Grass is greening, flowers blooming, trees are leafing. Eyes are watering, noses running, lungs wheezing... it's Spring, and pollen counts are rising!
Did you know that up to 40 percent of children suffer from allergic rhinitis? Kids are more likely to develop allergies if one or both parents have allergies. An allergy is the body’s reaction to a specific substance, or allergen. Our immune system responds to the invading allergen by releasing histamine and other chemicals that typically trigger symptoms in the nose, lungs, throat, sinuses, ears, eyes, and skin.
If your child has seasonal allergies, follow the pollen counts and try to keep your child inside when the levels are high.
- In the late summer and early fall, during ragweed pollen season, pollen levels are highest in the morning.
- In the spring and summer, during the grass pollen season, pollen levels are highest in the evening.
- Some molds, another allergy trigger, may also be seasonal. For example, leaf mold is more common in the fall.
- Sunny, windy days can be especially troublesome for pollen allergy sufferers.
It may also help to keep windows closed in your house and car and run the air conditioner. Shower off your child before bed to remove pollen from hair and eyelashes. Cool compresses will help reduce eyelid swelling and soothe inflamed little faces.
Allergy Medicines for Children
For most children, symptoms may be controlled by avoiding the allergen, if known, and using OTC medicines. If your child is taking more than one medication, read the label to be sure that the active ingredients aren’t the same. Although the large print may say the product is intended to treat a certain symptom, different products may have the same medicine (active ingredient). It might seem that you are buying different products to treat different symptoms, but the same medicine could be in all the products, and you might accidently be giving too much of one type of medicine to your child.
If the above measures don't relieve the suffering come on in and we will discuss other options!
Here's to a safe and healthy Spring!
References: https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm273617.htm; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/allergies-asthma/Pages/Seasonal-Allergies-in-Children.aspx; https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Pages/7-Tips-for-Kids-Allergies.aspx