About Baby Allergies

Babies have a lot to deal with. They get hungry, they get tired and they also get sick from time to time. When it appears that they are sick, they can actually be suffering from an allergy. Allergies are a defense mechanism used to alert the body that there is a foreign substance trying to cause harm.

Significance

• Allergies can be caused from a food or substance in the air. If an allergy is severe enough, it can lead to anaphylaxis, where the baby's airways can become swollen shut.

Types

• There are various types of baby allergies. Some of these include gluten, lactose and pet dander.

Gluten

• Gluten is the protein portion of wheat. It can also be found in rye and barley. If babies are fed food that contains gluten, they can suffer symptoms.

Milk

• Lactose is the sugar that is found in milk. Lactose intolerance is a condition where the baby cannot break it down in the stomach due to a missing enzyme called lactase.

Animals

• There are some babies that can be allergic to animals, especially cats and dogs. Animal dander is a common cause of this. Dander is tiny particles that float around in the air that are composed of hair and skin that is shed from animals.

Symptoms

• Baby allergies can be accompanied by a lot of symptoms. Some of these include a runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, coughing and sneezing.