Take Your Child to Pediatrician in Westminster, CO Come Allergy Season

A drop in the temperature signals the beginning of the winter season. Unfortunately, it can also signal the start of your child’s sniffling and sneezing. If he has a stuffy nose and watery eyes right about the time winter comes along, that means he has seasonal allergies.

According to PennLive.com:

Children’s seasonal allergies generally appear in toddlers with clear nasal drainage and red, itchy, watery eyes and can be distinguished from colds if symptoms last for longer than two weeks and continue to recur, said Tracy B. Fausnight, associate professor of pediatrics and medicine at Penn State Hershey’s Division of Allergy and Immunology. 

Parents usually first notice a child’s cough that leads to “wet” symptoms, like mucousy coughs and running noses, said Dr. Robert Zuckerman, a Harrisburg-area allergy and asthma specialist. The rapid-fire sneezing comes later.

What causes allergies during winter?

When you turn on the furnace, the machine sends dust, pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens into the air. These can get into your child’s nose and trigger a reaction. The more time you spend indoors during the winter, the more your family becomes exposed to these irritants.

How can you prevent allergies?

Controlling your child’s exposure to allergens is the answer. If possible, remove carpeting, stuffed animals, and drapes from your home. Wrap the mattress and pillows in plastic. Don’t put any plants in his bedroom because decaying leaves can stimulate the growth of mold. Use HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorption) filters for your furnace, and vacuum regularly. If you have pets and cannot remove them from the household, keep them away from your child’s bedroom at all times.

How do you treat them?

Treatments for seasonal allergies include antihistamines, decongestants, and allergy shots. Before administering any of these to your child, be sure to consult a pediatrician in Westminster, CO regarding proper application. As the same PennLive.com article points out:

[I]f a child’s mild allergies are not treated and continuously recur, the chronic symptoms may progress to wheezing and breathing problems, perhaps asthma and then eczema. “Treating your child earlier on can break the link in the allergy march,” Zuckerman said. “Maybe sneezing and itchy eyes are no big deal at first. Then it becomes a big deal and it’s too late to treat.”

When his allergies become serious or frequent, take your child to a pediatrician in Westminister. You can find good pediatricians at practices like Indian Crest Pediatrics.

(Article Excerpts and Image from Stop the sneezes: Ways to help your kids deal with seasonal allergies, Penn Live, April 21, 2013, updated May 31, 2013)