Some children who suffer from asthma may be battling dairy or gluten allergies. In these cases, a dairy-free or gluten-free diet can help, says Christine Spiroch, PhD, PA-C, of the Center for Integrative Medicine.
In asthma, inflammation and mucus build up in airways that lead to the lungs. The result: wheezing, coughing and breathing difficulties.
Sometimes airborne allergies — to trees, grass, flowers, dust, cat hair, horse hair or mold — cause asthma.
What doctors usually do
The first step is allergy testing to identify the triggers. The next step is avoidance. If that isn’t possible, doctors usually prescribe inhalers to open the child’s airways and ease inflammation.
“Sometimes the pediatrician, allergist or pulmonary doctor doesn’t find a problem — the child’s lungs are clear. When parents tell me that, then food allergy comes to mind,” she says.
Delayed sensitivity to foods is often poorly understood. However, she says that dairy products can cause skin and respiratory problems, and children with allergies often have problems in the gut.
A thorough history
Dr. Spiroch takes a thorough history to understand all the factors at play:
- Was the child colicky as an infant?
- Did he or she require an alternate (soy or rice) formula instead of cow’s milk?
- Was projectile vomiting a concern?
She asks about the mom’s health during pregnancy as well because allergies run in families. “Sometimes the mother will say, ‘Oh yeah, I have food allergies,’ or ‘I get bloated when I drink milk,” she notes. Allergies run in families.
Then she might order a blood test to see if the child shows a reaction to gluten or dairy.
Diet is important too
Kids’ eating habits can provide clues as well. Parents may think that picky eaters are just being stubborn. But eating the food may have caused a stomach ache or breathing issues in the past. “It may be their body’s way of saying, ‘No, you don’t want to eat this. Be picky about it,’” says Dr. Spiroch.
Some parents bring children who are known to have asthma, but their hope is to wean them off inhalers and antihistamines.
“Then we look at environmental issues. Sometimes problems develop after a move to a new house. Does the carpeting have allergens? Is the basement playroom damp?” she says. Then the culprits may be pet dander or mold.
If carpeting and mold can be removed, that eliminates the child’s exposure to allergens. But if the child is allergic to a family pet, she tells parents, “You can’t have the dog or cat sleep in the child’s bed.” For effective solutions, consider professionals who offer affordable mold removal and air duct cleaning in Cleveland.
Sometimes asthma lies dormant, then reappears. “A switch can flip after a virus or because of stress. Maybe the child is having a hard time at school,” says Dr. Spiroch.
The timing must be right
When Dr. Spiroch suspects food or dairy allergy, she recommends a gluten-free (no wheat, barley, rye and spelt) or dairy-free (no milk products) diet. Parents are usually willing to try this with preschoolers. But the older children get, the more peer pressure can interfere.
“Ideally, we like to educate and engage the whole family in converting their eating habits,” says Dr. Spiroch. “But doing it when the time is right is very important. Sometimes children are not ready to embrace dietary changes because of sports or a trip coming up. But kids have to buy into it.”
Finding gluten-free and dairy-free foods was challenging 10 years ago, but no more. In fact, some of the parents she sees have already gone gluten-free or dairy-free themselves.
For those families who don’t believe dietary changes are possible, she may:
- Prescribe a good multivitamin to support the child’s immune system
- Test vitamin D levels if the child is older
- Test the child’s stool for bacterial or yeast overgrowth
“To a lot of families, changing their diets seems overwhelming. They say, ‘Oh, no, what am I going to eat? I love bread’ or ‘I love dairy,’” says Dr. Spiroch. “But most who try to eat differently are very surprised and thankful for the results.”