When it comes to diagnosing allergies in children it is often more complex than diagnosing adults. This is due in large part to allergy symptoms mimicking those of many common ailments that children experience day to day.

Additionally, children are far less likely to describe their symptoms accurately, leaving parents and doctors guessing at the source of their complaints. To help you discern between your child’s symptoms and other possible ailments there are five common symptoms related to allergies in children; sinus infection, itching nose, chronic cough, allergic eczema, and dark circles under the eyes.

Itching Nose

This is one of the most common allergy symptoms in children. When your child is exposed to an allergen it is inhaled through the mouth and nose. On contact the nose triggers a reaction from the foreign substance causing an “itching” sensation in the nasal passage. The itchy nose is often accompanied with thin, excessive mucus, resulting in a runny nose. This excessive mucus can lead to a more serious complication, a sinus infection.

Sinus Infections

When your body overreacts to a certain allergen, it produces more body fluids, which in turn cause the sinus passages to be blocked. This blockage can then lead to an inflammation of the sinus passages known as a sinus infection. Germs and bacteria are still able to pass through the inflamed passages and potentially invade the tissues lining your sinus cavity. This causes an infection.

People suffering from allergies are more susceptible to sinus infections as a result of their body’s immune systems being weakened from attempting to ward off foreign elements; and thus, causing the body to be less effective in fighting infection.

Chronic Cough

A child’s cough is considered a chronic cough when it is dry (does not produce mucus) and persists for days. Sometimes, there is phlegm, in which case can be an indication that there is an increased fluid present in their sinus cavity.

Keep in mind however that a chronic cough is not a condition but rather an allergy symptom. To help relieve your child’s coughing attempt to identify the trigger and remove it from the home rather than suppressing the cough. Should your child’s cough persist after removing the allergen or produce excessive mucus it is advisable to visit your doctor as this could be a symptom of other conditions as well.

Dark-Eye Circles

Dark-eye circles are often referred to as Denni-Morgan lines since it was taken after two physicians’ names who first established a connection between allergies and dark eye circles. Though the dark circles may appear to be a result of sleep deprivation this isn’t the case for allergy suffers. Rather, the circles form as a result of increased blood flow to the sinuses.

Contact Dermatitis

As the skin is exposed to irritants allergic patients can develop a condition called contact dermatitis. This is where the skin develops a mild itchy rash at the point of contact. The appearance of the rash is usually dry skin or redness.

Persistent exposure to the irritant can lead to a full blown allergic reaction on the skin that may require medication to clear up. Typically contact dermatitis shows up on hands since the hands come in contact with the majority of offenders on a daily basis.

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