ALLERGY AND YOUR CHILD

Allergies are idiosyncratic indeed and the same may be said of most allergists -- Dr. Somekh for instance will disagree with Dr. Rapp -- Allergies and Your Child (1972) -- that smallpox vaccination is dangerous for the allergic or atopic child -- but for the most part he has written a more exhaustive book with substantially more information in a year-by-year-development chronology. The infants (70% of these have inherited the tendency) who cannot tolerate milk should be given soy and minced lamb and there is a closing chapter on just what they should be permitted to eat; what the model home-bedroom-bedding should consist of, and preferably it should be pet-less (although a child may be allergic to one breed of dog and not another). Equally extensive are the sections on the varieties of reactions -- asthma, eczema, emphysema, etc. and the emergency measures to be taken, often necessarily by the parent. There are also state by state lists of special camps, hospitals, and safe areas. Most of the management seems sound though at times Dr. Somekh is somewhat didactic in tone. When he does make token acknowledgements of the emotional factors in atopic children -- the depth of psychological counseling goes no further than be sure there's a good household substratum of religious faith, or, avoid all thrillers on television and only permit your youngster to watch Sesame Street. Mostly, however, this is purely medical in its regimens and rehabilitation through drugs, desensitization, breathing exercises, etc.