Happy first day of Spring!
Though you wouldn’t know it in my neck of the woods. I think we already had spring and are now back to winter. Crazy weather.
Regardless, with this crazy and constantly changing weather, seasonal allergies start cropping up and during this transition from winter to spring, it can often be very difficult for parents (and pediatricians too) to distinguish between run of the mill colds and allergies.
They can both start out looking very similar, leaving parents a bit frustrated and confused on how best to treat their child’s symptoms.
Follow me over to this week’s Dr. Mom column in The Sacramento Bee as I help you navigate the differences between viral induced colds and seasonal allergies (aka allergic rhinitis).
Plus, here are some quick allergy relief tips for your little ones:
-Keep your child indoors if possible when pollen counts are high. Check the pollen and mold counts in your area by clicking here. It’s the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology website.
-Have your child wash her hands upon returning from outdoor play so she doesn’t inadvertently rub her eyes with the offending allergen.
-Dust and vacuum often.
-Wash bedding frequently.
-Use air conditioning when possible. HEPA filters in child’s room may also aid in allergen reduction.
-Normal saline nose drops. Great for both allergic rhinitis and stuffy/congested noses due to colds.
-Discuss with your child’s doctor the possibility of allergy testing to aid in narrowing down your child’s offending allergens.
-Have your child evaluated by her pediatrician to determine what allergy medications are best in her situation. Be patient, this is sometimes a bit of trial and error before a good combination of medications and exposure reduction are found.
Does your child have seasonal allergies? What has helped?
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