Allergy Management For Kids With Seasonal Allergies

Allergy management for kids with seasonal allergies is a mixture of medical intervention and environmental management that is dependent on the type of seasonal allergy and its impact on the child overall.

When seasonal allergies are only mild or moderate, environmental allergy management for kids may be enough to reduce the impact of allergies and control symptoms; when allergies are more severe or take more of a toll on the life and activity of the child, medical intervention may be required.

Medical Allergy Management For Kids With Seasonal Allergies

Allergy shots, or immunotherapy—a process of desensitizing or immunizing the body against allergy to a substance—may be an option for kids with seasonal allergies, but as seasonal allergies are intermittent, allergy shots may not be positively indicated.  This is a decision parents, doctors, and children (of adequate age) must come to together given the overall allergy picture and the child’s health.  When seasonal allergies are severe or life-impacting, or when they exist alongside other impacting allergies, an argument for allergy shots may be made.

Often the recommendation of the treating physician will be to try to manage the child’s seasonal allergies with either prescription or over-the-counter medications.  Antihistamines, anti-leukotrienes, and decongestants can be very effectively used alone or in combination (on the advice of a physician) for successful allergy management for kids with seasonal allergies.  It is helpful to find out what medications are best for each child’s specific allergy symptoms.

Environmental Allergy Management For Kids With Seasonal Allergies

Environmental allergy management for kids with seasonal allergies does not refer to attempts to control Mother Nature—of course no one can do that.  Rather, environmental allergy management for kids with seasonal allergies refers to changes made to indoor and home environments, and changes to routine which can minimize exposure and impact of seasonal child allergies.

There are a number of things parents can do to reduce the amount and number of seasonal allergens and pollens kids with seasonal allergies come into contact with.

• Carefully monitor pollen counts (reported online, in local newspapers, and on local newscasts)
• Schedule outdoor play more on days when pollen counts are low, and stay inside the majority of the day when counts are high
• Use air conditioners for cooling and keep windows and doors closed when pollen counts are high (air conditioners also have the added benefit of filtration)
• When children do play outside, especially when pollen counts are high, have them wear a disposable face mask
• Do not use window or attic fans that draw in allergens
• Clean regularly and dust with a spray or cleaner (no dry-dusting)
• Use dust covers on furniture
• Limit plush toys and stuffed animals in the bedroom and do not allow them outside for play
• Give the home a thorough cleaning with the change of each season
• Remove carpeting, blinds, and heavy draperies that can hold onto allergens indefinitely
• Vacation in areas where allergens are low—for example, oceans and beaches tend to have lower pollen levels
• Use household filters and air purifiers and buy a vacuum with a HEPA air filter

These measures are very good ways to minimize allergen exposure, but it is important, too, not to go too far.  Some exposure to seasonal allergens within the first ten years is necessary as a sort of training device for the immune system.  It is in the first ten years that the child’s immune system learns to recognize harmless and harmful substances and infectious agents; when a child has no early exposure to an allergen, the body never learns to recognize it as harmless and so the body will see an otherwise harmless seasonal allergen as dangerous and worthy of reaction when exposed later in life as a teenager or young adult.  In the end, this may create a fine-line, but in general the rule is to allow normal childhood activity, maintain a clean, yet not sterile home environment, and take more targeted action as for kids with seasonal allergies as allergies develop.

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