Summer is really the prime of life for children. The freedom from encumbering overcoats and stifling clothes, the end of the school year and a two-month vacation, and the longer days all create a paradise for play.
But for some children and even adults, the spring and summer months present a daily challenge of living and coping with often-severe allergies. Research shows that as many as forty-five million Americans (twenty percent of the population) struggles with some form of allergy, with hay fever and asthma symptoms being among the most common.
Children usually develop seasonal allergies before their sixth birthday. While for many children allergy symptoms abate or even disappear during the summer months, some nevertheless continue to struggle with seasonal allergies. Other children will unfortunately discover new allergies that present themselves in warmer temperatures. They´ll need their parents help remaining active and even comfortable.
Summer sometimes presents new allergy problems.
Late spring and early summer make up the blooming time of thousands of plants and flowers. Tree pollens, molds and mildews stimulated by warm, wet temperatures, and grass allergies all typically last from spring through mid-summer. Making matters worse, ragweed begins blooming in mid-August and continues through October. Ragweed, among the most common allergies, often provokes hay fever and other allergic symptoms.
Pollen levels vary from day to day. Typically, pollen counts in the atmosphere are highest between five and ten in the morning. Many local news outlets publish or broadcast pollen levels each day, so parents can anticipate their fluctuation.
The three basic types of allergic reactions.
Allergic reactions are typically classified according to level of severity:
Mild reactions affect a certain part of the body with symptoms such as watery eyes or hives. They do not spread to other parts of the body.
Moderate reactions typically include respiratory problems such as difficulty breathing but may also include itchiness. They will spread to other parts of the body.
Severe reactions are extremely painful and usually involve some form of anaphylaxis, a condition in which a drastic drop in blood pressure sends the body into shock. Severe reactions are relatively rare but require immediate medical assistance.
Dealing with hay fever, the most common reaction.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, hay fever is the most common allergy problem in children. Also called allergic rhinitis, hay fever carries all the classical signs of allergy suffering: sneezing, watery and itchy eyes, and postnasal drip and congestion.
Hay fever also contributes to ear infections in children. Inflammation and fluid accumulation in the ear can cause infections that in some cases may lead to temporary hearing loss. Itchiness, popping, and fullness (or stopped up ears) are also common symptoms.
Skin reactions and other allergy symptoms
Children struggling with allergies sometimes breathe through their mouth to compensate for stuffed nasal passages. "Shiners," or dark rings around the eyes, are also common.
Besides hay fever symptoms, children commonly suffer allergic reactions to the skin. Atopic dermatitis, often called atopic eczema, occurs alongside reactions such as sneezing and watery eyes (also called allergic conjunctivitis.) Its symptoms strongly resemble psoriasis and other forms of skin rash. Atopic eczema is extremely common in children and even some kinds of dogs. It´s also non-contagious.
Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into direct contact with an allergen. Typical sources include poison ivy, poison oak, and several kinds of detergents that carry a high nickel content. Treatments include taking antihistamines and washing the infected area with soap and water. Other treatments involve applying either calamine lotion or a poultice of colloidal oatmeal.
Obviously parents whose children play in the woods or other forested areas need to advise themselves and their children about the shapes and signs of poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and other allergy-inducing plant life. A supply of first aids, including non-drowsy antihistamines, colloidal oatmeal and calamine lotion should also be kept close at hand.
Indoor allergies are controllable with parents´ help.
With the hot weather days, children may be forced to spend time indoors. Unfortunately, indoor allergies are just as prevalent during the summer months. Staying indoors is often recommended to children with severe allergy symptoms if only because air conditioning systems help to filter out much of the pollen floating in the air outside.
Some of the most common indoor allergens during the summer months include dust mites, pet hair and dander, and mold spores. Hay fever is again among the most common symptoms, but in some instances allergic asthma is also possible. A persistent wheezing or noisy breath is the most frequently occurring sign of allergic asthma, and patients should consult their doctor or an allergist to obtain the right diagnosis and treatment.
Many parents often believe a clean house or sterile indoor environment will help alleviate allergy symptoms. While that´s a noble goal, many of the substances that form common household dust (made from dozens of different biological and chemical sources) cannot be removed through normal cleaning procedures. Vigorous housecleaning can even make allergy conditions worse by forcing long-settled dust in corners and buried deep within carpeting to rise into the house´s air.
Understanding house dust and mold as a source of allergies.
House dust is principally caused by dust mites, a very tiny member of the arachnid family whose population peaks during July and August. Dust mites often continue to present allergy problems during the fall as well, as their body parts and waste often decompose into matter that further contributes to house dust.
Mold levels in the home usually peak in the summer months but may also continue year round in tropical or more humid areas like the American Southeast. Mildew and other forms of lichen may also pose allergy problems in children especially.
Scrubbing the air and minimizing dust mite growth
While completely removing allergens from the home is virtually impossible, parents can reduce airborne and other pollutants by aggressively limiting their capability for exposure. This can include installing a HEPA filter in the air conditioning system and covering mattresses with plastic sheeting that traps dust mites.
Parents can also seal the home by making sure windows and doors are kept closed during the daytime, when pollen counts are highest. Parents should also keep the house relatively free of humidity, as this too can inflame allergic symptoms.
If all these measures are still insufficient, there are a variety of medications to consider with the guidance of an allergist.
Treating allergy symptoms in children
The most common means of fighting allergic reactions is to use medications that block the body´s production of histamine, the source of most adverse allergic reactions such as sneezing and watery eyes. These antihistamines are available both in prescription and nonprescription strengths. Dosages range from several times daily to every day or two. Doctors may also prescribe weekly allergy shots.
Decongestants, another widespread treatment, work to prevent many allergy symptoms by shrinking blood vessels along nasal tissues.
Many antihistamines and decongestants cause severe drowsiness as a side effect. Parents should make sure such drugs aren´t given before children play outside, as such drowsiness may impair their awareness of conditions around them.
A new generation of combination antihistamine/decongestants is currently available by prescription. Doctors will assign these medicines to children only after careful inspection.
Some forms of nasal steroids are available, but should be used consistently to achieve results. However, prolonged use among children may result in slower growth rates.
Testing for allergies and their symptoms
The best means of determining allergies, especially in children, remains the specific pinprick testing used by most allergists. A trained testing specialist will administer very small doses of common allergens to the child´s skin via the head of a pin. If the exposed skin shows an adverse reaction, the allergist will reasonably deduce an allergy to that substance. Skin diseases and exposure to antihistamines will distort test results, however.
Besides testing, parents can also reasonably assume a certain allergy to some substances when known allergies are taken into consideration. For example, allergies to pollen likely indicate an allergy to ragweed, and vice versa.
Allergies have a strong hereditary component. Adults who suffer from their effects are up to 50% likely to pass allergy susceptibility (though not necessarily a specific allergy) to their children. Parents with allergies can anticipate them in their children and move quickly to minimize allergens in the nursery, child´s bedroom, and play areas.
Preventing allergy flare-ups in summertime and all year round
As noted above, the best means to avoid allergic reactions is simply to help children avoid the allergens that provoke symptoms. Parents should work to remove or minimize the presence of allergens in the child´s daily life through whatever means necessary.
Parents will probably not be surprised to learn that eliminating smoking inside the home can drastically reduce a child´s susceptibility to allergies. Upgrading the filters on vacuum cleaners will also reduce, but not eliminate, the amount of dusts and dust mites in the home atmosphere.
Finally, a certain amount of exercise that helps condition the cardiovascular and respiratory systems is also an important means to build up stamina and respiratory strength.
Michael Kabel is senior staff writer for Corner Stork Baby Gifts.com. Stop by for parenting and baby resources, unique baby gifts, baby gift baskets and baby shower favors.
But for some children and even adults, the spring and summer months present a daily challenge of living and coping with often-severe allergies. Research shows that as many as forty-five million Americans (twenty percent of the population) struggles with some form of allergy, with hay fever and asthma symptoms being among the most common.
Children usually develop seasonal allergies before their sixth birthday. While for many children allergy symptoms abate or even disappear during the summer months, some nevertheless continue to struggle with seasonal allergies. Other children will unfortunately discover new allergies that present themselves in warmer temperatures. They´ll need their parents help remaining active and even comfortable.
Summer sometimes presents new allergy problems.
Late spring and early summer make up the blooming time of thousands of plants and flowers. Tree pollens, molds and mildews stimulated by warm, wet temperatures, and grass allergies all typically last from spring through mid-summer. Making matters worse, ragweed begins blooming in mid-August and continues through October. Ragweed, among the most common allergies, often provokes hay fever and other allergic symptoms.
Pollen levels vary from day to day. Typically, pollen counts in the atmosphere are highest between five and ten in the morning. Many local news outlets publish or broadcast pollen levels each day, so parents can anticipate their fluctuation.
The three basic types of allergic reactions.
Allergic reactions are typically classified according to level of severity:
Mild reactions affect a certain part of the body with symptoms such as watery eyes or hives. They do not spread to other parts of the body.
Moderate reactions typically include respiratory problems such as difficulty breathing but may also include itchiness. They will spread to other parts of the body.
Severe reactions are extremely painful and usually involve some form of anaphylaxis, a condition in which a drastic drop in blood pressure sends the body into shock. Severe reactions are relatively rare but require immediate medical assistance.
Dealing with hay fever, the most common reaction.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, hay fever is the most common allergy problem in children. Also called allergic rhinitis, hay fever carries all the classical signs of allergy suffering: sneezing, watery and itchy eyes, and postnasal drip and congestion.
Hay fever also contributes to ear infections in children. Inflammation and fluid accumulation in the ear can cause infections that in some cases may lead to temporary hearing loss. Itchiness, popping, and fullness (or stopped up ears) are also common symptoms.
Skin reactions and other allergy symptoms
Children struggling with allergies sometimes breathe through their mouth to compensate for stuffed nasal passages. "Shiners," or dark rings around the eyes, are also common.
Besides hay fever symptoms, children commonly suffer allergic reactions to the skin. Atopic dermatitis, often called atopic eczema, occurs alongside reactions such as sneezing and watery eyes (also called allergic conjunctivitis.) Its symptoms strongly resemble psoriasis and other forms of skin rash. Atopic eczema is extremely common in children and even some kinds of dogs. It´s also non-contagious.
Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into direct contact with an allergen. Typical sources include poison ivy, poison oak, and several kinds of detergents that carry a high nickel content. Treatments include taking antihistamines and washing the infected area with soap and water. Other treatments involve applying either calamine lotion or a poultice of colloidal oatmeal.
Obviously parents whose children play in the woods or other forested areas need to advise themselves and their children about the shapes and signs of poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and other allergy-inducing plant life. A supply of first aids, including non-drowsy antihistamines, colloidal oatmeal and calamine lotion should also be kept close at hand.
Indoor allergies are controllable with parents´ help.
With the hot weather days, children may be forced to spend time indoors. Unfortunately, indoor allergies are just as prevalent during the summer months. Staying indoors is often recommended to children with severe allergy symptoms if only because air conditioning systems help to filter out much of the pollen floating in the air outside.
Some of the most common indoor allergens during the summer months include dust mites, pet hair and dander, and mold spores. Hay fever is again among the most common symptoms, but in some instances allergic asthma is also possible. A persistent wheezing or noisy breath is the most frequently occurring sign of allergic asthma, and patients should consult their doctor or an allergist to obtain the right diagnosis and treatment.
Many parents often believe a clean house or sterile indoor environment will help alleviate allergy symptoms. While that´s a noble goal, many of the substances that form common household dust (made from dozens of different biological and chemical sources) cannot be removed through normal cleaning procedures. Vigorous housecleaning can even make allergy conditions worse by forcing long-settled dust in corners and buried deep within carpeting to rise into the house´s air.
Understanding house dust and mold as a source of allergies.
House dust is principally caused by dust mites, a very tiny member of the arachnid family whose population peaks during July and August. Dust mites often continue to present allergy problems during the fall as well, as their body parts and waste often decompose into matter that further contributes to house dust.
Mold levels in the home usually peak in the summer months but may also continue year round in tropical or more humid areas like the American Southeast. Mildew and other forms of lichen may also pose allergy problems in children especially.
Scrubbing the air and minimizing dust mite growth
While completely removing allergens from the home is virtually impossible, parents can reduce airborne and other pollutants by aggressively limiting their capability for exposure. This can include installing a HEPA filter in the air conditioning system and covering mattresses with plastic sheeting that traps dust mites.
Parents can also seal the home by making sure windows and doors are kept closed during the daytime, when pollen counts are highest. Parents should also keep the house relatively free of humidity, as this too can inflame allergic symptoms.
If all these measures are still insufficient, there are a variety of medications to consider with the guidance of an allergist.
Treating allergy symptoms in children
The most common means of fighting allergic reactions is to use medications that block the body´s production of histamine, the source of most adverse allergic reactions such as sneezing and watery eyes. These antihistamines are available both in prescription and nonprescription strengths. Dosages range from several times daily to every day or two. Doctors may also prescribe weekly allergy shots.
Decongestants, another widespread treatment, work to prevent many allergy symptoms by shrinking blood vessels along nasal tissues.
Many antihistamines and decongestants cause severe drowsiness as a side effect. Parents should make sure such drugs aren´t given before children play outside, as such drowsiness may impair their awareness of conditions around them.
A new generation of combination antihistamine/decongestants is currently available by prescription. Doctors will assign these medicines to children only after careful inspection.
Some forms of nasal steroids are available, but should be used consistently to achieve results. However, prolonged use among children may result in slower growth rates.
Testing for allergies and their symptoms
The best means of determining allergies, especially in children, remains the specific pinprick testing used by most allergists. A trained testing specialist will administer very small doses of common allergens to the child´s skin via the head of a pin. If the exposed skin shows an adverse reaction, the allergist will reasonably deduce an allergy to that substance. Skin diseases and exposure to antihistamines will distort test results, however.
Besides testing, parents can also reasonably assume a certain allergy to some substances when known allergies are taken into consideration. For example, allergies to pollen likely indicate an allergy to ragweed, and vice versa.
Allergies have a strong hereditary component. Adults who suffer from their effects are up to 50% likely to pass allergy susceptibility (though not necessarily a specific allergy) to their children. Parents with allergies can anticipate them in their children and move quickly to minimize allergens in the nursery, child´s bedroom, and play areas.
Preventing allergy flare-ups in summertime and all year round
As noted above, the best means to avoid allergic reactions is simply to help children avoid the allergens that provoke symptoms. Parents should work to remove or minimize the presence of allergens in the child´s daily life through whatever means necessary.
Parents will probably not be surprised to learn that eliminating smoking inside the home can drastically reduce a child´s susceptibility to allergies. Upgrading the filters on vacuum cleaners will also reduce, but not eliminate, the amount of dusts and dust mites in the home atmosphere.
Finally, a certain amount of exercise that helps condition the cardiovascular and respiratory systems is also an important means to build up stamina and respiratory strength.
Michael Kabel is senior staff writer for Corner Stork Baby Gifts.com. Stop by for parenting and baby resources, unique baby gifts, baby gift baskets and baby shower favors.
