Allergies & Kids

When you learn your child has nasal allergies, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. If you don’t have allergies yourself, you may wonder what your child is going through and if there’s anything you can do to help. Start by learning the basics about nasal allergies. Here’s a bit of background information you might find helpful.

Children may have trouble with allergies only during certain seasons. Or they may be affected every day because of allergens in the house. Common allergens include mold, dust mites, and pollen. Nasal allergy symptoms include congestion, sneezing, and an itchy, runny nose.

What Are Nasal Allergies?

• Children suffering from nasal allergies develop nasal symptoms after being exposed to one of their allergy triggers (such as pollen, mold, dust mites, and animal dander).
  
  
• Their body mistakes these allergens for dangerous invaders and responds by producing inflammatory substances.
  
  
• These substances affect the lining of their nose and cause the nasal passages to become inflamed. It is this inflammation that causes annoying nasal allergy symptoms like congestion, sneezing, and itchy, runny nose.

FLONASE is an anti-inflammatory medication that helps relieve multiple nasal allergy symptoms.

Seasonal Nasal Allergies vs Year-round Nasal Allergies

• Some children have outdoor allergies caused by airborne allergens or triggers such as tree, grass and weed pollens. They are sometimes called “seasonal allergies” because they generally occur during the spring or the fall, and lasts a few weeks to a few months each year.
  
  
• Other children may suffer from indoor allergies. They may have allergy symptoms every day, because of exposure to triggers that may include house dust mites, animal dander, and mold.

Managing Your Child’s Allergies

It is important that your child receives the most appropriate medicine to treat his or her nasal allergy symptoms. Scheduling regular doctor visits and using the right medicine are great steps in helping to manage your child’s allergies.

You can also help manage your child’s allergies by reducing his or her exposure to allergens around the house and in the great outdoors.

Here are a few tips:

• Don’t store books and toys in your child’s bedroom. These things are major dust collectors and could increase your child’s allergy symptoms.
  
• Launder all washable stuffed toys and bedding at 130 degrees Fahrenheit or above—this wipes out the dust mites.
  
• If your child is allergic to down, use washable, synthetic pillows and enclose all bedding in special allergen-barrier covers.
  
• Vacuum weekly with a cleaner that has a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. Be sure to vacuum when your child is not around, as vacuuming kicks all the allergen particles into the air.
  
• Plan ahead for peak pollen days. Your child should play indoors on those days.
  
• Have your child tested for specific allergies before you buy a pet. Cats usually cause more allergy symptoms than dogs. And if you do get a furry pet, keep it outdoors as much as possible.

Be sure to talk to your healthcare professional if you have more questions about your child’s allergies.