Spring Allergies

Written by Terri Forehand

Featured on Type-A Mom - Featured in Mom Topics

Spring is here and along with the long awaited warmer weather come the new spring buds and seasonal allergies. The farmers are in the fields creating dust. Warm spring rains stir up mold and mildew along with a thousand other allergens circulating in our environment. Here are a few tips to help your child with spring allergies.

First, assess your child and their symptoms. Ask yourself if the child has a virus, a spring cold, a fever, or the flu? Seek the advice of your family doctor when assessing your child’s symptoms to determine if the child is experiencing an illness or an allergy.
If you and your family doctor have decided your child has allergies, the next step is to avoid the causes of the symptoms first. Avoid smoking and help your child to avoid being where others smoke. Second hand smoke and smoke on clothing can be one of the top three reasons your child is having allergy symptoms.
Check your home for allergens like mold and mildew, dust, and pet dander. Removing carpets and going to tile or wood flooring has been proven to improve allergy symptoms. Pets also may need to be avoided for a child who has severe allergies.
Avoid dyes, preservatives, and artificial food products opting instead for organic or natural foods and snacks. It is sometimes impossible to discover exactly what your child may be allergic to but loose stools, rashes, and stomach aches can sometimes be attributed to food allergies.
Remember that a dry cough on a continual basis may indicate asthma in a child and asthma is directly related to allergies. Speak with your physician about a continual cough even if you think your child does not wheeze or have difficulty breathing.
Seek emergency treatment if your child’s allergies cause severe wheezing and difficulty breathing or if your child has hard time breathing on exertion.
Runny noses and itchy eyes are a symptom of spring and fall allergies and can most often be managed by avoiding the cause and taking over the counter medications which contain an antihistamine. Ask your doctor to recommend the product which best suits your child’s age and symptoms.

Children under the age of 2 should be seen by a physician before treating with over the counter medications for allergies. Any questions about allergies should be directed to your family doctor. Some allergens can be avoided by dusting frequently, changing the type of flooring in your home, removing pets, and using air conditioners rather than opening the windows.

However, it is impossible to avoid everything your child may be allergic to. The key is to avoid the things that cause the most severe symptoms and to seek immediate medical attention if the symptoms cause respiratory distress. Following these tips will help you keep your child’s allergies under better control for the long awaited spring season.

Photo of bee with spring flower, © John Nyberg

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