Other
Options
Other treatment options for allergies include
medication, immunotherapy, and allergy tests.
These can be particularly helpful when the
allergen is one not easily avoided, such as
pollen, dust, and environmental allergens.
Changing the child's environment by stripping
his room to the bare walls and floor will
often help an allergic child; the results
have been likened to a military barracks look.
No curtains, bedspreads, fluffy quilts, dust
ruffles, carpeting, rugs, shutters, blinds,
upholstered furniture, stuffed animals (except
those which are hypoallergenic on both the
outside and the inside), or furred or feathered
pets. Shades may be used on the windows; pillows
should be synthetic; blankets should be cotton
or synthetic and should be washed weekly;
mattress and box springs should be encased
in plastic and furniture should be plain wood
or plastic. The closet should hold only the
clothes for the current season--no stored
items. The space under the bed should be kept
empty. Heating/air conditioning vents can
be covered in muslin "shower caps"
for easy removal and washing. Walls, woodwork,
and furniture should be scrubbed at least
every three months. If a vaporizer is used,
it must be kept scrupulously clean. Some families
have found air cleaning machines worth the
investment.
Changing to unscented soaps and laundry powders
and avoiding other products with additives,
such as hair sprays, deodorants, disposable
diapers and wipes, and other personal hygiene
products has helped some families. Avoiding
fumes and odors where possible, such as those
from gas (both fuel for automobiles and cooking
and heating fuel), paint, pesticides, chemicals,
exhausts, insulation materials, new carpeting,
and hay and other dried harvest products may
also help.
Prevention
for Subsequent Children
Once a family has experienced an allergic
child, parents want to avoid allergy problems
for subsequent children. Studies have shown
that if a mother avoids all foods to which
any members of her family show sensitivity
during her entire pregnancy and period of
lactation, later children are far less likely
to have allergic symptoms (Chandra 1989).
Avoiding eating any food in large amounts
during pregnancy will lessen the likelihood
of infant allergies to that food.
A pregnant woman who avoids cow's milk products
must be sure to get adequate calcium from
other sources, either through her diet or
a calcium supplement. Ruth Lawrence recommends
reagent quality powdered calcium carbonate
(Lawrence 1994). Dietary sources of calcium
include calcium-enriched tofu, collards, spinach,
broccoli, turnip greens, kale, liver, almonds
and Brazil nuts, as well as canned sardines
and salmon.
Mothers who avoid potential allergens during
pregnancy seem to have a lower incidence of
pre-eclampsia, swelling, and yeast infections.
They also have less trouble with runny noses
during pregnancy (Stigler 1985). These benefits
to mothers may help compensate for giving
up foods they may enjoy.
Although taking steps
to reduce exposure to allergens may be tedious
and difficult, the results are rewarding.
It's extraordinary to see a child change from
a whiny, irritable, aggressive, rash-prone,
doesn't-know-what-he-wants, non-sleeper to
a pleasant, clear-skinned, easy-going child
who sleeps well. Once parents are 
confronted
with this dramatic change, they are willing
to do what it takes to help their child.
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