rub ointments containing Vitamin K to help the body’s blood absorption since less blood will reduce the size of the bruise. Other than that, the bruise should go away on its own in a couple of days.

Eczema: a skin condition that causes the skin to become inflamed and irritated. Causes of eczema are unknown, but it has been linked to an overactive response by the body’s immune system to unknown triggers. Affected areas usually appear very dry, thickened, or scaly. To treat eczema, lotions and creams are prescribed to keep the skin moist. There are also topical steroids, immunomodulators, antihistamines, to name a few. Consult a doctor to know what treatments are best for your child. The good news: many children either outgrow their eczema or it will get better as they get older.   Many children find it soothing to substitute oatmeal baths and cleansing bars (Aveeno et. al.) for soaps, and shampoos at bathtime.

Bacterial Infections: humans are natural hosts for many bacterial species that colonize the skin. Predisposing factors to infection include minor trauma, preexisting skin disease, and poor hygiene. One generally effective way to treat infections is with topical treatment, either bacitracin (Neosporin) or mupirocin (Bactroban), applied frequently throughout the day for 7 days.

Rashes: the most common rashes are called dermatitis, which is the inflammation of the skin. It results in redness and change in texture, as well as itching. One effective way to treat a common rash is to apply aloe vera.     There are other options as well, such as Vitamin E and cod liver oil moisturizers.  Another option is preparing Chamomile tea, pouring it over the affected area, and allowing it to dry.

Some children might have a sensitivity to Neosporin, or hydrocortisone, so be sure to consult with your pediatrician about other options and substitute products.