Baby's allergic cough was misdiagnosed for a year

Baby's Allergic Cough Was Misdiagnosed for a Year

A mother's plea for better allergy testing in infants

By [Your Name]

Published: [Date]

For a year, my baby girl, Lily, suffered from a persistent cough. We saw doctor after doctor, but no one could figure out what was wrong. Finally, we were referred to an allergist who diagnosed Lily with an allergy to dairy. Once we eliminated dairy from her diet, her cough went away almost immediately.

I was shocked and relieved that we finally had an answer, but I was also angry. Why had it taken so long to diagnose Lily's allergy? Why had we been through months of unnecessary worry and sleepless nights?

The Problem with Allergy Testing in Infants

The problem is that allergy testing in infants is not as accurate as it is in older children and ***s. This is because infants' immune systems are still developing, and they may not produce enough antibodies to certain allergens to show up on a test.

As a result, many infants with allergies are misdiagnosed or undiagnosed altogether. This can lead to unnecessary suffering and even serious health problems.

A Mother's Plea for Better Allergy Testing

I am pleading with doctors and parents to be aware of the problem of misdiagnosed allergies in infants. If your baby has a persistent cough, rash, or other symptoms that don't seem to be getting better, ask your doctor about allergy testing. Even if the test results are negative, don't give up. Keep pushing for answers until you find out what's wrong with your baby.

Here are some tips for getting an accurate allergy diagnosis for your infant:

Ask your doctor about allergy testing, even if your baby is under 1 year old.

Be prepared to keep a food diary for several weeks to track your baby's symptoms.

If your doctor does not order allergy testing, ask for a referral to an allergist.

Be persistent. It may take several tests and appointments to get a definitive diagnosis.

Don't give up until you find out what's wrong with your baby. Your child's health depends on it.

Lily's Story

Lily was born with atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema that is common in babies with allergies. She also had a persistent cough that started when she was about 3 months old. We took her to the doctor several times, but they always said that she just had a cold.

When Lily was 6 months old, we finally saw an allergist. The allergist ordered a skin prick test, which is a type of allergy test that involves pricking the skin with a small amount of an allergen. Lily's skin test was negative for all of the common allergens, including dairy, eggs, peanuts, and wheat.

The allergist told us that Lily's cough was probably caused by a virus or bacteria. He prescribed her an antibiotic, but it didn't help.

We continued to take Lily to the doctor for her cough, but no one could figure out what was wrong. Finally, when Lily was 1 year old, we saw a different allergist. This allergist ordered a blood test for allergies. The blood test showed that Lily was allergic to dairy.

We eliminated dairy from Lily's diet, and her cough went away almost immediately. Lily is now a healthy and happy 2-year-old. She loves to play with her friends and go for walks in the park. I am so grateful that we finally found out what was wrong with her.

I am sharing Lily's story to raise awareness of the problem of misdiagnosed allergies in infants. If you think your baby may have an allergy, don't give up until you find out what's wrong. Your child's health depends on it.

Additional Resources

[The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology](https://www.aaaai.org/)

[The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases](https://www.niaid.nih.gov/)

[The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network](https://www.foodallergy.org/)

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