Seasonal allergens like pollen, ragweed and mold spores are common sources of discomfort for children with allergies. Even simple outdoor activities can trigger distressing symptoms, making effective seasonal allergy management essential for North Texas families. Fortunately, with the right knowledge and strategies, parents can help their children deal with allergy season much more comfortably.
What Are the Best Strategies for Managing Childhood Seasonal Allergies?
Without the right care and attention, children with seasonal allergies can struggle to reach their potential at school and even during hobbies and sports. The following tips are crucial in reducing the impact of symptoms and helping children manage hay fever.
Identify Your Child’s Seasonal Allergy Triggers
Distinguishing seasonal allergy symptoms from a common cold won’t always be easy. When your child has itchy eyes, a runny nose and sneezes regularly, keep a record of this in an allergy journal. While a cold will pass within a week or two, allergy symptoms tend to recur. Your allergist will assess these symptoms and perform allergy testing to identify the specific allergens responsible for triggering symptoms.
Check Pollen Count Levels
Monitoring daily pollen counts is a valuable way to manage your child’s exposure when levels are high. During times of elevated pollen counts, you might choose to keep your child indoors or to adjust the timing of outdoor activities. However, different allergens (tree, grass and weed pollen) peak at various times throughout the year, so it’s absolutely important to know which specific allergens affect your child.
Keep Allergens Out of the Home
Common seasonal allergy triggers can easily find their way into our homes. Pollen and mold can blow in through open windows, be carried on children’s clothing, even be spread via the fur of family pets! You can take steps to reduce exposure by using air filters, washing clothes regularly, wiping down pets after they’ve been outside and of course, keeping windows closed during peak pollen days.
Wear a Hat and Glasses to Reduce Allergen Exposure
Effective clothing choices can also make a big difference when dealing with allergen exposure. A wide-brimmed hat can help stop pollen from getting into the eyes and nose, while sunglasses create a barrier against airborne substances. Remember to wipe down these items (and other clothing items) to prevent spreading pollen throughout the home.
Speak With Your Allergist About Desensitization Treatment
Everyday lifestyle adjustments can reduce the impact of seasonal allergies. However, the most effective long-term allergy treatments aim to modify how the immune system responds to pollen and mold. Allergy shots (immunotherapy) and allergy drops (sublingual immunotherapy or SLIT) desensitize the body to allergens, thereby reducing the likelihood that your child will experience a reaction after allergen exposure.
Trusted Seasonal Allergy Management for Children in North Texas
TexasAllergyMD helps families that are struggling with the symptoms of seasonal allergies, providing innovative testing and treatment solutions. For assistance with allergic rhinitis and all types of allergies, visit us in McKinney/Prosper or Southlake. Call (469) 375-1525 or request an appointment now.
