Spring is Approaching and So Are Allergies

The daffodils are blooming, and the longer days are a welcome sign: spring is just around the corner in North Carolina! While we eagerly await more blooms and warmer weather, this seasonal shift also brings a familiar foe for some families: seasonal allergies. For children especially, the explosion of pollen from trees and flowers can mean sniffles, sneezes, and itchy eyes. Kids First Pediatrics wants to help families understand and navigate this time with tips from healthychildren.org. 

Allergies are caused by the body's reaction to substances called "allergens." Allergies trigger the immune system to react to harmless substances as though they were attacking the body.

Some allergies are easy to identify by the pattern of symptoms that follow exposure to a particular substance. But others are subtler and may masquerade as other conditions. Here are some common clues that could lead you to suspect your child may have an allergy.

When to suspect an allergy

Repeated or chronic cold-like symptoms that last more than a week or two, or that develop at about the same time every year.

Allergy symptoms could include:

• Runny nose

• Nasal stuffiness

• Sneezing

• Throat clearing

• Nose rubbing

• Sniffling

• Snorting

• Sneezing

• Itchy, runny eyes

• 
  

Itching or tingling sensations in the mouth and throat. Itchiness is not usually a complaint with a cold, but it is the hallmark of an allergy problem. Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and other respiratory symptoms. Recurrent red, itchy, dry, sometimes scaly rashes in the creases of the skin, wrists, and ankles also may indicate an allergy.

What is eczema?

When it comes to rashes, the most common chronic inflammatory skin condition in children is eczema, also called atopic dermatitis. Although not strictly an allergic disorder, eczema in young children has many of the hallmarks of allergies and is often a sign that hay fever and asthma may develop. The rate of eczema, like that of asthma, is increasing throughout the world. Where asthma is rare, the rate of eczema is also low.

What is the difference between allergies and asthma?

Although allergies and asthma often go together, they are actually two different conditions. Here are three important facts:

• Asthma is a chronic condition that starts in the lungs.

• Allergies are reactions that start in the immune system.

• Not everybody with allergies has asthma, but most people with asthma have allergies.

• 
  

What is an asthma attack?

The airways of the typical child with asthma are inflamed or swollen. This makes them oversensitive. When they come in contact with an asthma "trigger"—something that causes an asthma attack—the airways (called bronchial tubes) overreact by constricting (getting narrower).

Many different substances and events can "trigger" an asthma attack, including:

• Exercise

• Cold air

• Viruses

• Air pollution

• Certain fumes

• Other allergens

In fact, about 80% of children with asthma also have allergies and, for them, allergens are often the most common asthma triggers.

How to control allergy symptoms

• It's helpful to use air conditioners, where possible, to reduce exposure to pollen in both your home and your car.

• Molds are present in the spring and late summer, particularly around areas of decaying vegetation. Children with mold allergies should avoid playing in piles of dead leaves in the fall.

• Dust mites congregate in places where food for them (such as flakes of human skin) is plentiful. That means they are most commonly found in upholstered furniture, bedding, and rugs.

• Padded furnishings, such as mattresses, box springs, pillows, and cushions should be encased in allergen-proof, zip-up covers, which are available through catalogs and specialized retailers.

• Wash linens weekly, and other bedding such as blankets, every 2 to 3 weeks in hot water to kill the dust mites.

• Pillows should be replaced every 2 to 3 years.

Your child's allergy and/or asthma treatment should start with your Kids First Pediatrics provider. If needed, they may refer you to a pediatric allergy specialist for additional evaluations and treatments, depending on how severe your child's symptoms are. There are many over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays. However, it is very important that you work with your child’s provider over the years to make sure that your child's allergies and asthma are correctly diagnosed and the symptoms properly treated. Stay ahead of this Spring’s allergies by making an appointment at Kids First Pediatrics. Raleigh: (919) 250-3478, Clayton: (919) 267- 1499.

Article source: Seasonal Allergies in Children, healthychildren.org 

*This article is informational but is not a substitute for medical attention or information from your provider.