Nowadays children have become more allergic than ever before. Some people have problem with milk, some with dust and some with certain food items. And this is not just limited to cities, but is becoming the reality of every household. Today’s children are surrounded by diseases and allergies more than ever before.
Things like sneezing, cough, skin rashes or discomfort after eating have now become common in many homes. According to health experts, this is not just a matter of weather or food, but is the result of our changing environment, eating habits and excessively clean lifestyle. Top pediatricians like Dr. Poonam Sidana, Dr. Medha and Dr. Maninder Singh Dhaliwal say that there is more pressure on children’s immunity today than ever before. On this Children’s Day, the question is not what gift we should give to children, but how we can give them a safe and healthy childhood. Come, let us understand why these allergies are increasing in children and what parents can do.
Changing lifestyle and weakening immunity
Pediatrician Dr. Poonam Sidana (Director – Neonatology and Pediatrics) of CK Birla Hospital says that if we go back a few years, children were seen playing in the mud, touching pets and eating less outside food. Today the same children are growing up in the world of AC rooms, mobile phones and sanitizers. The main reason for the increase in food and dust allergies in children is both our lifestyle and environment.
She further says that when children are kept in too clean an environment, their immunity does not get trained. Children’s bodies have to understand which bacteria are harmful and which are not, but if there is no contact, the body will start reacting to everything.
Too much cleanliness is also harmful
Parents always want their child to remain clean and not fall ill. But do you know that excessive cleanliness can also be harmful for children? According to Dr. Poonam, this is called Hygiene Hypothesis. This means that if the child does not get some exposure to germs and natural bacteria from the beginning, his body later starts becoming afraid of even small things.
When a child is protected from everything, including soil, pets and dust in the air, his immunity cannot learn. The result is that later the same child may become allergic to food or even minor elements present in the air. Due to this, problems related to skin, respiratory and stomach allergies increase in them.
Changing food and broken balance of gut health
According to Dr. Medha, Pediatrician of Madhukar Rainbow Children Hospital, nowadays there is less home-made food and more packaged food in the dinner plates of children. This change seems simple, but it has a deep impact on the body. Increasing urbanization, processed food and lack of natural fiber have weakened the immunity of children. The natural balance that our body creates gets disturbed by eating like this. It is not just a matter of food, but of its qualities like,
- Pesticides and chemicals in vegetables and fruits
- Use of hormones and antibiotics in meat or dairy
- Giving formula milk or ready-to-eat food to babies early
All these things gradually make the body sensitive to external things.
Pollution and allergens hidden in indoor air
According to Dr. Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, pediatric respiratory medicine expert and pediatrician of Amrita Hospital, Delhi, children in Delhi-NCR and other big cities are fighting a battle not only with studies but also with air. Dust, pollution and smoke in these cities have become the biggest enemy for their lungs. Polluted air keeps the defense system of the child’s body alert all the time. When the body is constantly on alert, it starts over-reacting even to small things like dust or smoke in the house.
In cities today, most children spend 80-90% of their time indoors. But even the air in the house is no longer safe,
- Dust accumulates in carpets, curtains, soft toys and air conditioners.
- Things like incense sticks, mosquito coils and deodorants release chemical particles into the air.
- Children breathe the same polluted air throughout the night.
Pregnancy and birth also affect allergies
It will be surprising to hear that the roots of allergy can lie in the womb itself. According to doctors, many researches have found that some pollutants are also found in the blood of the fetus.
- Babies born through C-section do not get exposed to the mother’s natural bacteria (vaginal flora).
- This affects the balance of their intestines, which is the basis of immunity.
- At the same time, giving excessive antibiotics or formula feed during pregnancy can also increase the risk of allergies.
How to recognize that a child is having allergies
Many times parents think that it is a common cold, but it can be an early sign of allergy. But ignoring them can be very dangerous for the child’s health. In such a situation, you should definitely keep an eye on some early signs,
- Frequent sneezing, blocked nose or runny nose.
- Vomiting, stomach pain or rashes after eating.
- Coughing or shortness of breath at night.
- Frequent itching or swelling on the skin.
Doctors advise that if the child is showing such symptoms again and again, then do not delay. Get an allergy test done and start the right treatment from the doctor.
What can be done to protect children from allergies?
According to Dr. Maninder, prevention of allergies is not a difficult task. All you need is a little understanding and adopting small habits. In such a situation, you can adopt these suggestions in everyday life,
- Keep the air at home clean, plant trees or use air purifiers.
- Pay attention to cleanliness, wash soft toys and curtains regularly.
- Let children play outside, it is important to stay in touch with nature.
- Give home cooked food, reduce processed food.
- Avoid unnecessary medicines during pregnancy.
- Mother’s milk is the child’s first natural protection, give it priority.
What is the advice of doctors?
In the doctor’s opinion, Children’s Day is not just a day to share happiness, but an opportunity to secure the future of children. Therefore, on this Children’s Day, don’t just gift them toys, give them the gift of clean air, natural food, and the freedom to live close to nature. Because childhood not only means playing, but also breathing without fear.