The following are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

WHEN TO SUSPECT AN ALLERGY

Some allergies are easy to identify by the pattern of symptoms that invariably follows exposure to a particular substance. But others are more subtle, and may masquerade as other conditions. Here are seven common clues that could lead you to suspect your child may have an allergy.

1. Patches of bumps or itchy, red skin that "weeps" or oozes clear fluid, and forms a crust.

2. Development of hives, intensely itchy skin eruptions that usually last for a few hours and move from one part of the body to another.

3. Repeated or chronic coldlike symptoms -- that last more than a week or two, or develop at about the same time every year. These could include a runny nose, nasal stuffiness, sneezing and throat clearing.

4. Nose rubbing, sniffling, snorting, sneezing and itchy, runny eyes.