An allergy is an immune reaction to a substance in the environment called an allergen.

When a child with allergies comes into contact with an allergen — either by touching it, breathing it, eating it, or having it injected — his or her body mistakenly views it as a dangerous invader and releases histamines and other chemicals to fight it off.

These chemicals irritate the body and cause symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, itching, and coughing. Symptoms can be mild or more severe, intermittent (seasonal, for example), or ongoing because of constant exposure to the allergen.

In some cases, an allergen can cause a severe reaction, called anaphylactic shock. This is a medical emergency, as the symptoms — including difficulty breathing and swelling — can be life threatening.

Possible allergens include food, drugs, insects, animal dander, dust mites, mold, and pollen. Allergens can cause respiratory symptoms, as in nasal allergies or allergic rhinitis, skin symptoms like eczema, or intestinal problems — from food allergies for example.

Because the symptoms of nasal allergies are much like cold symptoms — runny nose, watery eyes, cough, nasal congestion, sneezing — it can be tough to tell the difference. There are some telltale signs of allergies, though.

• Does it seem like your baby always has a cold? Colds usually wind down in a week to ten days; allergies
  don't.
• Is your baby's nose continually stuffy or running?
• Is your baby constantly wiggling, wiping, or pushing his or her nose up in what doctors call the allergic
  salute?
• Is the mucus that drains from your baby’s nose clear and thin (as opposed to yellow or greenish and thick)?
• Does your baby seem to sneeze a lot?
• Are your baby’s eyes itchy, red, and watery?
• Does the skin under your baby’s eyes look dark or purple or blue — what doctors call allergic shiners?
• Does your baby breathe through her mouth?
• Does your baby have a dry cough?
• Is your baby’s skin irritated or broken out in an itchy red rash?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, there's a good chance your baby is allergic to something in his or her environment. If you suspect your baby has allergies, contact your doctor for a professional evaluation and diagnosis.

Here are the best ways to reduce your baby's exposure to the most common allergens:

Dust mites live in fabrics and carpets and are common in every room of the house. But children are usually exposed to the most dust mites in the bedroom, where mattresses and pillows are veritable dust-mite condominiums. To help keep dust mite dander down, encase your baby's mattress in an impenetrable cover made of very tightly woven fabric, found at allergy supply stores and near bedding supplies, wash bedding once a week in hot water, avoid piling up stuffed animals in the baby’s room and dust and vacuum weekly.

If your baby is allergic to a pet, the only foolproof solution is to give the animal away. That's not an easy decision to make, of course, and, understandably, you'll want to consider it only as a last resort.

To keep the dander down, wash your pet frequently. You can find shampoos that reduce dander in the pet store. Also keep your pet off the furniture and out of your baby's room.

Mold can often be found growing in closets, attics, cellars, planters, refrigerators, shower stalls, garbage cans and under carpets. To help cut down on or prevent mold, use a dehumidifier and air conditioner when the weather is warm and moist, especially in a wet basement or other areas of your home where mold growth is a problem.

Clean your bathroom regularly with mold-inhibiting disinfectants, such as a little bleach and water or a natural solution like tea tree oil and water. And consider investing in a better ventilation system.

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