Allergies can be a simple sniffle that quickly resolves as tree pollen dissipates. It can also be itching, watery eyes, difficulty breathing and uncontrollable sneezing during the spring and summer. New Canaan Pediatrics is here to help you better understand allergies and provide solutions to allergy symptoms.
For nearly 1 out of every 5 children in the U.S., spring’s bounty of sun and new life also comes with seasonal allergies. Once called hay fever – despite not resulting from hay or running a fever – seasonal allergies are the result of an immune system response to a range of environmental allergens, many of which increase and decrease as the seasons change. Your child’s immune system reacts to pollen or grass clippings as if it’s a real danger to their health, creating antibodies to “fight” that invader, resulting in allergy symptoms such as hives, sneezing, coughing or runny eyes.
Since seasonal allergies tend to follow on the heels of winter’s cold and flu season, our first challenge is to determine if your child has seasonal allergies and to rule out other possible causes of that runny nose. To distinguish a cold or virus from a seasonal allergy, your New Canaan pediatrician recommends you take a look at the mucus coming from your child’s nose. While this sounds icky, it gives us a good snapshot of the cause. If the mucus is thick and/or opaque, your child probably has a cold or virus. If the mucus is runny and clear, it’s most likely allergies.
Most common symptoms of seasonal allergies are a runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, post-nasal drip, and nasal congestion. While these may just sound uncomfortable, irritating and aggravating, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology reports that these symptoms can be persistent enough to cause appreciable declines in a child’s quality of life and health. Itching eyes can lead to conjunctivitis or pink eye from rubbing and touching eyes. Congestion can cause trouble breathing at night, leading to a loss of crucial sleep. Chronic congestion and resultant inflammation can result in ear infections. Hives can cause flaking and peeling, which may lead to infections.
Allergy diagnoses typically increase between 3 and 5 years old because children are, at that age range, encountering more of the world, and so are exposed to more allergens. Seasonal allergies are caused by various pollens from trees, grass and plants. However, a range of environmental factors such as animal hair, dust mites, mold, smoke, car exhaust, and even perfume could also cause allergy symptoms.
To ease allergy symptoms, help your child avoid the allergens that trigger their immune system. Tracking local pollen counts, keeping windows closed, and using a HEPA filter system will keep pollen-exposure to a minimum. For more sensitive allergy sufferers, shower and change clothes when coming in from the pollen-filled outdoors. On high pollen count days, you may want to limit time outdoors to provide more relief. Remove carpets if possible, or have them steam cleaned frequently. Change bedsheets often and wash towels frequently. Use fragrance free soaps and detergents.
Because some allergens can’t be fully avoided, New Canaan Pediatrics can help with a range of treatments and medications that can improve allergy symptoms. Over-the-counter nasal sprays and antihistamines can be administered according to medication label instructions for children over 2 years of age. For younger children, please call our office to discuss proper dosage. If your child is still battling discomfort from allergy symptoms, we may consider prescription medications. In some cases, allergy immunotherapy can provide more meaningful relief.
If your child experiences a runny nose or cough for more than a week, send us a message through your patient portal to discuss the possibility of an allergic reaction. Your healthcare provider here at New Canaan Pediatrics wants your child to enjoy spring, summer and fall and is ready to help make that happen.