Getting Your Child Ready for Allergy Season

Allergies Can Ruin A Child’s Day

As we are officially in spring, the days are longer, and the weather is getting much warmer. However, that also means that the allergy season is upon us. Allergies are a common occurrence, appearing every year. These allergies, while they seem tame, can wreak havoc on a child’s life. Instead of having fun and enjoying the warm weather, some children are stuck with sneezing and congestion. These allergies even get in the way of regular everyday activities. Many children suffer from allergies, which have symptoms that range from mild to severe. 5.2 million children suffer from seasonal allergies, so your child is not alone.

Many parents are unaware of the effect allergies can have on their children, and some parents don’t know that their child may have seasonal allergies. You must bring them in for a child exam to properly diagnose their allergies. However, if you do know, you must be prepared for allergy season, or else your child will suffer.

With allergy season upon us, Tots N Teens Pediatrics is here to help parents keep their children safe and healthy. That is why we have provided some useful tips that will help you get your child ready for allergy season. It is our top priority to keep young children healthy so that they can enjoy life.

What are Allergies?

Allergies are simply what happens when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance that comes in contact with your body, such as pollen, bee venom, pet dander, and some foods. When this substance enters your body, histamines or antibodies are released, which identify this allergen as something dangerous to your body, even though it isn’t. These reactions can cause inflammation on your skin, sinuses, airways, and digestive system. A person’s allergies can vary. Some people only experience minor symptoms, while others can go into anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening.

Because allergies can be potentially life-threatening, you must get your child ready for allergy season. Some symptoms to be on the lookout for include:

• Sneezing
• Itchy nose, throat, or eyes
• Runny, stuffy nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Swollen eyes
• Fatigue

The pollen count is particularly high during the spring, so children with allergies often experience a host of symptoms during allergy season. Knowing that your child has allergies allows you to properly prepare them for the start of allergy season.

Getting Them Ready

During the spring, pollen, grass, mold spores, and dust are the most common causes of seasonal allergies. After all, plants are pollinating during the spring. The weather is nice enough for people to start cutting their grass. Both of these cause an abnormal amount of pollen to end up in the air, causing immune systems to attack these harmless substances. You can get your child ready by:

Identifying Their Allergies

The first step in getting your child ready for allergy season is to identify their allergies. Once you have discovered what your child is allergic to and what their body reacts the strongest to, you can better develop a strategy to keep them healthy and safe. Certain plants release certain pollens, so you need to know what affects your child the most so you can manage and minimize their symptoms.

Having an Antihistamine on Hand

Antihistamines are the most common way of treating seasonal allergies. This medication targets the histamines that your immune system releases that cause your allergic reactions. Whenever antihistamines are in your body, they help protect you from your body’s immune responses to harmless allergens by blocking the effect of histamines. While you should always have antihistamines on standby for whenever your child experiences an allergic reaction, they should also be taking regular prescription medication. These medications can prevent the release of histamines in the first place. You can purchase these antihistamines as an over-the-counter medication.

Keep an Eye on Pollen Count

As we have already mentioned, pollen is one of the most common causes of seasonal allergies. Plants are pollinating, releasing their pollen into the air. Also, people are doing much more yardwork than before, which also kicks up pollen. The weather during the spring often brings cool breezes that carry pollen throughout the air. If your child suffers from seasonal allergies, they don’t have to be forced to spend their spring indoors. Check the pollen count in your area and plan outdoor activities when the pollen count will be low. Most plants release most of their pollen in the morning. Also, rain tends to clear the air of pollen, so the best time to go outside is after a rainstorm.

Keep Your House Clean

Most allergens are found outside, which is where they will affect your children the most. However, your home can fill up with allergens just as easily. Dust and pet dander are common inside of homes, and pollen can easily find its way indoors if you leave a window or door open. You should be cleaning your home regularly to ensure that your home isn’t full of allergens. You can do this by:

• Vacuuming once or twice a week
• Keeping indoor air clean by using an air conditioner with a high-efficiency filter and keeping windows closed during high pollen count days
• Dusting with a damp cloth to collect dust instead of moving it or kicking it up
• Thoroughly cleaning bathroom tiles to effectively get rid of mold
• Washing bedsheets with warm water (if your child has a stuffed animal they play with daily, wash that with warm water as well)
• Vacuuming or sweeping outdoor entryways, which reduces the likelihood of someone tracking dust or pollen inside

Watch What They Wear

Pollen has a nasty habit of sticking to your child’s clothes. Once they come in after spending time outside, have them change clothes and shower quickly. This helps wash away allergens from their skin and hair. Make sure to wash their clothes with warm water to ensure all allergens have been washed from their clothing. Additionally, have your child wear sunglasses whenever they go outside to protect their eyes from pollen, dust, or other allergens that might lead to a reaction.

As we enter the allergy season, children are at a big risk. Allergens such as dust and pollen are higher in the spring than other times of the year, which can activate your child’s allergies. Getting your child prepared for allergy season is crucial to ensure that they aren’t forced to spend this season inside. To learn more about allergies and what you can do, give Tots N Teens Pediatrics a call today.