Anyone have a little one with allergies?

I am pretty sure my DS has allergies. His nose has been running almost constantly since March with no other symptoms of a cold or anything else. Now he has started coughing and his eyes are running. He is pretty much mirroring my symptoms. I took him to the Dr. yesterday and she wasn't sure if it was allergies or a persistent cold. She gave me both samples of Claritin and a prescription for an antibiotic. I haven't had a chance to fill the prescription, but started him on the Claritin right away. His nose stopped running almost completely and he only coughed a few times until this evening (almost exactly 24 hrs).

So, I am pretty sure that he has allergies. (I knew at least one of them would since everyone in my family has really bad allergies.) Has anyone else gone through this with a baby under 2? My own allergies didn't start until I was about 12, so I don't have any experience with one this young. Do you just give them OTC medication or did you go to a specialist? I don't really want to put him through the testing if they do the same thing for babies as they do for older kids, but I'm not sure about staying with the Claritin. Even though he was better on it, it wasn't completely cleared up and the Claritin costs a fortune since insurance no longer covers it. If you did the testing, how bad was it?

By the way, I'm also not sure about giving him the antibiotics now that the allergy meds seem to be helping. I don't want to over-do the antibiotics and then have them immune to them when they really need them. Do you guys agree?

 

My Olivia has them. She was diagnosed when she was about 6 or 7 months old. We had to start giving her Zyrtec every day just a few weeks ago. She had an ear infection, was treated & then had water in her ear canal, blocked by swelling. Since then, I have been giving her the Zyrtec daiy along with nasal spray before bed. She seems great! Good luck with your little one.

 

Mine!!! We give them rx zyrtec at night and otc claritin in the morning. Their noses run like fountins this time of year! Our pedi prescribed the zyrtec.

 

We started singular at 12 months and singular at 15 months. We got a little better with zyrtec but alot better with singular. It also got rid of most of Jazzy's exzema

 

One of mine was diagnosed with allergies just before he turned two. Singulair did nothing for him. Zyrtec is working wonders and he's also on a nebulizer to get some inhaled corticosteroids for his asthma.

I suspect the other one has allergies too and just got a referral to see the same pediactric allergist. They do the skin prick test and it's interesting to see which ones welt up. Unfortunately, 2 of my 3 kids have a severe peanut allergy and one of them has a severe cat allergy. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop on the untested kid.

I'd consult your doctor before not giving the antibiotic. There may have been something else that he saw to warrant the med but even if there wasn't, he should be given the opportunity to update his records to show the med wasn't needed or given.

 

My oldest son was diagnosed with allergies at about 18 months. We've been through every medication in the book asthma/allergy related. Now he takes Claritin most days & when his symptoms are worse than normal we back it up with Singulair. He only occasionally needs his albuterol.

As for the antibiotics, I'd probably hold off. See how the Claritin does for a few days. If it keeps looking good stay the course. I'd only add the antibiotics if the symptoms worsen, or a fever develops.

 

Camden and Slaton both have allergies. Our pedi prescribed Tavist and it works great. Claritin didn't work for us.

 

Matthew's allergies have been horrible this season. This is the first year he's needed anything and right now he is on both Singular and Allegra.

 

im glad u made this post b/c my girls have allergies as well/!!! i just thought it was the crud staten island air we live in!! they are on allegra and neb txs at night..alexandraws nose is running like a faucet.. i do not think they allegra is working... good luck..b/c i know i nee dit!!!!!!!!!!1

 

We tried Clariten with Natalie but she spits it out.... literally, stores it in her cheek and spews it out at me. The doc prescribed Zyrtec, she takes it easily and it works. No more runny nose. I think Annika may be going down the same road as allergy season gets worse but I'm crossing my fingers that this will pass with her as just a "cold". Natalie is also on two inhalers for her asthma which has been worse with the change of seasons.