Many parents are familiar with the sounds of sneezing, coughing, sniffling, and wheezing coming from their child, especially during the spring months. If your little one has allergies, you’re probably wondering how you can ease their symptoms.
Gina Labovitz, MD, FAAP, at Ross Bridge Medical Center Pediatrics wants you to know that while there’s no cure for allergies, symptoms can be managed if you take the right steps.
Find the root cause
Managing your child’s allergies starts with a visit to your pediatrician. If Dr. Labovitz determines that your child’s symptoms are due to allergies, she may order an allergy test to find out exactly what your child is allergic to. This is important, because the best way to manage allergies is to avoid the triggers, and you can’t avoid the triggers if you don’t know what they are.
Do a deep clean
If you find out that your little one is allergic to indoor environmental allergens, such as dust, mold, or pests, it may be worth hiring a professional to deep clean your home to make sure there are no traces of the troublesome allergens. Even if you keep a tidy home, there’s a chance that allergens could be lurking somewhere.
Manage pet dander
Unfortunately, many children are allergic to cats and dogs. The only true way to avoid allergic reactions is to keep pets outside of your home. However, if you already have an indoor pet, you can make some helpful changes. For instance, don’t let the pet in your child’s bedroom, get your pet groomed so less hair falls out, and sweep or vacuum regularly to keep pet hair to a minimum.
Consider an air purifier
Air purifiers may not be cheap, but they’re a great investment if your child has allergies. A high-quality air purifier can put an end to many allergy woes. Plus, everyone in your home will breathe cleaner air. A good air purifier can remove a high percentage of pet dander, dust, smoke, and other environmental allergens from the air in your home.
Check conditions before going outside
If your child is allergic to grass, pollen, or other outdoor allergens, do two things before heading outside. First, check your local weather report. Checking the weather can offer valuable insights, such as the total pollen count in the air that day. Second, take a look outside. Looking outside can help keep your child from breathing in grass bits if your neighbor is mowing their lawn.
Ask about treatments
If your child’s allergies persist despite your best efforts to avoid allergens, ask Dr. Labovitz about allergy treatments. Antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids are two common treatments for allergy symptoms, and immunotherapy ― allergy shots ― may be an option if your child has particularly severe allergies.
To learn more about managing allergies in children or to find out if your child has allergies, book an appointment online or over the phone with Ross Bridge Medical Center Pediatrics today.