Think Your Child May Be Suffering From Seasonal Allergies?

Up to 40 percent of US children suffer from seasonal allergies related to pollen and mold. The symptoms may, at first, lead you to believe your child just caught a cold. Allergy symptoms, however, persist for much longer periods of time and can have far-reaching consequences. How do you tell if your child might be suffering from hay fever, what should you do if you suspect seasonal allergies, and what are the treatment options? 

How Can You Tell If Your Child Has A Seasonal Allergy?

So, your kid has a runny and blocked-up nose and keeps sneezing — are you looking at a cold, or at a seasonal allergy? Colds, for one, tend to be over and done with within a fortnight, and because they're contagious, your kid's school mates, siblings, and you are also likely to have the same symptoms. If you are dealing with seasonal allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever, though, the symptoms will persist far longer. A child magically getting "a cold" at the same time each year is one powerful clue that they have seasonal allergic rhinitis, and you can add red and itchy eyes and coughing to the list. In addition, the secretions that come out of your child's nose will be clear, rather than green or yellow, if they are having an allergic reaction. If allergies run in your family, that is another clue that tells you your child may be following your "tradition". Kids who suffer from allergies are also more prone to developing eczema than the general population.

Though seasonal allergies are quite easy to pinpoint and many adults who suffer from them and seek over the counter treatment have never received a formal diagnosis, it is nonetheless a good idea to check in with your child's pediatrician. Skin and blood tests can, together with present symptoms, confirm that your child is suffering from a seasonal allergy. Skin tests, in particular, can identify allergens with great accuracy, leading to the ability to tailor treatment to the patient's individual needs.

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Seasonal Allergies: Far-Reaching Consequences

Not only is walking around with the symptoms seasonal allergies cause simply unpleasant, hay fever can have a large impact on a sufferer's day to day life. In a bid to avoid triggering the symptoms, allergy sufferers may try to stay indoors as much as possible during allergy season. Their sleep may be affected by their stuffed nose and itchy eyes, and concentration at school or work may suffer greatly. Research even confirms that hay fever plays a huge role in standardized test results. Allergies are more than irritating, then — and seeking relief should be a priority. 

Treatment Options For Seasonal Allergies In Children

Preventative Measures

Pollen counts in your area can be looked up on the internet and are sometimes even broadcast on local radio stations. The Food and Drug Administration reminds us that pollen levels reach a peak in the morning during ragweed pollen season (late summer and early fall) and in the evening during grass pollen season (spring and summer). Windy days with lots of sunshine may seem ideal for a visit to the park, but they are the worst for allergy sufferers. Take these things into account and adjust your child's life accordingly wherever possible. 

Anti-Histamines

Allergic reactions trigger the release of chemicals called histamines in the body, and anti-histamines, the most common form of allergy medication, block this action. Anti-histamines are available over the counter and are the first line of allergy treatment. They can come as tablets, capsules, nasal sprays, eye drops, and syrups and are sometimes combined with nasal decongestants as well. While some OTC anti-histamines are cleared for use in kids as young as six months, the FDA reminds you to always read your package insert thoroughly. 

A general tip every pharmacist and physician will share with you is to start anti-histamine use before the commencement of the allergy season, in order to provide optimal symptom relief. In addition, do consult your child's pediatrician about the time of day during which you should offer your child their anti-histamine, even if you are using an over the counter medication. Note that some anti-histamines cause drowsiness, which can sometimes be severe. 

Other Anti-Allergy Medications

In addition to using anti-histamines, you may also want to discuss over the counter allergy barrier nasal barrier sprays and powders with your pharmacist. Such medications, which may contain cellulose and peppermint, serve to provide a physical barrier between the allergens entering your child's nose and their mucus membranes. They are approved for use in children and have clinically been proven to be effective in some people. 

Non-evidence based homeopathic medications are also available. At SteadyHealth, we can't recommend unproven and disproven treatments, and I'll add that I have no idea whether placebos would work for allergies at all, but users do report success with some homeopathic tablets for seasonal allergies. These tablets, in accordance with homeopathic principles, are taken very frequently. They cause no side effects. 

READ Are Parents Starving Their Children Over Allergy Fears?

Allergy Shots

What if over the counter anti-histamines, prescription anti-histamines, nasal barrier sprays and alternative medications don't prevent your child from suffering from severe allergy symptoms? Then, it may be time to look into so-called allergy shots or allergy vaccines. As with traditional vaccines, these shots — prescribed by an allergist — introduce minute amounts of the allergen into your child's body. You will typically remain in the doctor's office for a while, so that any severe reactions to the shots can be countered with strong anti-histamines. Such shots involve being at the doctor very often, though the frequency at which they are given is gradually reduced until only a maintenance dose is needed.