Ah, spring! It’s a chance to enjoy fresh air, greening grass, and watch the trees and flowers burst into bloom.
Here at Bay Street Pediatrics, we know that all that greening and bursting also changes the composition of the air we breathe. As plants bloom into life, the air fills up with allergens like tree and plant pollen and molds. When we open our doors and windows to welcome warmer weather, dust and other particles freshly circulate in our environment. Those contaminants cause allergic reactions in more than 25% of children.
Your Bay Street Pediatrics provider will explain that seasonal allergies are “allergic rhinitis,” when the immune system produces histamines as a response to an unrecognized chemical or allergen. This reaction can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, a runny nose, and coughing or wheezing.
If these symptoms sound familiar, it’s because many of them are typical cold symptoms as well. Watch for a fever to differentiate seasonal allergies from a cold. Fevers are typical of colds but uncommon in allergies. Another difference is in your child’s nasal discharge. This is typically clear for seasonal allergy sufferers, but opaque in colds. In very young children who can’t tell you how they are suffering, look for swollen eyes and nose rubbing as allergy indicators.
Your Bay Street Pediatrics provider will also determine the severity of seasonal allergy cases. Children who experience allergy symptoms that can be easily managed are considered to have mild seasonal allergies. Moderate allergies are more troublesome for the child and require more consistent and varied treatments. In the most severe cases, symptoms are regularly present and require medical management to improve quality of life. The strategy for treating seasonal allergies in your child will depend on the severity of the allergy.
Our first line of defense is to identify and limit or eliminate allergens. Dust, dust mites, pet hair, and pest waste account for a significant number of allergic rhinitis cases, so a thorough cleaning often makes a big difference. Wash pillows, vacuum sofas, carpets and upholstered furniture, and clean window treatments. In addition to cleaning allergens out, we recommend doing all you can to keep allergens away from your child. Keep windows closed during seasonal changes or on windy and sunny days. Use air conditioners or purifiers to clean the air in your home, and change filters regularly. Keep your child indoors on pollen alert days, and make sure they take a shower and wash their hair immediately after coming in from playing outside. Wash all clothes and jackets worn outdoors. Change sheets and pillowcase often.
Avoiding the allergen is sometimes impractical and avoidance can also be unsuccessful. In this case, over-the-counter antihistamines can provide relief of symptoms. Discuss any OTC medication options with your Bay Street Pediatrics provider, especially when you are considering allergy medications. Side effects can include drowsiness, excitability, constipation, low blood pressure, dizziness or vomiting, so talk to your provider to ensure your child is getting the correct dosage of the most appropriate medication for their overall health, height, weight and age.
For moderate cases, we may pair antihistamines with steroidal nasal sprays. In severe cases, your Bay Street Pediatrics provider may refer you to a pediatric allergy specialist to discuss immunotherapy. This therapy can be administered as injections or as oral tablets.
If your child experienced allergies last season, if you suspected they did, or if you notice early signs this spring, call us immediately for an evaluation. The sooner we can implement allergen avoidance tactics and begin any necessary medications, the better your child will feel throughout the season.