Medical and Pharmaceutical Options for Child Allergy Treatment

The options available for treating the children allergy symptoms are pharmaceutical medications, emergency and rescue medications, and medical therapies. The following paragraphs give details of this.

Medications

Medications used for child allergy treatment are either over-the-counter (OTC) medications or prescription medications. Normal practice with the doctors is to try the efficacy of the OTC medicine in curing the allergy of the child; if needed, the doctors prescribe prescriptions drugs for better or longer-term maintenance control.  Choice of OTC or prescription drugs is dependent on the child’s condition, associated symptoms and illnesses, side effects, and effectiveness.  Allergic symptoms which are infrequent or unexpected can be treated by OTC medications. For chronic symptoms, it is preferable to go for prescription medications. Prescription medications reduce drowsiness and other side-effects of medicinal child allergy treatment.

Medications used in child allergy treatment have varied purposes based on allergy and the reaction.

	Blockers — this category of allergy medications blocks the blood chemicals which cause allergic reactions. Two types of blockers viz. histamine blockers or antihistamines and leukotriene blockers are used. Antihistamines are available as OTC or prescription drugs. Leukotriene blockers are of recent origin and are available only on prescription. This drug is showing a lot of promise in managing the children allergies and asthma.
	Decongestants — narrow the blood vessels in the nose and clear congestion; they can either be OTC or prescription-strength.
	Steroids are available in oral, inhaled, and topical forms. Allergic symptoms of asthma and breathing difficulties are relieved by inhaled and oral steroids by dilating airways and reducing airway inflammation. Skin rashes caused by allergies are cured by Oral steroids and they also promote skin healing. In addition, steroids are available in cream form for treating skin allergies.

The child allergy treatment medications are manufactured in different forms such as oral liquids, tablets and chewables, pills, inhalers and nebulized solutions, drops and sprays.  The child may not accept every form of the above medicine. Parents and doctor should identify the ideal delivery options taking into account the age and abilities of the child.

Emergency Rescue Allergy Medications

Emergency medications and rescue medications may be required in the case of some children for their allergy treatment.

Epinephrine or adrenaline is an injectable drug used for a severe child allergy reaction and gives immediate response and relief. Epinephrine is a "fight or flight" hormone, and plays a central role in the short-term stress reaction. In case of emergent situations it is released from the adrenal glands. When secreted into the bloodstream, the hormone increases the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles. It increases heart rate which in turn opens swollen airways. Injectable epinephrine is often prescribed in an auto-injector for patients who had a history of severe reaction to an allergen and requires to be used immediately until the child gets medical help. Training in injectable epinephrine must be given to the parents and all caregivers of allergic children.

Steroids and asthma drugs help in restoring breathing in a child which has airways inflammation caused by an allergic reaction or alternately by a secondary reaction when allergies trigger severe asthma attacks. Fast-acting inhalers or nebulizer solutions are normally prescribed in advance for children having a history of such reactions. Alternately, these medicines can be given by emergency nurses/ doctors in the emergency ward.

Therapies

When the allergy symptoms become life threatening, Immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, gives a lasting solution for allergies in children. The immunotherapy creates an allergen immunization. Alternately, this therapy is also known as desensitization or hyposensitization.

For building immunity to a disease the viruses causing that disease are injected into the child and this prevents the child getting the disease caused by the virus. Similarly an allergy extract which is a mixture of allergens which cause allergy symptoms is prepared and injected into the child to buildup immunity against allergy.
Most effective treatments for child allergy are medical interventions; hence in order to get the best and safest treatment for your child you should consult the physician treating the child.