{"id":3255,"date":"2018-05-02T15:38:42","date_gmt":"2018-05-02T20:38:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=3255"},"modified":"2022-02-10T21:01:10","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T03:01:10","slug":"how-to-safely-treat-your-childs-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/how-to-safely-treat-your-childs-allergies\/","title":{"rendered":"How to safely treat your child’s seasonal allergies"},"content":{"rendered":"

As spring turns to summer, many of us get the itch to head outdoors.<\/p>\n

But what about the itch you get when you go outside?<\/p>\n

One in five Americans suffer from allergies. That\u2019s more than 50 million of us dealing each year with itchy, watery eyes, runny noses and congestion each year.<\/p>\n

Knowing which of the dozens of medications claiming to provide allergy relief will work for you can be overwhelming. Knowing which are safe and effective for your child can be even more difficult.<\/p>\n

Consulting with a specialist can help you understand what\u2019s causing your child\u2019s allergies and how to finally control them.<\/p>\n

School performance<\/h2>\n

Allergies<\/a> can affect more than your child\u2019s comfort. Studies show that children\u2019s school performance can suffer during allergy season.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne reason is that poorly controlled allergies decrease sleep quality. When you can\u2019t breathe through your nose, you\u2019re up at night coughing or you\u2019re uncomfortable, you\u2019re not getting restful sleep,\u201d said Neha Dunn, MD<\/a>, one of the specialists at OSF HealthCare Medical Group \u2013 Allergy & Immunology<\/a> who treats both adults and children.<\/p>\n

While sleep deprivation alone can affect a child\u2019s ability to learn, the pain, the congestion and itching of allergies can be a major distraction during the day.<\/p>\n

Medications that are short-acting or sedating can be ineffective or even make kids feel worse. That\u2019s why Dr. Dunn takes the time to educate the parents of her patients how to manage symptoms by avoiding allergens and using prescription or over-the-counter medications safely and effectively.<\/p>\n

Identifying and treating allergies<\/h2>\n

The first step for managing your child\u2019s allergies is understanding what is causing them.<\/p>\n

Dr. Dunn usually begins with a skin test to determine which allergens affect your child. Once your child is diagnosed with a specific allergy, Dr. Dunn can explain which medications will work and when they\u2019re needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you start your allergy medications one to two weeks before allergy season you\u2019re going to do a lot better than starting medication when allergy symptoms have already flared up,\u201d Dr. Dunn said.<\/p>\n

Parents can often manage their child\u2019s allergies once they understand which combination of pills, sprays or drops will be most effective. But for those who want a more permanent approach, Dr. Dunn also offers immunotherapy<\/a>, or allergy shots.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are pros and cons of both treatments,\u201d Dr. Dunn said. \u201cMedication is easy to administer, but it\u2019s just a temporary treatment. Those medications wear off, and you need to keep taking them over and over again when you\u2019re exposed to an allergen.\u201d<\/p>\n

With immunotherapy, patients receive a series of injections that, over time, teaches their bodies to respond differently to allergens. Injections start weekly then taper off in frequency over 4 to 5 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few years of treatment can give you a 20-plus year solution to your allergies,\u201d Dr. Dunn said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As spring turns to summer, many of us get the itch to head outdoors. But what about the itch you get when you go outside? One in five Americans suffer from allergies. That\u2019s more than 50 million of us dealing each year with itchy, watery eyes, runny noses and congestion each year. Knowing which of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":3258,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[116,735],"tags":[86,758,756,759],"coauthors":[757],"class_list":["post-3255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pediatrics","category-preventive-health","tag-allergies","tag-immunotherapy","tag-osf-medical-group","tag-school"],"yoast_head":"\nWeigh the options to safely treat your child's seasonal allergies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Knowing which of the dozens of medications claiming to provide allergy relief will work for you can be overwhelming. 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