Allergies can cause kids a world of misery, and parents to be stricken with worry. Fortunately, implementing these simple tips can help to identify allergy triggers, alleviate children’s allergy symptoms, and provide parents with some much-needed assurance.
Overview
An allergy is an exaggerated response of your child’s immune system to allergens, which include allergy triggers such as dust mites , mold , pet dancer and pollen . When your child comes into contact with these allergens, his or her body mistakenly identifies them as harmful substances, and attacks them by releasing histamine into the body, causing your child to experience the symptoms of an allergy.
CHILDREN'S ALLERGY SYMPTOMS
ITCHY, WATERY EYES
SNEEZING
ITCHY NOSE OR THROAT
NASAL CONGESTION
Be it at home, school, the park or other places, it’s virtually impossible for a child to completely avoid being exposed to both indoor and outdoor allergens. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize their exposure to common allergy triggers and manage their symptoms effectively, which will enable your little one to spend more time playing, and less time sneezing.
Tips for Keeping Kid’s Allergies in Check
- It Takes a Village
Between going to school, having play dates with friends, or spending the night at lolo and lola’s house, your child’s exposure to both indoor and outdoor allergens are somewhat out of your control. However, you can still manage your child’s exposure to allergy triggers by sitting down with everyone who comes into regular contact with your child, explaining to them about your child’s allergies, and letting them know how they can help to prevent your child from suffering an allergy attack.
- Wash Away Allergens and Allergy Triggers
Your child may not always remember to tell you that they were exposed to an allergy trigger, or allergy triggers, which include petting a friend’s dog, or playing under the sun all day. Hence, to minimize their exposure to allergens, have them make it a habit to wash their faces and hands thoroughly with soap and water when they come home.
- Open Up
It’s important to talk openly with your children about common allergy triggers. Equipping them with this information will help them to look out for and avoid these allergens. For example, chalkboard dust or their classmate’s peanut butter sandwich.
- Keep Track
A child's allergy symptoms may include a runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and an itchy throat. Monitor your child’s symptoms and keep note of them in a tracker. Check in with your doctor from time to time, to make sure you’re giving your child the right treatment. - Sleep Smart
Allergies can have a debilitating effect on sleep, cause daytime fatigue and impact your child’s academic performance. Therefore, it is essential that your child is getting enough restful sleep daily in order for them to be at their best every day. Furthermore, antihistamines that cause drowsiness can affect your child’s sleep quality and have residual effects the day after, so it’s recommended to opt for a less-drowsy anti-allergy medication.
- Be Prepared
Be sure to keep children’s allergy medicine on hand for whenever allergy symptoms may strike. Loratadine (Claritin®) provides less-drowsy allergy relief vs. cetirizine and works up to 24 hours. Consult with your doctor or local pharmacist to know the important considerations when it comes to children’s allergy medicine, such as safety profile and dosage requirements.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor. Individual responses may vary.
ASC Ref No. B079N072721CS
L.PH.MKT.CC.05.2021.1008
REFERENCES
- Allergy Prevention Tips. Accessed February 9, 2018.
- Haria, M et al. “Loratadine. A reappraisal of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use in allergic disorders.” Drugs vol. 48,4 (1994): 617-37. doi:10.2165/00003495-199448040-00009
