For many of us parents our children have seasonal allergies. We pretty much have a set routine what to do each time like clockwork. We know it like the back of our hand. Allergy medicine, humidifier, vapor rub to help breath, tissues family size and fever reducer are all in my arsenal of allergy fighters. We all know the terrible symptoms; stuffy nose, nagging cough, watery and itchy eyes.
It is not unusual for kids to get 6-8 upper respiratory illnesses a year. To me that is about 7 to many. Every time my poor son gets sick I feel helpless, sad, and I want to take his pain away. I have literally read articles, searched on Pinterest, read books on the best way to handle allergy seasonal the best way.
First you need to know is it allergies or is your child sick.
1. Is your child feverish or achy?
If you answer yes it is probably an illness, talk to your pediatrician about the symptoms, severity, and duration to see what action needs to be taken.
2. If you answered no, have the symptoms persisted for more than 10-14 days with no or little change?
3. If you answered yes, is there cloudy or colored mucus?
4. If you answered no, do symptoms worsen outdoors especially during certain times of the year?
5. If you answered no, could be indoor allergies. Talk to your child's doctor or an allergist about testing for allergies from dust, animals, mites, or other pests.
If you answered yes, probably seasonal allergies. A pediatrician or an allergist can suggest an antihistamine or test pollen, ragweed, or mold sensitivities.
Now that you know whether it is allergies or an illness lets ease those awful symptoms. Your child's pediatrician will most likely start them on an allergy medication that is non-sedating antihistamine like Claritin or Zyrtec. I personally let my son's doctor prescribe it because I know I am getting the right dosage for his age I never get over the counter for him. There is also nasal sprays such as Flonase but they are for kids 4 and up. They attack the inflammation that contributes to nasal tissue swelling and results are more quicker than a pill. Your child can also get an allergy shot where they get injected with increasing amounts of an allergen until they become less sensitive to it, that is done by an allergist and reserved for children over 4 whose symptoms don't respond well to drugs.
A blood test can be performed to help pinpoint what exactly your child is allergic to if your not sure if it is seasonal allergies. The allergist pricks the skin in which tiny amounts of various triggers are placed just under the skin in order to see what produces a rashlike response. Both blood/skin prick test is not 100% accurate though.
For us personally it was seasonal so further testing was not needed. He was fine all year until the seasons changed and then he got sick and was fine once the season settled. We give him his allergy medication once the seasons start changing and once they settle and mother nature has decided to stay on one season we stop until the next season change. That is just our personal choice, we don't judge you if you choose to give your child allergy medicine all year. I do not judge parents on their parenting because I am not in your shoes and to each is their own.
Additional Tip According to Dr. Oz take your allergy medicine at night so it is already in your system for the morning. We take our medicine at bedtime.
So what if drugs isn't your method of treatment. There are drug free defenses you can take. The first one is reduce your kids exposure to their trigger. If it is seasonal limit their outside exposure on days when pollen is high, have them wear masks if they do have go outdoors. Run air conditioner at night, run air purifier with HEPA filter in child's bedroom. You can also get daily emails alerting you to the airborne allergen counts through American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. They will notify you of pollen or mold from certain trees, grasses, or weeds in your area. You can also dress your kids in natural fibers. When synthetic fabrics rub together they produce static electricity which attract pollen. Dusting and vacuuming frequently helps in your house to keep dust down, use Febreze Allergen Reducer on the carpet. Another tip is give your child a bath every night making sure you wash their hair. You can use a saline spray or neti pot (I do not recommend neti pot on toddlers or adults for that matter) to cleanse out the nose.
I hope this article and all the tips has helped you get to know Allergies better and how to get a handle on them.
Parents April 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment