Seasonal Allergies

...tis the season for sneezing and wheezing!

As the weather warms up, the trees and fields turn green, and the flowers begin to blossom, colds and flu give way to seasonal allergies. Cincinnati is notorious for being a difficult place for allergy sufferers to live.

How do I know if my child has seasonal allergies?

If your child has seasonal allergies the answer to many of the following questions is likely to be yes. These questions include:

• Do the symptoms seem to occur at certain times of the year, and not at other times of year?
• Are the signs of illness such as fever and pain absent?
• Do the symptoms include watery, itchy eyes, and clear runny nose?
• Do the symptoms tend to be worse with prolonged time spent outside?
• Is there a family history for seasonal allergies or asthma?

What are the some of the signs and symptoms that a child has allergies?

Any combination of the following may be present: sneezing, itchy nose, watery nasal discharge, nasal congestion, snoring, itchy throat, itchy eyes, redness of the eyes, dark circles under the eyes, double folds in the lower eyelids, horizontal crease across the nose, frequent nosebleeds.

What can I do if I think my child has allergies?

If you think your child may be suffering from allergies, they should be seen in the office for full evaluation. One over the counter medication that can be tried in the meantime is diphenhydramine (Benadryl). This should be somewhat helpful in treating symptoms if the symptoms are truly caused by allergies. It may however make your child sleepy. Loratidine (Claritin) and Cetirizine (Zyrtec) are now available over the counter. This is the same long-acting, non-sedating medication that used to be prescription, and it is reasonable to give this a try.

What causes allergies?

Allergy symptoms are the body's response to certain airborne irritants. The primary culprits in seasonal allergies include: grass, pollen, mold, & ragweed. These irritants (allergens) cause the body to produce inflammatory mediators such as histamine and leukotrienes. These inflammatory mediators trigger certain cells in the body to produce or release fluids such as mucous and tears.

Are certain allergens common during different times of the year?

Classically, trees are the responsible in the spring, grass in the summer, and weeds in the fall.

What can the doctor do to help with allergies?

There are many prescription medications that can be used to treat allergies in children. You may have seen some of them advertised on television. Many of these medications are used commonly by the primary care physician and do not require referral to an allergist. The medications in this group include, by mouth long acting antihistamines, nasal sprays (antihistamine and steroid), and eye drops. A newer class of medicines called Leukotreiene receptor antagonists (i.e. Montelukast aka: Singulair) can also be used to treat seasonal allergies. These meds were originally developed to help patients suffering from asthma, but over time have proven to be helpful with allergies as well, and are now FDA approved for this indication. If these medications do not give the relief that is desired, then a referral to an allergist for testing and possible immunotherapy (allergy shots) may be necessary.

If you are concerned that your child may be having allergic symptoms, please call our office to make an appointment so that treatment can be started if necessary.

JDMD 4/9/01, revised 4/7/04, 4/13/05, 2/12/09