Spring allergies can affect children from head to toe, from watery eyes and runny nose, down to dry, patchy skin.“It can affect their ability to exercise, and their body image and socialization,” says Dr. Michelle Weiss of the Family Center for Allergy & Asthma, York, in the Wellspan Health system (www.wellspan.org). “It can affect their ability to concentrate and do well in school.”
What’s a parent to do?
Here, we answer your questions about children’s spring allergies.
WHO’S PRONE TO SPRING ALLERGIES?
Your child might have your bright smile and her grandfather’s sparkling eyes, but parents can also have the honor of passing on an unwelcome trait: allergy to pollens, molds and grass. One parent passes on a 50 percent chance of spring allergies. Two parents, and the child has a 75 percent chance, says Weiss. “If there’s a family history, the parent should be on the lookout,” she says. Symptoms of seasonal allergies usually start appearing around age 3.
WHAT TIME OF YEAR WILL SYMPTOMS APPEAR?
Spring allergies can occur in three waves, beginning before the official start of spring and lasting into the summer. In the Northeast, pollinating trees kick off the season in March and continue causing symptoms until June, says Weiss. The lovely green grass of spring triggers symptoms that start in May and last until August. And molds are more common in the spring season because, as Weiss points out, the pretty May flowers come from all those April showers.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Itchy, watery eyes are called allergic conjunctivitis. The sneezing, runny nose and congestion are known as allergic rhinitis. When there’s wheezing and shortness of breath, that’s asthma. The patchy, dry skin is eczema, and yes, even children can get it. The difference between viruses and allergies is the duration, says Weiss. A cold might last 10 to 14 days, “but allergy symptoms will last a season.”
WHAT’S THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SPRING ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA?
Ninety percent of children with asthma have “allergic triggers”: the allergens that send asthma into overdrive, says Weiss. Triggers could be perennial, such as dust mites. Or, a child might have low-grade asthma symptoms, but going outside when seasonal allergens are active could cause flare-ups.
WHAT ARE THE MEDICAL OPTIONS FOR SPRING ALLERGIES?
Talk to your child’s pediatrician about medications, even over-the-counter options, says Weiss. Avoid antihistamines that can cause sleepiness, such as Benadryl, and opt for Zyrtec, she says. Do not use eye drops or nasal sprays, which can become addictive. “The more you use it, the more you need it,” Weiss says.
Nasal steroids aren’t the types of steroids used by weightlifters but are “just topical steroids that work where you put it,” Weiss says. “Many studies show that children do very well, and it’s very safe for them.” Finally, an allergist can pinpoint the allergies and lead to fine-tuning of the medication regimen. Immunotherapies can involve a five-year plan of vaccines to develop immunities, “when allergies really are affecting the quality of life,” says Weiss.
CAN NATURAL REMEDIES HELP?
When the owners of Tranquility Salon and Wellness Center (www.tranquilitysalonandwellnesscenter.com) were building a salt cave, their daughter, on the verge of surgery for chronic, severe sinus infections, visited the Carlisle salon every day. When the girl appeared for a final medical consult, the doctor pronounced that she no longer needed surgery, says the salon’s Charity Wirl. The pure, dry salt of salt caves can be an anti-inflammatory and bactericide, says Wirl. “When you breathe it in, it works to inhibit the spread of bacteria and also helps to loosen phlegm and mucus without the side effects of medications,” she says.
Though salt cave sessions, known as halo therapy, are no substitute for medical attention, they can be beneficial for children with allergies and asthma, opening airways and providing relief and prevention, she says. Tranquility welcomes children in the inviting atmosphere of its custom-built salt cave. “It’s a matter of providing our body what it needs to repair and heal,” she says. “Children are so resilient.”
TAKING CONTROL
There are steps parents can take to control the environment around children and minimize symptoms of spring allergies, says Weiss. In the spring, avoid opening windows, and use the air conditioner. Don’t hang laundry outdoors, and see that kids get a shower at the end of the day to wash off the day’s allergens.
Parents can help children ward off asthma flare-ups with these allergy-avoidance tips from the American Lung Association (www.lung.org):
- Make sure children take their allergy medications.
- Wash bedding weekly in hot water to kill dust mites, or use mattress and pillow covers.
- Keep pets out of the house, especially the child’s bedroom.
- Prevent mold growth by fixing water leaks and keeping humidity low.
- Use traps or call an exterminator to reduce mice and cockroaches.