Children with allergies often get more colds, sinus infections, and ear infections than their counterparts, so it can be difficult to figure what is going on. The experience of other family members offers a big clue. Allergies often run in families. Eczema and asthma are also more common in allergic families.

Are your children's constantly runny noses the result of allergies?

Allergies

Clear nasal discharge with sneezing

Itchy, watery eyes
and/or dry cough

crinkling or rubbing the nose
to relieve itchiness inside

Possibly dark circles under the eyes

Drainage and sneezing last
3 days. Sneezes tend to be more productive, and coughs sound
wetter than with allergies.

Fever may be present

One or both eyes may turn pink, with discharge that matches that in the nose.

Like a cold, but lasts for greater
than 10 to 14 days with no
period of improvement

Sometimes begins with a high
fever (103 degrees and up)

Facial swelling or facial pain

Childhood Asthma: Infants and small children might not show the usual signs of adult asthma. Asthma in children may appear as a cough, rapid or noisy breathing, and chest congestion. Physicians who are not specialists may treat these symptoms as an infection, not realizing that the underlying cause is asthma. Correct diagnosis and management requires a physician who is capable of recognizing