Nature can be pretty to many, but to others it can be a nuisance. I have several environmental allergies and recall how it felt to deal with them as a child. Examples of environmental allergens are pollen, grass, ragweed, and mold. Here are my four tips to manage your child’s environmental allergies.
- Give local medications such as nasal spray and eye drops first. When you give medications to one area of the body, you avoid the possibility of drowsiness, which that can be seen with oral antihistamines such as Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec or Allegra.
- If a medication is prescribed as a daily steroid medication for the nose or eyes, please give it daily. Steroids prevent inflammation (swelling) and mucus production. By preventing these symptoms, you greatly reduce the allergic reaction. If you wait until after the symptoms begin, the inflammatory reaction has already started and the slow acting steroid will not take effect for days.
- Try to keep your windows closed. If you use the car air conditioner, select the Recirculate option. The best way to avoid an allergic reaction is to prevent exposure.
- Never underestimate the power of humidified air and nasal saline. It is easier to breathe humified air even when you don’t have nasal congestion. Using a cool mist humidifier or placing your child in a steamy shower can help provide relief. Nasal saline keeps the nasal passages moisturized and can help remove inhaled particles.
