Can Allergies Cause Fever In Toddlers

What Are The Causes Of Fever In Children

Your childs body reacts with common to severe symptoms because running a high temperature makes it difficult for viral and bacterial infections to survive and thrive. There are many infections and conditions that may cause your childs temperature to rise. Many of these conditions are common childhood illnesses and may need treatment but are not cause for extreme concern.

What Are Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies in toddlers occur when your little ones body has an allergic response to something in the environment. Common allergy triggers in children include dust, mold, pet dander, and pollen. Your child may have seasonal allergies if you notice them suffering from a runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, and congestion around the same time every year.

What Causes Fever With No Other Symptoms In Child

When your child has a fever, its usually accompanied by a cough, a running nose, diarrhea or vomiting. It is obvious to feel even more concerned when you notice fever with no other symptoms in child. This may still happen due to infections, which are among the most common causes of FUOs in children.

A person can have a fever due to any type of infection, from HIV disease to a self-limiting common cold. Your child may harbor a fever-producing infection without any additional symptoms. Here are some of the causes why your child has a fever:

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Causes Of Fever In Children

One of the most worrying moments of parenting is when your child wakes you in the middle of the night and feels very warm to the touch. It is especially alarming when it happens for the first time as a new parent.

Suddenly a million questions flood your brain. Is this a fever? How high is too high? What caused this? Should I rush him to the emergency room? What kind of medicine should I give her?

The sudden panic is genuine, and you are not alone: every parent has been there. Your concern is a sign that you deeply love your baby and want to keep them safe and healthy.

When these scary moments arise, you can have peace of mind if you already know fever symptoms, causes, and treatments. You will be ready as a parent to respond correctly when your child is ill and help them if sick.

Keep reading to learn more about fevers and how you as a parent can best care for your child when they experience one.

Fever With No Other Symptoms In Child

A fever itself is not an illness, but it indicates an underlying viral or bacterial infection. Your child may have fever due to certain bugs such as the flu, a cold, or a stomach virus. These conditions are not very serious and are treatable at home. You may want to consult your doctor though if you notice fever without other symptoms in child.

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How Can Allergy Symptoms Be Treated By A Doctor

Allergists, like Dr. Kevin Farnam, MD, are medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of allergies and asthma. These specially trained clinicians can treat your stubborn allergy symptoms by first, diagnosing, and then prescribing medications that can help.

Many mild allergy cases can be treated without seeing a doctor. When allergies interfere with your day-to-day activities, you can take back control of your life by seeing an allergist.

An allergist can treat all kinds of allergy problems including:

• Allergic rhinitis or hay fever is a reaction that occurs primarily from environmental allergens
• Anaphylaxis is rare and a potentially fatal allergic reaction caused by triggers such as food, a medication, or an insect sting
• Asthma is an allergy symptom that causes muscle spasms in a persons breathing airway that blocks air to the lungs
• Atopic or contact dermatitis are allergies that cause hives or dermatitis on the skin

Visiting an allergist could include:

• A complete history and physical exam
• Allergy testing to see what is causing your symptoms
• Education to help prevent allergies by avoiding them
• Medication to treat symptoms
• Allergy shots to alleviate symptoms

You should see an allergist if your allergies are causing chronic sinus infections, difficulty breathing, or the discomfort of sneezing, wheezing, or other symptoms that disrupt your life.

Symptoms Of Hay Fever In Babies And Toddlers

Hay fever is seasonal. Symptoms develop when the body reacts to allergens and releases the compound called histamine. A baby with hay fever will display the following signs and symptoms compound called histamine. A baby with hay fever will display the following signs and symptoms .

• Red and watery eyes
• Wheezing
• Irritability

Hay fever symptoms may sometimes overlap with that of a virus, making it difficult to figure out the condition. Your baby is likely to have hay fever and not something else if symptoms:

• Do not clear up after a few days

• Do not develop a fever

• Only occur in the summer or spring months

• Get better when the baby is away from potential allergens, such as grass, weeds, or trees

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Triggers Of Nasal Allergies

• Cause. An allergic reaction of the nose and sinuses to an inhaled substance. The medical name for this is allergic rhinitis. The allergic substance is called an allergen.
• Most allergens float in the air. That’s how they get in the nose. Here are the common ones:
• Pollens. Trees, grass, weeds and molds are the most common pollens. Tree pollens come in the spring. Grass pollens come in the summer. Weed pollens come in the fall. Pollens cause seasonal allergies. You can’t avoid pollens because they are in the air. Most nasal allergies continue through the pollen season. They can last 4 to 8 weeks. Pollens cause seasonal allergic rhinitis. This is also called hay fever.
• Pets. Allergens can also be from cats, dogs, horses, rabbits and other animals. Most people don’t keep a pet that they are allergic to. They only have sporadic allergy symptoms when they are exposed to that specific animal. These symptoms will usually last a few hours. If someone with a cat visits you, they will bring cat dander with them. This will cause brief symptoms. If you own the pet, though, your child will have symptoms all the time.
• House Dust. House dust contains many allergens. It always contains dust mites. If your humidity is high, it will contain mold. House dust causes year round, daily symptoms. The medical name for this is perennial allergic rhinitis.

How Do I Know If My Baby Has Hayfever

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Horizontal Nasal Line Indicates Possible Allergy

When children rub their nostrils up and down and wiggle their nose side to side, the movement creates a wrinkle or crease on top of their nose. Often, the line or crease is white or reddish in color. “If a child has been dealing with an itchy, sneezy, runny nose for weeks, and we see a horizontal line on the nose, we suspect allergies,” explains Dr. Lee. “That crease is pretty much exclusive to allergy sufferers who rub their nose.”

If Antihistamines Work It’s Probably An Allergy

For children over age 1 year, you can use an antihistamine to help determine whether they have colds or allergies. “Try a non-sedating antihistamine. If your child gets no relief within the next day or two, it’s probably a cold virus,” explains Dr. Lee. “However, if symptoms clear up quickly with the antihistamine, your child probably suffers from seasonal allergy symptoms.”

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When Should I Call My Child’s Healthcare Provider

Unless advised otherwise by your childs healthcare provider, call the provider right away if:

• Your child is 3 months old or younger and has a fever of 100.4°F or higher. Get medical care right away. Fever in a young baby can be a sign of a dangerous infection.

• Your child is of any age and has repeated fevers above 104°F .

• Your child is younger than 2 years of age and a fever of 100.4°F continues for more than 1 day.

• Your child is 2 years old or older and a fever of 100.4°F continues for more than 3 days.

• Your baby is fussy or cries and cannot be soothed.

Can Allergies Cause Fever In Kids

While some symptoms of seasonal allergies, such as a runny nose and coughing, mimic those of a cold, fever doesnt occur in allergies. Allergies should never cause a fever in a patient, says Dr. Nick DeBlasio, a pediatrician and medical director of the Pediatric Primary Care Center at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati. If a child has a fever, they likely have either a viral or bacterial infection. I often use the presence of a fever as one way to distinguish between allergies and infection.

Its also important to keep in mind that babies dont typically suffer from hay fever so if theyre congested or generally feel unwell, its doubtful its related to allergies. Its rare for a child to suffer from seasonal allergies under age 2, notes DeBlasio. Unlike food allergies, which can develop any time during a childs first year, children need at least two seasons of exposure to the main culprit behind seasonal allergies pollen in order to have a negative reaction, according to Seattle Childrens Hospital.

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Fever With Allergy Symptoms

When you develop congestion, regardless of the cause, the buildup of mucus in your sinuses can be a breeding ground for bacteria. When an infection takes hold, you can be hit with a fever that can last for several days.

Congestion can be the result of sinusitis, allergies, or something more serious, such as the flu virus. Its sometimes hard to know whats causing your symptoms, because a cold or flu can mimic many of the signs of an allergy.

Discovering exactly whats causing your symptoms, even if theyre mild, is important. Once you know the cause of your symptoms, you can start an effective treatment plan. And, in the case of an allergy, you can take steps to prevent symptoms or flare-ups in the future.

The key, however, is a proper diagnosis.

What Causes Allergies

Allergies occur when the body’s immune system reacts to a particular substance as though it’s harmful.

It’s not clear why this happens, but most people affected have a family history of allergies or have closely related conditions, such as asthma or eczema.

The number of people with allergies is increasing every year.

The reasons for this are not understood, but 1 of the main theories is it’s the result of living in a cleaner, germ-free environment, which reduces the number of germs our immune system has to deal with.

It’s thought this may cause it to overreact when it comes into contact with harmless substances.

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How To Treat A Fever

There are several actions you can take as a parent to help your childs body fight any illness or condition that is causing a fever.

First, your child must stay hydrated by encouraging them to regularly drink cool water and other non-sugary drinks. A doctor or Pediatric Telemedicine professional may often recommend an electrolyte drink to help them get well.

Babies should keep fluids up with breastmilk or formula. Allow your child to eat as their appetite allows. It is usual for children who dont feel well to refuse to eat for a time, and that is okay as long as they are drinking fluids.

You should keep their environmental temperature at a comfortable level, including adjusting their thermostat, opening their windows, dressing them in cool clothing, and providing them with a blanket. We do not recommend you use a sponge bath to regulate your childs temperature.

Childrens fever-reducing medications may be used for children over 6 months if the child is uncomfortable. If the fever does not highly affect them, medication will not be necessary .

Remember: running a low fever itself is not a condition that you need to treat necessarily. Treating the underlying cause will, in most cases, resolve a high temperature.

How To Tell Seasonal Nasal Allergies From The Common Cold

• Symptoms happen during pollen season
• Had the same symptoms during the same month last year
• Hay fever symptoms last 6-8 weeks for each pollen. .
• Allergies: itchy eyes and nose. Not seen with colds.
• Colds: fever and/or sore throat. Not seen with allergies
• Both: runny nose and watery eyes. Can also have a cough with both, but less common with allergies.

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Babies Under 6 Months

For a baby under 3 months of age, a rectal temperature of 100.4° or higher warrants a call to a doctor or visit to an emergency room.

For a baby 3-6 months, an oral temperature of 101° or higher should receive a medical assessment.

It should be noted that an ear temperature is not an accurate reading if the child is under 6 months.

My Child Has Allergy Symptoms With A Fevernow What

Fevers aren’t caused by allergies, so if your child experiences a rise in temperature, something else is likely to blame. For example, viruses like the common cold or influenza cause fever as the immune system struggles to fight them off. Bacterial infections like strep throat might also lead to feverand so can ear infections, heat exhaustion, urinary tract infections, and more. Also, COVID-19 can present with fever and allergy-like symptomsmainly runny nose, sore throat, and coughing.

Always let your pediatrician know about any worrisome symptoms in your kid. They might need to treat the underlying cause of their fever with antibiotics. If applicable, they might also recommend a coronavirus test.

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Allergy Medicine Wont Help With Symptoms Of Rsv Or Other Viral Infections

If you think your child has allergies and give him or her allergy medicine and it has little effect on his or her symptoms within 12 to 24 hours, your child might have a viral infection.

An antihistamine that you can get over the counter should do really well for allergies but likely would have very little effect on infection, Dr. Kim says. So if you have a kid whos got a lot of those symptoms like a really bad runny nose and cough, and Zyrtec and Benadryl arent touching it, it may be because its not allergiesits an infection.

If your child has cold-like symptoms and youre not sure what it is, your childs doctor can help you figure it out. Dont send your child to school or other social settings until youre sure its just allergies.

If your child isnt feeling well, talk to your pediatrician or find one near you.

When Do Seasonal Allergies Develop In Babies

Its uncommon for babies to have seasonal allergies in the first year. That said, its possible for allergy symptoms to begin at any age.

Kids tend to develop seasonal allergies between the ages of 3 and 5, with most young allergy sufferers noticing symptoms by the time theyre 10. Some kids develop allergies as young as 1 or 2 years old, although usually theyre reacting to indoor allergens like dust, mold or pet dander.

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Is It Normal To Have A Fever With An Allergic Reaction

How can allergies be allergens cause fever? Unlike other conditions, allergies are not thought of as a cause of fevers, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. In combination with allergy symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose, a person is likely to suffer from a sinus infection, an allergic reaction with a fever.

What’s The Difference Between A Cold And Allergies

When exposed to certain particles such as animal dander, pollen, trees and grasses children may have an allergic response. This occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens, triggering the release of histamine and other chemicals into the bloodstream.

This response causes common allergy symptoms, including:

• Itchy, watery eyes

• Fever, in some cases

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What Causes Food Allergy

Before having a food allergy reaction, a sensitive child must have beenexposed to the food at least once before, or could also be sensitizedthrough breast milk. It is the second time your child eats the food thatthe allergic symptoms happen. At that time, when IgE antibodies react withthe food, histamines are released, which can cause your child to experiencehives, asthma, itching in the mouth, trouble breathing, stomach pains,vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

Treating Common Colds In Children

• Use saline solution in the nose to loosen congestion and help children blow their noses. Or, suck out the congestion with a bulb syringe.
• Try certain home remedies to help relieve your child’s symptoms. For children over age 1 year, a spoonful of honey by mouth may help soothe a sore throat.
• Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as prescribed by your doctor, to treat aches, pain and fever.
• For children over age 2 years, you can use mentholated ointments on top of the chest to soothe and calm coughs, especially nighttime coughs.
• For children over age 6 years, you can use a topical decongestant such as nasal spray to help relieve nasal congestion. If used, use at night for no more than 3 days in a row.
• Learn when to consult your physician if your young baby has common cold symptoms.

Keep in mind that oral cough and cold medications are not recommended for children under the age of 6 years. “Typically, I try to avoid oral cough and cold medications for children of any age,” says Dr. Lee. “They are not effective and can have potential side effects, such as elevated blood pressure.”

If your child’s cold and allergy symptoms last more than two weeks, consult your doctor. If you are concerned your childs symptoms are COVID-19, you should also contact your childs pediatrician. Learn more about allergies vs. COVID-19.

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