Carnevale: Helping kids cope with seasonal allergies

If you suspect that your child is among the roughly 20% of children who experience seasonal allergies, know that relief is possible.”

Dr. Greg Carnevale is the chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare of Delaware.

Sniffles and sneezes are an inevitable part of growing up. But, if your child has a lingering runny nose and cough — or both appear around the same time each year — it could be seasonal allergies, which typically happen in the spring, summer and early fall.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies typically start to show up in children after age 3 and, most prominently, around 5-6 years old. If your child has been diagnosed with eczema or asthma, he or she is also more likely to develop allergies.

If you suspect that your child is among the roughly 20% of children who experience seasonal allergies, know that relief is possible. There are many steps you can take to make this condition easier on your little one.

What are common signs?

Seasonal allergies, aka “seasonal allergic rhinitis,” have the same signs in kids that they do in adults. Common symptoms include:

• Itchy, stuffy or runny nose
• Red, itchy or watery eyes
• Itchy mouth or skin
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Increased fatigue

Sometimes, it can be tough for children to communicate how they are feeling, so parents can also watch out for behaviors like breathing through their mouth while sleeping.

Why do we have allergic reactions?

You can think of allergic reactions as your body overreacting to something to which it has been exposed. And people may have different allergy triggers. People with seasonal allergies react to pollen or mold in the air — and their bodies produce antibodies in response. As a result, they get congestion and inflammatory symptoms. These inflammatory symptoms are caused by the body’s release of different chemicals, such as histamines. Histamines cause itching, redness, swelling and secretions in the nose, eyes, skin, throat and ears.

What are common allergy triggers?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 5 children have reported experiencing seasonal allergies.

There is a chance your little one could grow out of his/her allergies. Outgrowing the condition may occur over time, as the body develops a tolerance to the specific allergen after long periods of natural exposure. But, if your child has severe allergies, the chance of outgrowing them is less.

The timing of allergies depends on where you live and which plants and pollens are your triggers. Some guidelines:

• Allergies from trees typically occur in springtime.
• Allergies from grasses occur in late spring and early summer.
• Allergies from weeds — including the common trigger, ragweed — occur in late summer through early fall.

Weather can also affect your child’s allergies. For example, pollen counts can increase after rainfall and when the wind picks up. Counts also tend to be higher in the mornings and during periods of cool nights and warmer days.

What’s the best way to treat allergies in kids?

When it comes to seasonal allergies, one of the best treatments is prevention. That means minimizing your child’s exposure to known allergens. Some ways to help him or her avoid triggers include:

• Stay indoors with the windows closed (no window fans) when pollen counts are high.
• Shower, change clothes and wash your child’s hair after he/she has been outside.
• Dry clothes inside the house (rather than outside on a line) to avoid pollen contact.
• Wear an N95 face mask if pollen counts are especially high.
• Use a portable high-efficiency particulate air filter in the bedroom.
• Clean with a vacuum that’s certified as “asthma and allergy friendly.”

While it’s important to be mindful of triggers, kids will be kids. Don’t feel that you need to lock your children indoors for a whole season when they should be out playing.

Allergy testing can also identify specific triggers, so you can be more targeted in your approach. For instance, if your child is allergy-tested, and you have that specific tree or plant in your backyard, it may help to remove it.

To get tested, make an appointment with an allergist, who will typically perform an exam and ask about symptoms, as well as take any history of seasonal allergies in the family. Clinical allergy testing can be performed using skin scratch tests, blood tests or elimination tests.

What medications can kids take?

There are several kid-safe over-the-counter allergy medicines on the market. They are typically the same as those used for adults, though it’s important to read the instructions because doses may differ based on age. Talk to your doctor to find the best one for your child.

Seasonal over-the-counter allergy medicines for children include:

• Topical nasal corticosteroid sprays
• Antihistamines, like cetirizine (Zyrtec) or loratadine (Claritin)
• Decongestants (typically only approved for short-term use)
• Sterile saline nasal sprays and rinses. While not medications, these may help relieve symptoms.

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