Spring Fever
Oh, the joy of spring! Warm breezes, daffodils breaking through to meet the sun, longer days, and non-stop itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing. While not everyone has those last three experiences once the air starts to warm, about 15% of children in the United States do. We call it “hay fever” or “seasonal allergic rhinitis” or “seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.” While having these symptoms can really put a damper on the delights of the season, there are ways to control them and enjoy spring again.
First, the name: the seasonal part refers to symptoms that occur only part of the year versus those that occur year-round. While the season the allergies occur in can be different from person to person – many people experience them in the spring, but some have them in the summer or fall – the key is that they are not year-round. Year-round symptoms usually suggest the cause is not a pollen but perhaps dust mites or a pet.
While it rolls off the tongue easily, the term hay fever is misleading as the allergy can to be to many, many other pollens and there is no fever involved. Which pollen is causing the symptoms depends on what plants are around you and blooming at that time. Some of the prominent outdoor allergens in our area in April are tree pollens – particularly juniper and oak. Grass pollens usually follow and then weeds with the common allergen ragweed blooming from late summer until the first frost. Some people are allergic to only one pollen and only have symptoms during the weeks that is blooming, but others are allergic to many and may have symptoms from spring to fall.
Seasonal allergies result from the immune system reacting to pollen and causing the release of a chemical that results in the runny and itchy eye and nose symptoms we experience. This reaction can be inherited. Also, children who have asthma have a higher likelihood of having seasonal allergies. Sometimes allergy symptoms can even make a child’s asthma worse and treating the allergies can make their asthma easier to control.
The most common symptoms of seasonal allergies are itchy, watery eyes; itchy, runny nose, and sometimes an itchy roof of the mouth or inner ears. Nasal congestion can lead to mucous dripping down the throat, causing a sore throat or a cough. Sometimes it gets in the way of getting a good night’s sleep and results in fatigue.
Fortunately, for most people, seasonal allergens can be managed with things you can do at home. First, avoid exposure to allergens when you can through closing windows or avoiding areas with a lot of the pollen that you think is causing symptoms. When you can’t avoid the pollen, try to wash it off when you can. Washing your hair and face can help get some of the pollen off and can be particularly helpful before bed. If the symptoms persist, older kids and teenagers can use allergy medications that don’t need a prescription. These include saline nasal washes, glucocorticoid nasal sprays, antihistamine eye drops, and oral antihistamine medications. Always read the bottle very carefully to be sure it is ok to use in a child your age or call your provider to check. There are additional medications to treat allergies which your child’s doctor may prescribe after a visit to see them.
When all these efforts still aren’t controlling the symptoms well enough, it can be helpful to see an allergist for skin testing to determine the specific pollen causing the symptoms and maybe to discuss immunotherapy treatment. This can take the form of the well-known allergy shot, or, for some allergens, a tablet that dissolves under the tongue.
Seasonal allergies can really put a damper on being outside, but there are ways to try to reduce the symptoms and get back to enjoying spring – and summer and fall!
For more information about environmental allergies in kids and teenagers, try healthychildren.org, or hopkinsmedicine.org.
If you want to make an appointment to see a provider to talk about allergies, or any other concern about your child, call the Southern Ute Health Center at (970) 563-4581.