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What Causes Frequent Cold And Cough In A Child?
Question: My 4 years old son used to get cold(rhinitis) for past 2.5 years for 10 times an year for 7-8 days. For past 1 year he is also getting cough followed by cold. He would get 20-25 days of cough and cold every 3 months.
His pediatrician suggested comprehensive allergy test. Allergen - Phadiatop Infant Serum test. This test says that any value above 0.1 kUA/L for a material means there is some amount of allergy.
My son has tested positive for wheat with 0.88 kUA/L and milk with 0.46 kUA/L.
I have following questions:
1. My son has been eating wheat and milk since past 3 years which is 70% of his daily diet. 100 days a year he will get cough and cold. Remaining 265 days he is fine mashallah despite eating wheat and milk everyday. So, what is the accuracy and reliability of this test? My son also won't get other symptoms associated with food allergy such as swollen lips or vomiting. I have learnt from another doctor that this test has very low probability (30%) to be accurate. So, is this reported allergy false, or does he have very minor allergy, hence other symptoms like diarrhea, swollen lips are absent despite daily consumption of wheat and milk?
2. Is 0.88 kUA/L and 0.46 kUA/L value large enough to stop wheat and milk completely? I think it is is a low value, but not sure. Or should we reduce it by 30% or so? I am assuming maybe till his cough gets fine, we can reduce wheat and milk from main diet and that should be fine. We can start these again once he is alright Inshallah. Am I correct?
3. How this allergy will go away in future? Will this reduce with age or something else needs to be done? I have learnt from another doctor that in 50% cases allergy goes away by age 15? How should we improve immunity? Are there ways though which we can get him used to these allergens and his body accepts them? Is homeopathy, naturopathy or Ayurveda has any solution for this? I know these alternative treatments do not have proven or tested principles, but is there any % success rate observed by these treatments?
Thanks for your advice in advance.
His pediatrician suggested comprehensive allergy test. Allergen - Phadiatop Infant Serum test. This test says that any value above 0.1 kUA/L for a material means there is some amount of allergy.
My son has tested positive for wheat with 0.88 kUA/L and milk with 0.46 kUA/L.
I have following questions:
1. My son has been eating wheat and milk since past 3 years which is 70% of his daily diet. 100 days a year he will get cough and cold. Remaining 265 days he is fine mashallah despite eating wheat and milk everyday. So, what is the accuracy and reliability of this test? My son also won't get other symptoms associated with food allergy such as swollen lips or vomiting. I have learnt from another doctor that this test has very low probability (30%) to be accurate. So, is this reported allergy false, or does he have very minor allergy, hence other symptoms like diarrhea, swollen lips are absent despite daily consumption of wheat and milk?
2. Is 0.88 kUA/L and 0.46 kUA/L value large enough to stop wheat and milk completely? I think it is is a low value, but not sure. Or should we reduce it by 30% or so? I am assuming maybe till his cough gets fine, we can reduce wheat and milk from main diet and that should be fine. We can start these again once he is alright Inshallah. Am I correct?
3. How this allergy will go away in future? Will this reduce with age or something else needs to be done? I have learnt from another doctor that in 50% cases allergy goes away by age 15? How should we improve immunity? Are there ways though which we can get him used to these allergens and his body accepts them? Is homeopathy, naturopathy or Ayurveda has any solution for this? I know these alternative treatments do not have proven or tested principles, but is there any % success rate observed by these treatments?
Thanks for your advice in advance.
Brief Answer:
Adenoid hypertrophy. Food intolerance.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. At his age, rule out adenoid hypertrophy. This will cause frequent cold and cough.
2. Food intolerance is a low grade allergy to foodstuff. Get a Food Print test done.
3. Desensitisation to food allergens does not help. Only excluding the allergens in his diet will help. Any value above normal should be given a trial by exclusion . This is better than any type of medication.
4. There is no sure decrease in all allergy with age, however, many children may outgrow milk allergy with age.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Adenoid hypertrophy. Food intolerance.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. At his age, rule out adenoid hypertrophy. This will cause frequent cold and cough.
2. Food intolerance is a low grade allergy to foodstuff. Get a Food Print test done.
3. Desensitisation to food allergens does not help. Only excluding the allergens in his diet will help. Any value above normal should be given a trial by exclusion . This is better than any type of medication.
4. There is no sure decrease in all allergy with age, however, many children may outgrow milk allergy with age.
I hope that I have answered your query. If you have any more questions I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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