Parents it is that dreadful time
of year when all you hear is….
Ah-choo!" It's your son's third sneezing fit of the morning, and as you
hand him another tissue you wonder if these cold-like symptoms — the sneezing,
congestion, and runny nose — have something to do with the recent weather
change. If he gets similar symptoms at the same time every year, you're likely
right: seasonal allergies are at work.
The following article from KidsHealth.com is very informative
regarding seasonal allergies. However, please make an appointment for your
child, with your Pedimedica physician for an allergy check-up if signs and
symptoms appear.
Seasonal allergies, sometimes called "hay
fever" or seasonal allergic rhinitis, are allergy symptoms that occur
during certain times of the year, usually when outdoor molds release their
spores, and trees, grasses, and weeds release tiny pollen particles into the
air to fertilize other plants.
The
immune systems of people who are allergic to mold spores or pollen treat these
particles (called allergens) as invaders and release chemicals, including
histamine, into the bloodstream to defend against them. It's the release of
these chemicals that causes allergy symptoms.
People
can be allergic to one or more types of pollen or mold. The type someone is
allergic to determines when symptoms occur. For example, in the mid-Atlantic
states, tree pollination is February through May, grass pollen runs from May
through June, and weed pollen is from August through October — so kids with
these allergies are likely to have increased symptoms at those times. Mold
spores tend to peak midsummer through the fall, depending on location.
Even
kids who have never had seasonal allergies in years past can develop them.
Seasonal allergies can start at almost any time, though they usually develop by
10 years of age and reach their peak in the early twenties, with symptoms often
disappearing later in adulthood.
Signs
and Symptoms
If your
child develops a "cold" at the same time every year, seasonal
allergies might be to blame. Allergy symptoms, which usually come on suddenly
and last as long as a person is exposed to a particular allergen, can include:
·
sneezing
·
itchy nose and/or throat
·
nasal congestion
·
clear, runny nose
·
coughing
These symptoms often come with itchy, watery, and/or
red eyes, which are called allergic conjunctivitis.
If your child has wheezing and shortness of breath in addition to these
symptoms, the allergy may have progressed into asthma.
Seasonal
allergies are fairly easy to identify because the pattern of symptoms returns
from year to year following exposure to an allergen.
Talk
with your doctor if you think your child might have allergies. The doctor will
ask about symptoms and when they appear and, based on the answers and a
physical exam, should be able to make a diagnosis. If not, the doctor may refer
you to an allergist for blood or allergy skin tests.
To
determine an allergy's cause, allergists usually do skin tests in one of two
ways:
1. A drop
of a purified liquid form of the allergen is dropped onto the skin and the area
is pricked with a small pricking device.
2. A small
amount of allergen is injected just under the skin. This test stings a little
but isn't extremely painful. After about 15 minutes, if a lump surrounded by a
reddish area appears (like a mosquito bite) at the injection site, the test is
positive.
Even if a skin test or a blood test shows an allergy, a child must
also have symptoms to be definitively
diagnosed with an allergy. For example, a child who has a positive test for
grass pollen and sneezes
frequently while playing in the grass would be considered allergic to grass
pollen.
Treatment
There is no real cure for seasonal allergies, but it is possible to relieve symptoms. Start by reducing or eliminating exposure to allergens. During allergy season, keep windows closed, use air
conditioning if possible, and stay indoors when pollen counts are high.
Have
your child wash hands or shower and change clothing after playing outside. And
a child with seasonal allergies should not mow the lawn (this tends to kick up
pollen and mold spores).
If reducing exposure isn't possible or is ineffective, medicines
can help ease allergy symptoms. These may include decongestants,
antihistamines, and nasal spray steroids. If symptoms cannot be managed with
medicines, the doctor may recommend taking your child to an allergist or
immunologist for regular allergy shots (immunotherapy), which
can help desensitize kids to allergens.
