Esting are an inevitable part of growth. But if your child has a persistent nasal secretion and cough – or both appear around the same time each year – it could have seasonal allergy. Seasonal allergies occur typically in spring, summer and early fall.
The symptoms of seasonal allergies usually begin to demonstrate in children after 3 years and, above all, around 5 or 6 years. If your child has diagnosed eccema or asthma, it is also more likely to develop allergies.
If you suspect that your child could be among the approximately 20% of children who experience seasonal allergies every year, know that there are options to help you. There are many steps that you can take to make your child deal with seasonal allergies more easily.
What are the common signals of allergies in children?
Seasonal allergies, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, cause the same symptoms in children as in adults, these include:
– Itching, congestion or nasal secretion
– Red eyes, itching or crying
– Chop in the mouth or skin
– Sneezing
– Cough
– Fatigue
Sometimes it can be difficult for children to communicate how they feel, so parents can also be attentive to specific behaviors such as breathing through their mouth while sleeping.
Why do we have allergic reactions?
Allergic reactions are like an exaggerated response from your body to something that has been exposed. And different people can have different allergy triggers. People with seasonal allergies react to pollen or mold in the air – and their bodies produce antibodies following this. As a result, they have congestion and inflammatory symptoms.
These inflammatory symptoms are caused when the body produces different chemicals such as histamines. Histamines cause itching, redness, swelling and secretions in the nose, eyes, skin, throat and ears.
What are the common seasonal triggers of the allergies?
According to the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), almost 1 in 5 children reports having a seasonal allergy.
There is a possibility that your child can overcome your allergies when growing. Overcoming allergies can occur over time as the body develops a specific allergen tolerance after long periods of natural exposure. However, if your child has serious allergies, the possibilities of overcoming them decrease.
The season of its allergies depends on the place where it lives and what plants and polenes affect it. Some general guidelines:
– Tree allergies usually occur in spring.
– Allergies to pastures occur in the late spring and early summer.
– The allergies to weeds, including the common trigger of allergy, ambrosia, occur at the end of summer until the beginning of autumn.
The weather can also affect your child’s allergies. For example, the amount of pollen can increase after the rain and when there is more wind. It also tends to be higher in the morning and during periods of fresh and warm days.
What is the best way to treat allergies in children?
– Prevent exposure:
When it comes to seasonal allergies, one of the best treatments is prevention. That means minimizing his son’s exposure to known allergens. Some ways to help your child avoid the triggers of seasonal allergies include:
– Stay indoors with closed windows (without window fans) when the amount of pollen is high
– Shower, change clothes and wash the child’s hair after leaving
– Dry clothes inside the house (instead of outside in a clothing line) to avoid contact with pollen
– Use a 95% mask classified by NIOSH if the amount of pollen is especially high
– Use a portable air particle filter of high efficiency (HEPA) in the bedroom
– Clean with a certified vacuum as “suitable for asthma and allergies”
While it is important to take into account the triggers, children will be children. Do not feel that you need to lock your child inside throughout the season when they should be playing.
– Consider allergy tests:
Allergy tests can also help identify specific triggers so that you can be more defined in your approach. For example, if your child is tested and you have the tree that causes you allergy in your backyard, you can then remove it.
To do the test, make an appointment with an allergist who will take an exam and ask about the symptoms and history of seasonal allergies in the family. Clinical allergy tests can be performed using scratch tests on the skin, blood analysis or elimination tests.
What medications can children take?
There are several medications for allergies without recipe in the market that are safe for children. In general, they are the same treatments used for adults, although it is important to read the instructions because the dose can vary according to age. Talk to your doctor to find the best medication for your child.
Free sales medications for children include:
– Topical nasal corticosteroid aerosols
– Antihistamines, such as cetirizin (Zyrtec) or Loratadine (claritin)
– decongestants are usually approved only for short -term use
– Nasal aerosols and sterile saline rinses, although they are not medications, can help relieve symptoms
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The content is only for general informative purposes and does not intend to be a medical advice or a substitute for professional medical care.
Consult your doctor to obtain personalized medical advice to your situation.
See your doctor before starting an exercise program or making changes in your lifestyle or medical care routine.
