What are the various signs of the onset of asthma in children?

Asthma is one of the most common ailments in Ireland, and it would appear that the number of people, particularly children, suffering from the problem is growing. Already, the HSE says that 470,000 Irish people have some form of asthma, from a population of 4.5 million, and as many as 20% of Irish children alone are suffering from the ailment. This number goes up to 1 out of 3 in the under-five age group. 

In order to catch the problem early if you have a small child, it’s important to be able to spot the signs of asthma. Once done, nearly all forms of asthma can be treated quite simply, as the majority of cases are mild, and a good number even fade away by the time child reaches the later stages of primary school.

What is Asthma?

Put simply, asthma is the inflammation or tightening of the airways that carry breath to and from the lungs. In milder cases, these airways constrict or close, limiting the amount of breath carried to the lungs and triggering most of the symptoms which will be discussed below. In more severe cases, mucus will develop on the lining of the airways, along with contraction of the muscle, making it more difficult to relieve the effects of the attack. In such cases, medical assistance is often necessary. 

These reactions can be caused by any number of triggers, such as cold air, household dust, aerosol sprays, cigarette smoke, even everyday exercise or plant pollen. Diet has also been linked to asthma, as have home environments that are too sterile and so leave children without the immunity to fight off otherwise harmless elements. 

What to Look Out For

Coughing in unusual circumstances is usually listed first as the number one sign of the onset of asthma. For example, if you notice that your child is coughing in the night, at the end of a laugh, or maybe in the normal course of outdoor play, then there is the possibility that they have developed a mild case of the condition. If this situation continues longer than a few days, then a GP check-up is recommended. If colds typically rest in the chest or last longer than ten days, the same applies.

Other symptoms include complaints of tightness in the chest or a “whistling”/wheezing sound in the same area. Remember that healthy children aged ten and under should be able to run rings around most adults, so if they are getting out of breath or more tired than has previously been the case, and without any particularly obvious cause, then it is worth getting a medical opinion on the matter. 

Diagnosis

Doctors will typically look for the aforementioned signs, but they will also be interested to know if there is a family history of the condition, as well as the frequency and duration of the symptoms. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to keep a home record from the time that symptoms are first noticed in order to ensure the most accurate diagnosis possible.

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John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449342884 ©Keanes Pharmacy 

Question: What are the most common foods that trigger an allergic reaction?

Answer: There are few things scarier for a parent than seeing their child having an allergic reaction, and if you’ve ever heard the scare stories, you’ll know that it’s not something anyone would like to go through. This week we’re looking at the most common food types that may trigger an unexpected attack and a little about what such a reaction might entail. This will be followed next week then by a closer look at how we can watch out for these symptoms and what the best course of action is should they occur.

It might surprise some of us to learn that some of the most common food allergies are ones which we think of being so everyday, that we hardly think about them at all. For example - 

Milk 

Milk, a veritable staple of the Irish diet, and with it other dairy products, is among one of the more common food groups that can bring out negative symptoms when consumed by young children. It should be noted that breast milk is still the best option for a baby’s health and growth, but symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, reflux, and even shock in some cases can result from the switch to cow’s milk and formula. Infant formula contains a percentage of cow’s milk protein. The Irish Food Allergy Network mentions that a milk allergy is particularly difficult to spot and will more than likely require a higher amount of clinical inspection.

Eggs

Along with milk, eggs are also a common allergy trigger food, but the possibility of a problem with them is often overlooked as mere fussiness. As eggs can be included in a wide number of dishes and in a variety of cooked forms, they are also one of the harder allergy foods to spot. A common misconception of children with egg allergies is that they should avoid the MMR vaccine, as a story emerged some years back that the shot somehow contained egg or egg extracts. This is a total falsity, and there is no substantiated reason for children with egg allergies to avoid getting this vital inoculation. 

Nuts

A nut allergy can be amongst the most serious of conditions, and tragically, can even result in fatalities. Somewhat like an egg allergy, the problem with nuts is that they are often included in a wide range of foods that most of us would not expect, such as chilli dishes, for example, vegetable protein, and even chocolate that is not specifically marketed as nut flavoured. 

Nut allergies are often differentiated between peanut and tree nut allergies, and it is possible to suffer from one without having a problem without the other. In both cases, however, the body’s reaction is the same. Mistaking the proteins in the nut or nut extracts for harmful agents the body reacts to defend itself and releases substances like histamines which are in effect more harmful than the contaminant. 

Nut allergies, once diagnosed, should be treated with the gravest seriousness, both by the sufferer, but also by the people around them, like family, teachers, friends, and classmates.

Shellfish

While an egg allergy usually affects children, a hypersensitivity to shellfish is generally found in adults. Allergies to certain breeds and types of ordinary, finned fish are also common, with salmon and tuna two of the most likely. It’s possible to test for the breeds of fish that patients are susceptible to, but doctors will usually advise patients to avoid all fish to be on the safe side. This is the best course of action to take with shellfish also, as allergic reactions to species like crab and shrimp or one of the mollusc varieties, like mussels and scallops, are severe. 

Wheat/Gluten

Wheat allergies is another condition that is more common in children and can sometimes develop in adolescence. In the last few years, gluten has perhaps become the most publicised of the wheat proteins due to celiac disease, but reactions to globulin and gliadin are in fact more common. Celiac disease is not actually an allergic condition, but a problem with digestion occurring in the small intestine. 

Wheat allergies will often mean that common foods like bread and cereals will not to be avoided (as well desserts like cakes unfortunately), and your pharmacist or doctor will be able to advise on alternatives. For grown-ups, a wheat allergy might also unfortunately mean having to cut down on or forego wheat beer and ale, but for many of us no doubt that’s a positive! 

Finally, if you’re worried that abstaining from any of the foods on the list will result in a vitamin deficiency, then there is a full complement of supplements available at your pharmacist’s that will make sure that you’re covered from any shortfalls. 

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John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449342884 ©Keanes Pharmacy 

Question: How do you watch out for the symptoms of an allergic reaction?

Answer: Last week, we looked at some of the different types of foods that commonly cause allergic reactions. In no particular order, these were milk, eggs, fish and shellfish, and wheat, along with nuts and peanuts. As will be immediately obvious on looking through that list, avoiding all of those foods is difficult to say the least for most of us and tremendously impractical given our diet in this country, coupled with the fact that a lot of them are staples of a healthy, balanced food regimen for the majority of people who will probably never develop allergies. 

Another factor to consider with allergic reactions is that they are most often triggered by foods that are included as additives to larger dishes (say peanuts in a chilli dish or prawns in a chicken pasta), so rather than avoiding perfectly good and nutritious foods, it is best to know what the various symptoms of an allergic reaction are so that they can be caught early and more serious situations arrested before they can develop further. 

Early Signs or Mild Reactions

If your child is allergic to a certain type of food, this will begin to manifest itself in a number of ways. Some children complain of an itchy or tingling feeling around their mouths after eating, for example. You might take notice if this differs from the usual complaints you hear about how bad or good something tastes. Abdominal pain and/or diarrhoea are definite signs that the food in question should be treated with caution in the future. Skin conditions like eczema or hives are also tell-tale signs that your child perhaps has a problem with properly processing some of the food they ate. On their own, these are not particularly harmful, discomfort from itching being the main consequence, and your local pharmacist will be able to advise on the correct course of treatment without the need for a doctor’s appointment.

Stronger Symptoms

More serious reactions to certain foods include swelling of the lips, tongue, and various parts of the mouth. A quickening of the pulse, or a feeling of lightness and dizziness can also result. These might occur together or on their own. In certain cases, the sufferer’s breathing may become laboured, and you might notice that they are wheezing. Congestion of the nose is also usually listed as a symptom of allergic reaction, but this can be difficult to spot as something out of the ordinary.

Getting Help

If the symptoms listed above continue or become more severe, then emergency medical assistance is necessary. In the most severe cases, what is known anaphylaxis or, more commonly, anaphylactic shock takes place. This condition is potentially life threatening and emergency services should be sought if it develops. Unfortunately, it can occur rapidly, and sometimes without the pre-existence of any of the milder symptoms. Anaphylaxis can include the tightening of the airways, making it difficult to breath. Drops in blood pressure, sometimes so quick that collapse or shock is the result, will lead to loss of consciousness. In all of these situations, ordinary home remedies like antihistamines are only of limited use and it’s vitally important to respond quickly.
Further information on allergies and allergic reactions are readily available at your local pharmacist and G.P.’s office.

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John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449342884 ©Keanes Pharmacy 

Question: What are some alternatives to traditional aftershave?

Answer:  Aftershave, like a lot of hygiene products for men, is something that not a lot of us think about a lot beyond the fragrance. Indeed, most Irish men at least will avoid talking about the products they use like the plague, as if it’s something that they have no part in whatsoever, most often mumbling something about getting it for Christmas or how their other half bought it for them. Aftershave can be something of an exception to this rule, but the only thing that is likely to merit a mention is if it is a fairly well-known brand or at least on the expensive side. Any discussion beyond that will usually result in a blank stare or perhaps a friendly shrug.

This is odd when we consider that aftershave is a product we apply on a daily or near daily basis to our face, but one which we most likely put zero thought into when it comes to how it is affecting our skin. It can be hard to admit that a certain product is irritating the skin or causing discomfort, let alone murmur that forbidden term “sensitive skin.” But if you’re finding that the blotchy look of shaving rash and blood on your collar is outweighing the benefit of your favourite aftershave’s scent, here are a few alternatives to consider.

Cut Out the Alcohol

A wet shave using water, cream, and a razor leaves the pores of the face open, as well many tiny nicks and cuts on the skin which are often all but invisible. The majority of men’s aftershaves contain alcohol to treat these cuts and open pores to ensure that they do not become clogged or infected. The problem with that, however, is that alcohol dehydrates the skin and often leaves it feeling tight, as well as prone to premature aging. If you’re finding that you’re suffering from this uncomfortably tight feeling after shaving, perhaps an alcohol free aftershave or balm might be the answer. Neutrogena, for example, offers a great aftershave that fits the bill perfectly. Washing the face with cold water after your shave but before application will help close up the pores and cuts sufficiently in any case. 

Stay Young

If the idea of avoiding the premature aging and tightness that comes with alcohol based aftershaves and actually slowing down the inevitable lines that come with aging appeals to you, then perhaps it might be an idea to avoid the lotion and balm area of post shaving treatments and try one of the many moisturizers for men that are on the market. These combine the benefits listed above, along with being perfect for men who do suffer from sensitive skin after shaving. The Nivea for Men range has both a “Rehydrating Moisturizer” and “Sensitive Moisturizer” which provide protection after shaving throughout the day, refreshes the skin, and also protects from UV rays if you’re working outdoors. 

Worried about Smell?

The most important part of an aftershave for many of us, especially on a night out or special occasion, is the scent. This is a factor that can be lost if switching to a non-alcohol shaving balm or a moisturizer. If you’re looking for something to fill in the gap, take a look at the range of colognes or eau de toilettes stocked in your local pharmacy, and take your pick. 

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John Keane is a full time pharmacist and owner of Keanes Pharmacy. Why not discuss this topic confidentially with John anytime in person at Keanes Pharmacy, Austin Friars or 0449342884 ©Keanes Pharmacy