Seasonal Allergies And Your Child: What You Need To Know
If it feels like your child has a never-ending cold, seasonal allergies may be the culprit. Some of the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies include itchy, watery eyes, persistent sneezing, a constant cough, and a runny nose. Here are a few important things you need to know about successfully alleviating your child's seasonal allergy symptoms.
Dosage Matters
It isn't enough to simply pick up a bottle of allergy medication and select a dose that corresponds to your child's age. Instead, you need to weigh your child and adjust the dosage based on your child's weight. Make sure that you are administering the medication at the appropriate intervals. This helps keep your child's seasonal allergy symptoms under control.
Prevention Can Help
No parent wants to medicate a child if the child does not need the medication. However, it is better to give your child seasonal allergy medication before your child starts exhibiting severe symptoms. Consider giving your child a daily seasonal allergy medication every morning when pollen and and allergens are at their highest for your area. Once you believe the worst is over, you can reduce the dose or stop administering the seasonal allergy medication.
Over-the-Counter Medication May Not Be Sufficient
If you are consistently giving your child an over-the-counter allergy medication at the correct dosage, but are unsatisfied with the results, it is time to pay a visit to your child's pediatrician. Your child may need to take a stronger, prescription medication to successfully get seasonal allergy symptoms under control. Some children may need a combination of medications, such as steroids and anti-histamines.
Depending on the severity of your child's allergies, your pediatrician may recommend that your child undergo allergy testing. Allergy testing exposes your children to potential allergens in a controlled setting. It helps identify what allergens cause your child's symptoms. You can then take steps to avoid those allergens or switch your child's medication to one that is more effective for that specific allergen.
Allergy shots are another option for dealing with seasonal allergies. An advantage of allergy shots is that, over time, they can reduce your child's reactions to the known allergens.
Make Short-Term Lifestyle Changes
Temporarily changing your lifestyle is another way to keep your child's allergies under control. You may want to avoid going outside when allergens at their highest. If your child does go outside, have your child shower and change clothing when they come back inside to reduce the amount of exposure to problematic allergens.
For more tips on combating your child's seasonal allergies, talk to a doctor at clinics like Better Family Care.
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