My son is 16 months and has had a congested, runny nose (clear to yellowish) for about a month now - he'd had a cold but it seems like it hasn't totally gone away. He is teething, so that could be it, but my mom and grandma have mentioned the possibility of allergies. I haven't taken him to the doctor because I know he doesn't need antibiotics, which is really all a doctor can do. But now I'm starting to think about the allergies... is he too young to have them, or is it worth it to investigate? Neither my husband nor I really suffer from allergies, although our siblings do mildly. We have two cats, but NO ONE in either family has cat allergies. Our son's eyes look fine, too, and he sneezes only occasionaly. Thanks!
my son is 10 months old and has had, what I thought was a cold for the last 9 months. I have taken him to the doctor time and time again. he coughs all the time, his nose is always running but the doctors say that his lungs are fine and that it is probably allergies. Nothing runs in the family on either side.
poor kid..
My daughter has always had signs of allergies, however I ended up switching pediatricians after the first year because of how my old one wanted to treat her. He wanted her to take nasal steroids and zyrtec daily to treat them, when I've lived with severe allergies my whole life and knew that was not necessary - she was not that bad off. Our new peditrician explained that they usually do not treat allergies before kids are 3, though she most likely (he said 70-80% likely) does have them because my husband and I both do and she gets symptoms seasonally. It's hard to treat them, and not recommended, prior to the 3rd full allergy season (year) because allergies have not fully developed and more may develop, some may go away, etc. He said to just give her nasalcrom or plain nasal saline to clear out her nasal passages when things flare up if she's uncomfortable. IT's seemed to work very well. The nasalcrom actually works quite well, even for me, during allergy seasons to help reduce the nose running.
E.:
I see allergies in newborns... often not in the forms usually associated with allergies. they are difficult to sort out...
David Miller, MD. Might be able to help... you can find him through www.birthlink.com. Or maybe an accupuncturiest.. there are a couple of them on the list.
Good luck
P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com
I believe at any age you can develop allergies and can have them even if no one in your family does. I would ask your pediatrician for a recommendation and have him tested. And he/she might be able to prescribe something in the meantime for it (ointment/pill) or provide suggestions. Also keep a journal of foods/beverages/outdoor activity/etc. The idea about removing the cat for a week is a good one...although with cats, it takes a LONG time to remove all of the dander. Good luck and I hope he feels better!
We just made an appointment with an allergist for our one year old and they told me that they start testing at 6 months old.
He's not too young for allergies. Even though no one in your family is allergic to cats, if there are any other allergies in the family he can develop a different allergy. Maybe you could have a friend or family member take the cat for a couple weeks and clean house. If it is allergies it would be better to find out and try to address it to minimize his chances of developing asthma.
-Karen C.
My son was diagnosed with Asthma when he was 4 months old.(there is a strong family history on paternal and maternal sides) He also had a penicillan allergic reaction at 5 months. We had him tested soon after that and he had a multitude of mold, pollen and animal allergies. Thankfully no food allergies.
My son was exactly 16 mos when we found out he was allergic to trees. He had been in the hospital with pneumonia because the mucus from his allergies made his chest fill with fluid. My Mom finally said maybe it is allergies. This was 14years ago but we had found a great allergist, he took six blood samples (this is the smaller test) and determined that was the problem. So in the spring and fall he has terrible problems but it has never been as bad as it was when he was that young. Your son could have allergies just because he is closer to the floor. There is cat hair and dust no matter how clean you keep your house. Pursue it, some of the doctors just roll their eyes like here's another over protective mom, but use your instincts and go for it. By the way my son is now 15, 6'4" 230lbs his sinus problems have had us remove his tonsils at 10yrs, he's had broncitis a million times things like that, so maybe your son will just be one of those kids. That's great that you are staying home, good luck!
I believe it is worth investigating. We found out my daughter is allergic to milk, eggs, and peanuts when she was 13 months old. She had been extremely fussy since the day she was born and I know her allergies were a main cause. I wish we had had her tested sooner! It could turn out to be nothing more than a long cold, but I think it's worth the doctor visit to help him feel better. Good luck!
E.,
By all means, investigate the possibilities of your son having allergies. Unfortunately, one is never too young to have them and your son can have them even though you and your husband don't really suffer from them. You have cats. That is a big one. Plus, the tree pollen came out about a month ago--when your son's problem appeared. Grass, weed and ragweed pollens will be here soon, beginning with grass pollens appearing in early May...
As you say, the anitbiotics route is not the first one to take.
Have you read, "Is This Your Child?" by Doris Rapp, MD?
Good luck.
Amy
E.-
It sounds like since the congestion has been ongoing since the cold that he has a sinus infection. It is possible, my son had one when he was that age. You should take him to your ped. and tell him what's going on, he might need an antibiotic to clear it up.
L.
