Allergy season is approaching and you or your kids may already have the sniffles. If you’re unsure if it’s allergies or a cold when it comes to your little ones, some symptoms of seasonal allergies include sneezing, sniffling, wheezing, and teary eyes.
We talked to Dr. Sylvia Romm, who is a pediatrician and treats patients using LiveHealth Online. She told us a few things you can do if you find your children (or even yourself!) suffering from spring allergies.
- Figure out what triggers the allergy and avoid it. When warmer weather comes, you may want to open the windows in let in the breeze, but that may not be best for those suffering from allergies. Since it may be a trigger, this means keeping windows closed and using air conditioning instead to prevent outside pollen and other particles from getting inside.
- Wash up! You may consider not letting the kids go outside if they have spring allergies, but after a long winter, they’ll want to get out and enjoy the spring weather. Make sure once they are back inside you wash hands, face, and clothes. Washing off can help remove the allergens that are triggering the allergy symptoms, making them less severe.
- Try nasal rinses. Dr. Romm says using saline to do a nasal rinse helps some kids find relief. However, since nasal rinses can be difficult to do in children and are effective in only about half of the population, don’t hesitate to move on to another treatment if the rinse doesn’t seem to be doing the job!
- Talk to a doctor! Talking to a doctor can help figure out the best way to help spring allergies, especially if this is the first time you’re dealing with them. A doctor may prescribe antihistamines or if allergies are really bad, a steroid nasal spray could help.
If you have questions about your allergies and would like to speak to a doctor, you can use LiveHealth Online 24/7 to see a doctor from your cellphone, computer or tablet without leaving home. If you’re already registered, login here.
Comments and opinions from Dr. Sylvia Romm are hers alone. This is content from an interview and is not considered medical treatment.
