Dear Dr. Mama,

We welcomed an adorable three-year-old Angel into our home about 6 months ago. She’s happy, growing beautifully, and seems to have adjusted smoothly to her new environment.

Since she arrived she’s had an on-and-off problem with runny nose and watery eyes. At first we thought she was catching one cold after the other, but the pediatrician says she may have allergies. She also has a rash that comes and goes on her face, legs, and arms that’s been diagnosed as eczema.

Last week we met with her bio mom for a scheduled visit. I noticed that Mom seemed to be sneezing and blowing her nose, so I asked her if she had a cold (worrying that it would spread to our household). She told us that it wasn’t a cold, but allergies, and I started to put 2 and 2 together.

Do allergy problems run in families? Isn’t a three-year-old too young for allergies?

Looking for the Inside Scoop

Dear Scoop,

Allergies occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to a foreign substance that it mistakes as a threat to our health. It’s common to blame allergies on triggers in the environment, like pollen or pets, but experts have found that they have a powerful genetic component.

In fact, there’s no single ‘allergy gene’, but many genes that contribute to the problem, some causing allergies, others protecting us from the annoying symptoms. Because of this, children may not inherit their parent’s specific allergies, like to dogs or ragweed, but will be at greater risk of developing allergies in general, especially if both parents have them.

In your case it seems likely that your little one has inherited her mom’s tendency, but she may be sensitive to different allergens. It’s interesting that you mention her eczema, as it is often seen as a skin manifestation of allergies. It may be helpful to talk to Mom about her history with allergies and find out the details. It will at least give you a starting place for investigation.

As for her age, 3 is about typical for the emergence of allergies. This is thought to be because it takes a bit of time for a baby’s immune system to develop fully, and then a bit more time for exposure to lead to sensitivity to specific allergens.

Ask your pediatrician about medications your little one can take when her allergies are at their worst, but be careful about overmedicating at such a young age. She may have many years of managing her allergies ahead of her, and the more you can hold off on treating with medicines the better.

Finally, if her symptoms continue to get worse, you may want to ask for a referral to an allergist who specializes in treating children. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for allergies, but many children tend to outgrow them as they get older.

Hope this helps!

~ Dr. Mama