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The Season to Sneeze
Fall Allergy Tips
By Keath Castelloe Low
Allergy symptoms, even in young children, may range from mild to severe. The American Academy of Pediatrics lists some common symptoms that may indicate your child has an allergy:
- Recurrent red, itchy, dry, sometimes scaly rashes in the creases of the skin, wrist and ankles.
- Repeated or chronic cold-like symptoms that last more than a week or two, or develop at about the same time every year. These could include a runny nose, nasal stuffiness, sneezing and throat clearing.
- Nose rubbing, sniffling, snorting, sneezing and itchy, runny eyes.
- Itching or tingling sensations in the mouth and throat. Itchiness is not usually a complaint with a cold, but it is the hallmark of an allergy problem.
- Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and other respiratory symptoms. Coughing may be an isolated symptom; increases at night or with exercise are suspicious for asthma.
Unfortunately, many kids are allergic to pollen and mold, which can be found in abundance outside during this time of year. It is impossible to avoid it all together. To limit pollen exposure, try running the air-conditioning inside your home and in the car instead of having windows open. This will help prevent pollen from coming indoors. Most kids love to play outside, but for those who suffer seasonal allergies it is best to limit outdoor play at peak pollen times – midday for ragweed in the fall. Big piles of leaves are fun to jump and play in this time of year, but they also may contain molds. Avoid decaying leaves if your child has seasonal allergies.
