Posted on 3/16/2018

Kids often sniffle and sneeze, but prolonged periods of cold-like symptoms
may not be a cold, but could instead be allergies. Allergies can happen
any time of the year, but they are most common in the spring and fall.
If you suspect your child has allergies, consult with your
pediatrics specialist for diagnosis and treatments to help your child feel better.
Common allergy triggers
Although a number of different things can trigger allergy symptoms, in
most cases, seasonal allergic rhinitis is to blame.
About 40% of kids suffer from these kinds of allergies, also called hay fever. Common triggers
of seasonal allergic rhinitis include:
- Ragweed pollen
- Grass pollen
- Mold, such as leaf mold
The time of year your child experiences the worst allergy symptoms will
give your pediatrics specialist clues about what is triggering them. For
example, if your child suffers from spring and summer allergies, then
grass pollen is likely to blame.
Treatment options
If your child’s allergy symptoms are mild, your pediatrician may
recommend that your try over-the-counter medications, such as children’s
antihistamines. If those are not effective, prescription allergy medications
may be helpful.
If these medications don’t work, your child may be referred to a
pediatrics allergy specialist for immunotherapy. Allergy immunotherapy,
also sometimes called allergy shots, works by introducing small amounts
of the allergy trigger into the patient’s system, gradually building
up the body’s tolerance. Once tolerance is increased and the body
stops having an immune response to the trigger, your child should no longer
experience symptoms.
Lifestyle changes
If your child has allergies, there are a few things you can do at home
to reduce symptoms. Resist opening windows in your home or car, which
will increase exposure to the allergen. Installing higher quality air
filters in your home’s HVAC system may also help.
If your child spends time outside when allergen levels are high, he or
she should take a shower or bath before going to bed. This will remove
traces of pollen and other allergens from skin and hair.
If your child is suffering from allergy symptoms, the pediatricians at
Sunrise Children’s Hospital
are here to help. Contact our children’s hospital for a referral
to a pediatrics specialist by calling (702) 233-5437.