The subhead to the book The 24/7 Baby Doctor pretty much sums up why we love and recommend this book: A Harvard Pediatrician Answers All Your Questions from Birth to One Year. Can you imagine a more essential guide for the new parent? Chapters are organized by topic -- sleep, babies' bodies, work/career, etc. -- which are then tackled in a question and answer format. The information is not only well-organized and thoroughly researched, but spelled out in easy-to-understand language that nurtures, rather than frightens, the new parent. We suggest you pick this up for yourself or for any soon-to-be mom you know. It's definitely well worth it.
To give you a taste, we present an excerpt from the chapter Allergies -- What You Need to Know:
It happens often. Panicked parents arrive at my office with a baby covered with a red rash. Her face is puffed into a moon shape. Or the baby has itchy red welts all over his body. In both cases, the problem is an allergy. Because allergies are common and the field of allergies and immunology is constantly changing, you may hear conflicting information about these conditions. Yet there is no doubt that eczema, asthma, and peanut allergies are on the rise in babies.
The questions and answers that follow will help clear up any understandable confusion about what is and isn’t an allergy and how to proceed when an allergy is diagnosed.
Allergy Education
What are allergies?
Allergic reactions involve the immune system. The body may react to a certain food or environmental trigger by producing a rash, wheezing, or swelling. The substance in question, called an allergen, causes a release of chemicals. The result is an allergic reaction, which can occur on the skin in the form of a rash, or in the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, or digestive system. The allergic response occurs any time the person is exposed to the allergen and may intensify with each exposure.
What are common signs of allergies in babies?
Hives (big red itchy welts that can appear anywhere on the body) are the most typical allergic rash. But sometimes facial swelling, vomiting, constipation, irritability, or diarrhea can signal an allergic reaction. Blood and mucus in the stool are common in babies allergic to cow’s milk protein. Respiratory distress may occur in a severe reaction. Bear in mind, however, that sometimes allergies are misdiagnosed. It is important that a doctor confirm that the reaction is really an allergy.
Why do babies get allergies?
Allergies are usually acquired over time, and there is usually a genetic link. If eczema, asthma, or food allergies run in the family, your baby may be susceptible.
How are allergies diagnosed in a baby?
Often allergies are diagnosed by history alone, i.e., your baby eats a strawberry and develops hives right afterward. The pediatrician may refer you to an allergist, who can perform a skin test and blood tests. The skin or “prick” test uses tiny needles with small amounts of the offending allergen to see if a local reaction occurs. This is thought to be the most reliable test. RAST testing and IGE testing are blood tests that measure antibody levels against the allergen and are thought to be slightly less reliable than the skin test.
Excerpted with permission from The 24/7 Baby Doctor: A Harvard Pediatrician Answers All Your Questions from Birth to One Year. Copyright 2010 by Victoria Rogers McEnvoy, MD, and Florence Isaacs. Published by Lyons Press.
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