Pediatric condition guide
Allergies in children
A parent-friendly guide to how allergies may be assessed and managed in specialist care.
Understanding allergies
Allergies in children can range from a mildly runny nose to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Whether your child is constantly sneezing and rubbing their nose, developing rashes after certain foods, or struggling with itchy, watery eyes that interfere with school — allergies deserve proper evaluation and management.
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is the most common allergic condition in children, affecting up to 40% of kids. It's often dismissed as "just a cold" or "they'll grow out of it," but untreated allergic rhinitis can significantly impact your child's sleep quality, school performance, and overall quality of life. It's also closely linked with asthma — up to 80% of children with asthma also have allergic rhinitis.
Food allergies affect approximately 6–8% of children and require careful diagnosis. Many families restrict foods unnecessarily based on unvalidated tests, while others may not recognize subtle allergic reactions. Dr. Narasinga Raj uses evidence-based diagnostic methods to identify true allergies and create safe, practical management plans.
When to seek emergency care
If your child has severe breathing difficulty, blue lips, is unusually drowsy, collapses, or has signs of a severe allergic reaction, call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department now. Do not wait for a clinic response.
- Swelling of the face, lips, or tongue after eating a food (possible anaphylaxis risk)
- Difficulty breathing or wheezing after food exposure
- Persistent one-sided nasal obstruction or bloody nasal discharge
- Nasal polyps in a young child (uncommon and warrants investigation)
- Recurrent sinusitis or ear infections not responding to standard treatment
- Severe eczema not improving with topical therapy
How Dr. Narasinga Raj evaluates your child
- 01Detailed allergy-focused history — symptom triggers, timing, family atopy
- 02Anterior rhinoscopy and nasal examination
- 03Skin prick testing (SPT) — the gold standard for identifying allergic sensitization
- 04Specific IgE blood testing when skin testing is not feasible
- 05Oral food challenge under supervised conditions for definitive food allergy diagnosis
- 06Component-resolved diagnostics for complex food allergy cases
- 07Nasal endoscopy when structural issues or polyps are suspected
Treatment & action plan
- Allergen avoidance strategies tailored to identified triggers
- Intranasal corticosteroid sprays — safe and effective first-line therapy for allergic rhinitis
- Second-generation antihistamines for symptom relief
- Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) or subcutaneous immunotherapy for selected patients
- Food allergy management plans with emergency action plans for anaphylaxis risk
- Epinephrine auto-injector prescription and training for food allergy patients
- Guided food reintroduction protocols for children who may be outgrowing food allergies
Frequently asked questions
Concerned about your child's allergies?
Request an appointment to discuss your child's symptoms and whether specialist evaluation may be appropriate.