Summer Allergies
Understanding Your Child’s Summer Allergies
Summertime is supposed to be a fun and exciting time for your child, and no child ever wants to spend it sick all the time. If your child has summer allergies, you need to understand what causes them, what symptoms to watch out for, and how you can treat them.
Want to learn more about summer allergies? We, at Pediatric Partners want your child to be as healthy as possible during the summer and all year round. Call us today so we can discuss the possible solutions for your child’s allergies.
Common Causes of\Allergies
The biggest culprit during the spring and summer for triggering summer allergies is pollen. Trees, weeds and grasses create the most pollen during this time, and because each species sheds its pollen at different times, the potential for pollen allergies is high. Next on the list for outdoor triggers are insect bites, including bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets. If your child plays in areas that these insects frequent, it can mean a trip to the emergency room every time they get stung.
Some children cannot even be safe inside the home at all times. Dust, mold, pollen tracked inside and pet dander are often the most common triggers found in the home. One tiny and invisible trigger that has been making a comeback all over the country today is the dust mite. This annoying bug thrives during the summer, and loves to nest in fabric. This means that your child’s bed, clothes and even their toy chest can hold potential triggers all summer long.
Symptoms
Pollen allergies are often referred to as hay fever, and have itchy or runny noses, itchy or watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing as the main symptoms. One particular pollen, ragweed, has also been known to cause Oral Allergy Syndrome, which can often be mistaken as a food allergy. Certain fruits and vegetables can carry the pollen from the crop to the store and then to your home if you are not careful, and can cause an allergic reaction like a swollen throat, if your child touches or eats anything contaminated with the pollen. Always wash foods like bananas, melons, cucumbers, strawberries and apples carefully.
Airborne allergens like dust, pollution, mold and smoke can cause your child to develop symptoms that mimic an asthma attack. These include breathing difficulties, swelling of the airways, and shortness of breath. Insect bites can be very dangerous, and may cause swelling and itching on the skin, as well as dizziness, nausea and swelling of the throat or tongue.
Treatment
Should your child show any of the symptoms we have outlined, take them to see the doctor immediately. Better to be safe than sorry, and summer allergies can strike without warning. Some parents never know their child is allergic until it happens. Once diagnosed, antihistamines, decongestants, and prescription allergy shots will often treat all symptoms that occur. For insect bites and serious allergies, epinephrine will help with recovery.
Summer Allergies
Understanding Your Child’s Summer Allergies
Summertime is supposed to be a fun and exciting time for your child, and no child ever wants to spend it sick all the time. If your child has summer allergies, you need to understand what causes them, what symptoms to watch out for, and how you can treat them.
Want to learn more about summer allergies? We, at Pediatric Partners want your child to be as healthy as possible during the summer and all year round. Call us today so we can discuss the possible solutions for your child’s allergies.
Common Causes of\Allergies
The biggest culprit during the spring and summer for triggering summer allergies is pollen. Trees, weeds and grasses create the most pollen during this time, and because each species sheds its pollen at different times, the potential for pollen allergies is high. Next on the list for outdoor triggers are insect bites, including bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets. If your child plays in areas that these insects frequent, it can mean a trip to the emergency room every time they get stung.
Some children cannot even be safe inside the home at all times. Dust, mold, pollen tracked inside and pet dander are often the most common triggers found in the home. One tiny and invisible trigger that has been making a comeback all over the country today is the dust mite. This annoying bug thrives during the summer, and loves to nest in fabric. This means that your child’s bed, clothes and even their toy chest can hold potential triggers all summer long.
Symptoms
Pollen allergies are often referred to as hay fever, and have itchy or runny noses, itchy or watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing as the main symptoms. One particular pollen, ragweed, has also been known to cause Oral Allergy Syndrome, which can often be mistaken as a food allergy. Certain fruits and vegetables can carry the pollen from the crop to the store and then to your home if you are not careful, and can cause an allergic reaction like a swollen throat, if your child touches or eats anything contaminated with the pollen. Always wash foods like bananas, melons, cucumbers, strawberries and apples carefully.
Airborne allergens like dust, pollution, mold and smoke can cause your child to develop symptoms that mimic an asthma attack. These include breathing difficulties, swelling of the airways, and shortness of breath. Insect bites can be very dangerous, and may cause swelling and itching on the skin, as well as dizziness, nausea and swelling of the throat or tongue.
Treatment
Should your child show any of the symptoms we have outlined, take them to see the doctor immediately. Better to be safe than sorry, and summer allergies can strike without warning. Some parents never know their child is allergic until it happens. Once diagnosed, antihistamines, decongestants, and prescription allergy shots will often treat all symptoms that occur. For insect bites and serious allergies, epinephrine will help with recovery.