Before allergy treatment can begin, the problem allergen must be identified. Allergens that are present all year usually provoke the year round symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis. On the other hand, pollen is usually the allergen that triggers seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

When it comes to hay fever treatment, there’s not much difference between treating a child and treating an adult. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), managing allergies (including hay fever) is based on four simple principles.

1. Avoid the allergen that causes symptoms.

Reducing your child’s exposure to pollen may seem impossible. It’s not. It’s just time-consuming. Avoiding pollen indoors means careful cleaning of surfaces and air. Allergists call it environmental control. The AAAAI lists allergen avoidance as the first step in allergy management, because hay fever symptoms can’t develop unless the immune system is first exposed to the allergenic pollen. No exposure - no symptoms. Plus, environmental control requires no prescription, has no side effects, and can be relatively inexpensive.

2. Use appropriate treatments.

Together with pollen avoidance, the AAAAI recommends a combination of allergy medications (to reduce symptoms) and palliative care (techniques to soothe symptoms). Medicines may include corticosteroids or cromolyn sodium (to reduce inflammation), antihistamines (to prevent sneezing and itching in the nose, throat, and eyes), decongestants (to relieve the stuffiness and pressure of congested sinuses), or a combination of these.

To determine the best medication for your child doctors use a method called “titration.” Simply put, titration involves adjusting the dosage or type of medicine until the best control is achieved, with the least side effects. Your role can’t be overemphasized. You’ll be asked to observe your child carefully and provide the doctor with the information needed to assess the effectiveness of the dosage and medication. Follow directions exactly, and give your health care provider the best feedback you can.

To relieve symptoms, the AAAAI recommends nasal rinse (rinsing the nostrils with warm salt water) and warm mist inhalation. Warm mist inhalation is safer for children. Have your child breathe over a basin of warm - not hot — water, with a towel over the head and basin to keep the mist in). Warm mist humidifiers are a whole-room solution, but be careful about using one if mold is also an allergy trigger. Appliances designed specifically to deliver warm mist for inhalation have recently become available. The AAAAI calls for 10- to 15-minute treatments, 2 to 4 times daily.

3. Evaluate for immunotherapy.

Allergy shots are usually reserved for children with severe symptoms that haven’t been effectively reduced by environmental control or medication. It can take years to achieve immunity through allergy shots. Keep in mind that young children are simply unable to comprehend long-term benefits. Talk to your doctor about immunotherapy if your child’s hay fever symptoms are severe or uncontrolled, but consider your child’s maturity carefully before beginning allergy shots for childhood hay fever.

4. Seek follow-up care.

One trip to the doctor is not effective allergy treatment, according to the AAAAI. Follow-up care is especially important for children because of the need to adjust medication. If your health care provider fails to suggest ongoing care — the kind recommended by the AAAAI’s 2000 Practice Parameters — you may want to ask for a referral to a pediatric allergy specialist.

Life after hay fever

Will she grow out of it? Will medications help him? Will I ever have a life beyond wiping that runny nose? When these normal worries start remind yourself that seasonal allergic rhinitis is just that - seasonal. Getting through allergy season can challenge your parenting abilities and your patience, but you can do it. When it feels especially overwhelming, be glad the pollen is a seasonal allergen and not usually year round. You and your child have the end of the season to look forward to. When it comes, don’t forget to celebrate!

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 15th, 2007 at 10:14 am and is filed under Kids. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.