The prevalence of allergies in young children has been steadily increasing, but nearly 65 percent of parents take their children to a doctor only when their allergic reactions become too severe to ignore, according to a poll published yesterday by the Taiwan Medical Association for Children Allergy, Asthma, Immunology and Rheumatology.
It is estimated that two out of every three children in the nation have an allergy and could suffer sneezing, a running nose, nose stuffiness, dry skin and eye irritation if exposed to certain stimulants and allergens, the association said.
The survey, conducted among 548 parents with allergy-afflicted children, found that nearly 50 percent of children with allergies exhibit symptoms at least once a week, with some even experiencing allergic reactions on a daily basis.
However, about 50 percent of respondents were unaware that allergies usually involve the whole body and 65 percent only take their children to a doctor when the allergic reactions appear serious, the poll showed.
“Allergies affect the entire body and there can be more than one reason behind the condition. I have seen many parents oblivious of their kids’ allergic symptoms when they were still mild, or resorting to unorthodox treatments,” association secretary-general Yang Yao-hsu (楊曜旭) said.
Yang said those who did seek medical care for their children’s allergic condition often stopped treatment after the symptoms subsided, making the children more prone to further allergic reactions.
Nevertheless, 90 percent of respondents have purchased products claiming to alleviate allergies for their children, most of which — 51.8 percent — are anti-mite bedding products, followed by air purifier machines at 46.2 percent and nutritional supplements at 42.3 percent, the survey said.
Of those buying products, 95 percent spend up to NT$5,000 on the products each month, but 60 percent acknowledge they are unsure if the items really do relieve the symptoms.
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