Gail gutman and Lyndsey Garbi

The weather changes and boom! There’s a chorus of sneezes and sniffles in the house, accompanied by runny noses and watery eyes. Many of us recognize this as “allergies,” or “hay fever.”  Triggers can include (but are not limited to) a change in weather, being in a new place or around a new pet.  Let’s explore what is really going on behind these allergies.

 An allergen is something that your body falsely recognizes as harmful. When you breathe in things that you are allergic to, your body worries about the foreign substance and tries to get rid of it by making your nose and eyes runny and itchy. People can develop allergies during different times of year. One of the most common allergens is pollen, which usually shows up in the spring.  Many people also experience allergies year-round, to things like cockroaches, cats, dogs and mold. The most common signs of allergies are a stuffy or runny nose, coughing or clearing your throat, sneezing, eyes that are itchy, red and watery, a sore or itchy throat and difficulty sleeping at night. If you believe that your child may be suffering from allergies, get in touch with your pediatrician.  Your doctor will ask you questions to see what may be the culprit to your child’s symptoms. If necessary, something called a Skin Prick Test can help figure out what your child is allergic to. During this test, your doctor will make a tiny prick in your child’s skin with different kinds of allergens.  If your child is allergic to the substance, the skin will become inflamed and red, kind of like the nose and eyes would if he was breathing in the allergen! This test helps determine if your child is truly allergic to various substances and will help guide treatment. There are several ways that we can manage allergies. An antihistamine, available over the counter at your local drugstore, can help relieve the symptoms. There are many different kinds of this medicine, and you should talk to your doctor before you give it to your child. Your doctor may also prescribe a steroid nose spray, which is to be sprayed inside the nose regularly, even if your child is not currently experiencing any allergies. This will help prevent a runny nose. There are also eye drops that may keep your child’s eyes from watering. As a last resort, your doctor may consider giving your child something called “allergy shots.” These are injections that would be given either weekly or monthly and decrease the allergic symptoms as well as the chances of developing asthma later in life. Once we know what your child is allergic to, it is important to avoid the allergic triggers whenever possible and work with your pediatrician to prevent symptoms from interfering with your child’s daily life.  One great tip is to prevent dust build-up by washing the linens in your home regularly, and create a habit of wiping down dusty surfaces. And one more thing! Having a runny nose or red eyes in response to allergies usually isn't an emergency, but your child also may experience difficulty breathing as an allergic response. If your child is having trouble taking a deep breath or feels tightness in his chest, it could be an asthmatic response and you should dial 911 immediately.