When allergens enter the body, they attach to the IgE antibody, which causes mast cells to release histamine to defend against the allergen invader. Histamine is what causes the sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes associated with most allergies. These are the ways the body attempts to rid itself of the invading allergen. In a child with asthma, histamine can also trigger asthma symptoms. An allergist can usually identify any allergies a person has.
Clearing allergens out of the home can help reduce asthma attacks.
When allergens can't be avoided, antihistamine medications help to block the release of histamine in the body. Nasal steroids may be prescribed to stop allergic inflammation in the nose. An allergist can also prescribe allergy shots that make the body unresponsive to some allergens. A child who has short spells of wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath happening twice a week or less has mild intermittent asthma. The child rarely has symptoms between these spells, with the exception of one or two times per month of mild symptoms at night.