Over-the-counter medications and making changes around the house can ease allergy symptoms.
What To Do if Your Child Has Fall Allergies
With autumn’s falling leaves and cooler days come the runny noses and itchy eyes that fall allergies bring. Pollen from ragweed, mold due to moisture inside the home and leaves outside, and dust from turning on furnaces are common causes of allergies this time of year.
Symptoms include congestion, coughing, sore throat, sneezing and itchy, watery eyes. Children also may not rest as well if they’re congested. Kids with asthma and bad eczema and those who have a family history of allergies are more prone to allergies. Cincinnati Children’s offers these tips for dealing with fall allergies.
When to call the doctor
For kids ages 4 and up, if your child shows symptoms and has a strong family history of allergies, it’s OK to try an over-the-counter allergy remedy for several days. If there’s no improvement, call your pediatrician.
Don’t treat infants and toddlers with over-the-counter allergy medicines. At that age it can be hard to tell the difference between allergies and other conditions. Call your pediatrician.
Know the signs of more serious illness
Seasonal allergies share symptoms with respiratory infections such as flu, cold, RSV and COVID-19. However, allergies don’t cause fever and typically don’t cause difficulty breathing unless another respiratory condition such as asthma is present. This document can help you decide if your child has something more serious than allergies.
Talk to your pediatrician
Your child’s doctor can recommend medication such as over-the-counter antihistamines, nasal steroids, eye drops and a saline rinse for the nose to ease congestion and wash out allergens. The doctor can refer your child to an allergist, if needed, and discuss proper dosing for children of different ages.
Other ways to ease symptoms
- Know what environmental factor sets off your child’s allergies. Start giving your kids their allergy medicine when those allergens start to rise.
- Keep your furnace clean. Change your furnace filter before turning it on for the first time.
- Close your windows at night. This will help reduce the mold and pollen entering the house.
- Wash and protect bedding. Use dust mite covers on your child’s mattresses and pillows. Washing sheets in hot water at least once a week can help too.
- Reduce humidity. Use a dehumidifier and repair any water damage to reduce the chance of mold.
- Drink plenty of water. If post-nasal drip is causing a sore throat, encourage your child to drink lots of fluids.
- Stay clean. Showering or bathing will wash off pollen.
To learn more, visit blog.cincinnatichildrens.org and search for “fall allergies.”
The Voice of Black Cincinnati is a media company designed to educate, recognize, and create opportunities for African Americans. Want to find local news, events, job postings, scholarships, and a database of local Black-owned businesses? Visit our homepage, explore other articles, subscribe to our newsletter, like our Facebook page, join our Facebook group, and text VOBC to 513-966-3328.
Photo Credit: Adobe Stock
