Kathmandu, April 7

Paediatricians have said that children with allergies are at the high risk of suffering from asthma.

“Asthma in children is triggered by allergies. The children with allergies should therefore be given special care at home,” said Dr Sujit Kumar Shrestha, paediatrician at Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital.

Of the total number of children visiting the hospital, 20 per cent are found to have been suffering from asthma, according to Shrestha.

Some children have food allergies, which is triggered by peanuts or eggs. Children also contact allergies due

to dust, pet or animal fur and hair, dust mites and mold, smoke, perfumes and gases emitted from vehicles,” he said.

Skin rashes, eczema, sneezing, coughing, runny nose or itchy eyes and upset stomachare some symptoms of allergies in children.

Allergies are the most common causes of chronic nasal congestion in children. A child with allergies may also have itchy, watery, red eyes and chronic ear problems. Dr Shrestha advised that children with allergies should be kept away from pets as their fur can trigger allergies.

Children with allergies should stay away from pollutants. Molds are present in spring and late summer. Children with mold allergies should avoid playing with dead leaves in fall. “