The Challenge of Seasonal Allergies
If you have a child with seasonal allergies, you know how difficult this condition can be to manage. The uncomfortable symptoms, which include sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and nasal congestion, can make life miserable for your child, making it hard to sleep and even harder to concentrate at school. It may seem that seasonal allergies are inevitable, but there are steps you can take to manage your child’s allergies and help promote good health.
South Florida Allergens
Seasonal allergies cause problems for children all over the nation, when the immune system overacts to allergens in the environment. It is important to understand what’s impacting your child, and the allergens that exist in your specific area, so that you can take appropriate measures to prevent and treat them. In Tampa, seasonal allergies are generally caused by pollen from grass, trees, and weeds, as well as mold, which thrives in the high humidity of the area.
Treating Allergies
Several different over-the-counter medications are available to help manage the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Oral antihistamines can help with moderate allergy symptoms like sneezing and a runny nose, and nasal steroid sprays can help reduce nasal inflammation. You might try a saline nasal rinse to flush out allergens, or offer a cold compress for itchy, runny eyes. Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep, eats a nutritious diet, drinks enough water to stay hydrated, and exercises regularly, so that the immune system stays strong. Supporting your child’s immune system can help combat allergies and other illnesses.
Minimizing Exposure
The best way to manage seasonal allergies is to control your child’s exposure to allergens. Track the local weather reports and pollen counts, checking for pollen and mold levels so that you can keep your child indoors when allergen levels are high. Keep your indoor environment clean, closing windows during allergy season, vacuuming carpets, dusting furniture, and washing bedding regularly, and using air purifiers with HEPA filters to remove allergens from the air. Make it a rule to change clothes after being outside, and make sure your child bathes or showers and washes his or her hair after outdoor activities.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If allergy symptoms become severe, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath or wheezing can indicate a severe allergic reaction, and symptoms that are not relieved by over-the-counter medications may need further evaluation and treatment. Allergies can lead to sinus infections, and if your child has persistent or severe sinus infections, a consultation with a healthcare provider is necessary. Your child’s doctor can offer advice and treatment for allergies, and in some cases may recommend allergy shots as a long term solution.
Partner with BrightStar to Care for Your Children
Having help at home, to monitor your child’s symptoms and identify any problematic aspects of your home that could be contributing to seasonal allergies. At BrightStar Care of Tampa, we are well known for our in-home services for seniors, but we also offer high-quality home care for children. We provide a wide range of services to children with disabilities and children who are ill, as well as pediatric nursing and care for children whose parents have disabilities. With our variety of high-quality, compassionate care and our unparalleled support for our local healthcare system, we give more, not just to the people we serve but also to our community. Our goal is to make our clients’ lives the best they can possibly be while making the Tampa community stronger than ever. We are honored to have won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, both locally and nationally, and we strive to provide the kind of high-quality care and support that truly make a difference in people’s lives. From our nurses and caregivers to our office team and staff, everyone on the BrightStar Care of Tampa team cares deeply about providing the care and support our customers deserve. For more information about our care and services, call 813.692.1021 or contact us through our website.