Allergies are common among both children and adults. Whether it’s food, medicine, or even pollution, allergic reactions can come with a number of unwanted symptoms. Hives, swelling, rashes, respiratory difficulties, digestive problems, and cold-like symptoms can impact you when you have an allergic reaction. Due to the unwanted symptoms that come with the issue, you may wonder, can you outgrow allergies?
Can You Outgrow Allergies?
The most common allergies in children are cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and wheat. There is evidence indicating that many children outgrow their allergies. There are a number of factors that play into whether or not children outgrow them.
Type of Allergy:
Roughly 60 to 80% of children outgrow milk or egg allergies by the age of 16, 20% of children outgrow peanut allergies, and up to 5% of children outgrow fish or shellfish allergies. Recent research showed that children with milk, egg, and soy allergies outgrow their allergies more often and at a younger age than children with other types of allergies.
Reaction Severity:
Children who have severe allergic reactions are less likely to outgrow their allergy.
Age of Development:
The earlier a child develops an allergy the more likely they are to outgrow it.
Allergic Reactions
When your immune system reacts to a foreign object (“allergen”) in your body, it is referred to as an allergic reaction. When this occurs, your body creates antibodies. Once the antibodies are in your system they attach to areas of your body, including your skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. The antibodies release histamine when you come into contact with the allergen again. Histamine dilates your blood vessels which causes an allergic reaction, in addition to a number of unwanted symptoms. Common symptoms include congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, itching, red skin, wheezing, swelling, and hives. If you experience any of these symptoms you should avoid the allergen and contact an allergy specialist in New York City.
Severe allergic reactions are referred to as “anaphylaxis” and can be life-threatening in some cases. Some of the symptoms are similar to mild allergic reactions, but there are often additional symptoms. Some of the common symptoms associated with anaphylaxis include hives, wheezing, flushed or pale skin, trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, a weak but fast pulse, or feeling like you have a lump in your throat. If you experience this, or if you are around someone who is experiencing a severe allergic reaction, contact 911 immediately.
Allergies or the Common Cold?
Allergies may feel similar to the common cold as they share a lot of the same symptoms. The difference between the two is the presence of an allergen. If you notice your symptoms get worse in the presence of an allergen, it’s more likely than not that it’s an allergy. However, it can be difficult to determine exactly what you are allergic to. Avoid waiting to see a medical professional as they can effectively determine whether or not you have allergies and put you on an effective treatment plan.
Allergy Treatment in NYC
While growing out of your allergies may be ideal, some people live with them for their entire life. Allergies can be effectively managed with the help of an allergy specialist. An allergy specialist can help determine what you are allergic to and how to effectively manage it. Allergy treatment in NYC consists of one or more of the following: avoidance, medications, immunotherapy, or emergency epinephrine. The type of treatment depends on your unique allergies and symptoms.
If you think that you have allergies, contact Dr. Mayank Shukla. He is a top allergy specialist in New York and has helped countless patients effectively manage their allergies. He has worked with children and adults with allergies by providing a personalized and empathetic approach. Contact the team at the Asthma & Sleep Institute today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Shukla.
