What are the Symptoms of Allergies?

The most common symptoms of allergy are:

• Allergic rhinitis - sneezing, nasal congestion and coughing
• Mouth breathing
• Itchy eyes, mouth or throat
• Hives - itchy welts on the skin
• Eczema - a persistent itchy rash
• Contact dermatitis - a rash caused by touching an allergen
• Stomach-ache - after eating food
• Dark circles under the child's eyes (known as "allergic shiners")
• Asthma attacks may be triggered by allergies.  

The Most Common Symptoms of Allergy  

Colic (kolikos)

My baby cries all the time. Could he/she have colic?

May be. Colic isn't an actual disease, just a term used to describe uncontrollable crying in an otherwise healthy baby. If your baby is under 5 months old and cries for more than three hours in a row on three or more days a week for at least three weeks, and there's no medical explanation for his distress, chances are he's colicky. A colicky baby may also act truly uncomfortable: the baby may alternately extend or pull up its legs and pass gas. The crying and discomfort can afflict your baby at any time of day, but it's usually most intense between 6 p.m. and midnight.

About 20 percent of all babies become colicky, usually starting between 2 and 4 weeks of age. (The condition is equally common among first-born and later-born, boys and girls, breast- and formula-fed babies.) Thankfully, colic doesn't last forever. Sixty percent of babies will be through the worst of it by 3 months, and 90 percent are better by 4 months of age. 

Why do some babies get colic?

Colic is one of the great mysteries of baby life. No one knows why some babies are more prone to it than others, but theories abound. It may be that some babies have more immature or sensitive digestive systems than others. (In fact, the word colic comes from a Greek word, kolikos , which roughly translates to "colon.") A newborn's digestive tract contains very few of the enzymes or digestive juices needed to break down food, so processing the proteins in breast milk or formula can lead to painful gas. The act of screaming itself can cause your baby to swallow a lot of air and that, too, leads to gassiness. Other experts believe that long bouts of colicky crying are a physical release for overwhelmed babies whose still-developing nervous system can't process all the new stimuli surrounding them. By the time evening rolls around some babies just can't handle any more sights, sounds, or sensations in their environment and they cry to blow off steam. 

I've heard that colic in breastfed babies is caused by the mother's diet. Is this true?

Occasionally breastfed babies become colicky because of something in their mother's diet. Dairy products are one of the main culprits. If you're breastfeeding, try cutting back on milk, cheese, and yoghurt for a week to see whether that makes a difference. If your baby's colic improves, keep those foods to a minimum. If not, see below for more tips on soothing colic and don't deprive yourself of ice cream!

Some breastfed babies seem to be bothered if mom eats a lot of spicy food, wheat products, nuts, strawberries, cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower), garlic, caffeine, and alcohol. To see whether one of these foods is making your baby uncomfortable, avoid them all for a few days. If your baby seems better, reintroduce one food at a time, allowing a few days between re-introductions. If he starts fussing again after you start eating a certain food, you've discovered the offending substance. You'll have to abstain from it until your baby outgrows his sensitivity, which will probably be at around 3 months, but kicking coffee or any other food for a few months is a small price to pay for a happy child.

If your baby is formula-fed, you might try switching formulas to see if that's the irritant. And whether you're feeding your baby formula or breast milk, make sure that you're burping him during and after feedings. It helps relieve the pressure that builds up when he swallows air during feedings.  

What else can I do to soothe my colicky baby?

First, forgive yourself if you succumb to a good cry, too. Listening to a baby bawl for hours can make even the most stoic parent break down at times. Next, take a deep breath and try to relax. If you're too tense, your baby will pick up on it and you'll never calm him down. Now start working your way through this tip list. Remember, no one tactic works for every baby every time, so keep trying. If these ideas don't work for you, see more parent-tested colic cures here.

• Give your baby a pacifier. It sometimes does the trick, probably because the sucking can be soothing for a baby. A wind-up swing or a rock in a rocking chair can help, too. 
• Place your baby, tummy down, on your knee or on a hot-water bottle wrapped in a towel (or cooled to a temperature that causes you no discomfort when held against the skin of your wrist). Rub or pat your baby's back, which may help relieve some of the pressure in his stomach.
• Pick your baby up and talk to him, rock him, or swaddle him. Granted, it's not always easy to cuddle a screaming baby, but sometimes simply touching your baby will do the trick, and it's important to at least try to comfort your child. You can also try placing him in a car seat or bouncer seat on top of a running clothes dryer the motion is often soothing. Don't leave him unattended, though, because some dryers rock hard enough to knock a car seat off.
• Carry your baby around with you. Some colicky infants simply like to be in motion. If this seems to be the case with your child, invest in a baby sling or front pack and tote him around as you do chores.
• Try a change of atmosphere. It may help to take your baby for a walk, either in the stroller, a sling, or a front pack. The fresh air and rhythmic movement of walking may calm him and allow him to fall asleep. Or go for a drive.
• Run a hot shower in the bathroom. Place your baby in a bouncer seat on the bathroom floor or hold him and pace back and forth while the shower runs. The steam and rhythmic beating of the warm water have been known to soothe many an irritable infant.
• Once you've fed, burped, changed, and otherwise tended to your child's needs, it's okay to put him in his crib for a few minutes, even if he is crying piteously, so you can take a break. Having a little time out will help you maintain your nerves (and sanity). Spouses should spell each other, or hire an understanding babysitter for a few hours.
• Stay away from prescription remedies for colic such as anti-spasmodics and sedatives. They may be dangerous to your baby.

NOTE:  We do not intend this section to be a substitute for medical advice. Regular communication with a trusted paediatrician is one of the most important ways to safeguard your children's health. However, as more and more parents become concerned about personal health and helping their children avoid many of their bad habits, we have tried to touch on those areas that you might want to explore further with your doctor or medical provider.

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