Is a Germ-Free Home Free From Allergy?

As a parent, one of your main concerns in raising your child is the germs around the house. No parent would want to see an allergic reaction, or allergy symptoms such as allergy rashes in their child. It is a popular belief that germs are the cause of all diseases, and that a child’s growing environment should be germ-free. It doesn’t help that every once in a while, there’s a flu that goes around the classroom or even the neighbourhood. However, while germs and hygiene are a cause for concern, there should be a balance when creating a healthy growing environment for your child. Here’s what you need to consider when you want your home to be free from allergy.

For starters, a 99.9% germ-free home doesn’t really mean the absence of allergens, or that it won’t trigger an allergy. The allergens, and your child’s reaction to it is what causes allergic symptoms. So, the complete removal of dirt doesn’t mean your child would have no risk of allergies occurring. In fact, your child’s allergies could come from the reaction to certain food types such as dairy. This is known as a food allergy.

Another thing to consider about germs is that when your child is exposed to germs naturally, it may offer a greater protection and a stronger immunity in later life. The idea behind it is that your child’s immune system needs training. Just like how vaccines work, the exposure to certain germs will train your child’s immune system to fight against it. Once your child’s immune system is used to the bacteria, it will learn to administer the appropriate reaction against the bacteria.

As part of maintaining a home free from allergy, it is important to maintain good hygiene levels around the house. Certain allergy symptoms are triggered by allergens around the house. For example, if your child is allergic to house dust mites (HDM), it would be advisable to wash the bedsheets at least once a week in warm water and to sun the pillows and mattresses to kill the HDM that can be hiding there.

Besides taking precautionary measures, it is equally important to know what the early signs of allergies are. These early signs are known as minor sensitivities and can take form as bodily discomforts ranging from itchiness, rashes, upset tummy and bloating. As your child grows, these minor sensitivities may progress into full-blown allergies. That is where NANKID OPTIPRO^® HA^® 3 comes in. Made with Gentle Protein* that is 10x smaller than regular cow’s milk protein, the proteins are easy to digest, less allergenic and therefore less likely to trigger allergic reactions or minor sensitivities in children.

Ultimately, the most important thing when keeping your child’s allergies in check is to try to identify the trigger for his allergies and his reaction towards those allergies. Or, have your healthcare professional perform an allergy test. This will help you to manage the symptoms better either by avoiding those triggers altogether or by minimising the exposure to them. Some symptoms of allergy include an itchy, runny or congested nose, sneezing, irritable airways, coughing, tight chest, wheezing, shortness of breath, as well as the itching, watering, inflammation of both eyes.

If your child is known to have allergies, remember to consult your health care professional on the appropriate treatment. Certain treatments which work for adults may not be appropriate for your child. Lastly, it is important that you don’t blame yourself when your child has an allergic reaction. Sometimes, all the cleaning in the world doesn’t mean your child won’t have allergies. What you can do is to be ready with your doctor’s advice when your child has allergies.

Did you know?

Minor sensitivities in children like itchiness, rashes, upset tummy and bloating are all early signs of allergies. The right proteins in your child’s diet can help minimise these bodily discomforts. NANKID OPTIPRO^® HA^® 3 uses Gentle Protein*, which are cow’s milk proteins broken through a unique NESTLÉ process so that they are 10X smaller. This makes the proteins easy to digest and less likely to trigger allergic reactions or minor sensitivities in children.

With NANKID OPTIPRO^® HA^® 3, you can let your child feel the world, free from discomfort.

NANKID OPTIPRO^® HA^® 3 contains Partially Hydrolysed Protein, 50mg of DHA & ARA** and 100 million BIFIDUS BL beneficial bacteria**

*Refers to Partially Hydrolysed Protein
**per 100g of milk powder