The concept of atopy (Greek ‘a’ -without and “atopy” -place) was introduced by Arthur Coca and Robert Cooke in 1922. They described  atopy as a condition where “the individuals as a group possess a peculiar capacity to become sensitive to certain proteins in which their environment and habits of life expose them.” Since then, atopy, now commonly referred to as allergy, is hypersensitivity to various agents that trigger an immune reaction and represents a wide spectrum of disorders.

Allergy can present in various forms. It can be acute and life-threatening like anaphylaxis, acute but mild urticaria, or chronic allergy involving various systems like allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy, atopic dermatitis. A battery of allergens have been identified, common ones being pollen, dust, dust mite, dogs, cats, moulds, food, latex etc.

Allergic March in children:

Allergies are common to all age groups, though children are more susceptible. The ‘’allergic march’’ refers to the order in which allergies affect children as they grow up. Young infants develop atopic eczema through food allergy to start with and then air-borne environmental allergen become predominant causing asthma and subsequently allergic rhinitis by school age. A baby with atopic dermatitis is at high-risk of developing asthma or allergic rhinitis.

Adolescents is the second phase of high allergic manifestations when the male predominance of allergic diseases seen in childhood gradually changes into a female predominance.

As per the Hygiene Hypothesis, modern lifestyles in cities is associated with improved hygiene, a reduced exposure to bacterias, viruses and other infections, poor development of the immune system that protects against allergies, and thus higher prevalence of allergy.

Upper and lower airway constitute a complete respiratory system. Thus, affection of one influences response of the other to allergy. Allergic rhinitis (allergy in the nose), asthma (allergy in lower airway) and otitis media (allergy in ears) often coexist. Children with allergic rhinitis are at 4 fold risk of developing asthma.

ALLERGIES IN CHILDREN ARE RISING, EXPONENTIALLY EVERY YEAR, AROUND THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN CITIES. If your child has any of the following symptoms, please contact an allergy specialist :

• Runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose or blocked nose
• Dry, scaly, itchy skin rash mainly involving the skin folds in babies
• Dry, scaly, red rash on cheeks
• Repeated episodes of cough especially at night
• wheezing or whistling sounds from the chest
• Repeated headaches and nose blocks
• Mouth breathing, snoring, improper disturbed sleep
• Watering of eyes, burning or itching in eyes
• Sudden swelling of lips or itchy bumps on skin

Allergic reactions in children must be diagnosed, controlled and treated at the earliest to ensure proper growth of the developing body systems.