From being the most awaited season for most species to becoming the most hated one amongst the allergic ones, the spring season has always been the talk of the town amongst other seasons.
The resulting pollens from trees, grass, and flowers trigger a plethora of people’s allergy symptoms, depending on the amount of pollen released in your location.
However, springtime allergies do not necessarily occur alone. There’s a 90% chance that your allergic child also has asthma. So, how do you manage springtime allergies and asthma in children? Read on to know.
What are Springtime Allergies?
Springtime allergies, also known as hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis, are a result of our immune system’s overreaction to certain environmental triggers or allergens that are prevalent during spring.
These triggers primarily come in the form of pollen grains, which are released from trees, weeds, and grasses. Understanding these causes can empower us to better manage these allergies.
Grass:
Grass pollen allergy, a common culprit, affects around 30% of children in the U.S. alone, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. So, if your child is one of them, know that you’re not alone in this journey. Grass pollen allergens are particularly exposed during the late spring and early summer, with Johnson, Rye, and Timothy grasses being some of the main examples.
Trees:
Trees like Birch, cottonwood, pine, and cedar, which pollinate in spring, are usually major allergy triggers.
Though weeds mostly pollinate during late summer and fall, they can also cause hay fever. Weeds like Ragweed can grow in nearly every territory.
Can spring allergies cause asthma?
Spring allergies alone are not the cause of asthma. However, children having allergies or those carrying a family history of allergies have higher chances of getting asthma.
In allergic asthma, your airways tighten due to inhalation of an allergen. Some of the spring allergens like spores and pollens, likely take part in stimulating asthmatic symptoms, including coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, itchy eyes, rash, and stuffy nose. This type is very common in children.
How to manage Springtime Allergies and Asthma in Children?
Even though springtime allergies and asthma are difficult to cope with in children, they are manageable. Here is a multifaceted approach to managing them:
Identifying allergens
Though physical identification of explicit allergens isn’t possible, the reaction of your child to a specific set of triggers gives a big hint about the cause of asthmatic and hay fever symptoms. Try noting the pollen counts in your area which can be done via devices like the Burkard spore traps, manually via Rotords or pollen forecasts, etc.
Reducing allergen exposure
After identifying the triggers, you need to minimize your child’s outdoor activity during high-peak pollen times. Protective clothing like light, breathable long-sleeved shirt, with long pants can also help in reducing pollen exposure in children.
Treatment Options
According to researchers, a short course of prednisolone helps reducing acute asthma in children. Similarly, other nasal corticosteroids, antihistamines, inhalers, etc. can act as promising treatment options. For allergies, allergy shots, and sublingual drops can be used for immunotherapy.
Creating an Allergy and Asthma Action Plan
The degree of allergy and asthma is different in every child, and so requires making an explicit allergy and asthma action plan under expert supervision:
- Your doctor can identify the allergy and suspect triggers by analyzing history and blood tests.
- He will give a detailed medication schedule plan with usage instructions, diet, and lifestyle recommendations.
- Your doctor will also provide emergency contacts and instructions.
Wrap Up
Springtime allergies and asthma are very common in children and are hard to manage. However, identifying triggers, employing the right management plan, and seeking professional help might help your child live a symptom-free life.
