Children's Health Month: Protecting Kids from Local Environmental Allergens

7 days ago

3 min read

The leaves are turning, the mornings are cooler, and your child is sneezing again. Most parents assume it is another cold. For a lot of Baltimore County kids, it is actually fall allergies coming into full swing, and October is one of the busiest months of the year for them.

October is Children's Health Month, so we want to talk about the air your child breathes, outside and at home, and what you can do to make it easier on them.

What Is in the Air Right Now

Three things tend to cause trouble this time of year:

Ragweed pollen: Ragweed releases pollen from August into November. It usually peaks in mid-September and does not stop until the first frost.
Outdoor mold: Damp, fallen leaves are a perfect place for mold to grow. Jumping into a leaf pile can send a cloud of mold spores straight into your child's nose.
Indoor allergens: Once the windows close and the heat comes on, kids spend more time indoors with dust mites, pet dander and indoor mold.

Allergies or a Cold?

The biggest clue is itching. Allergies often make the eyes, nose, mouth or throat itchy. Colds usually do not.

Other signs that point to allergies:

A runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, throat clearing and a lot of nose rubbing
Itchy, watery eyes
Symptoms that last longer than two weeks
Symptoms that show up around the same time every year

A cold is more likely to come with a fever or body aches, and it usually gets better on its own within about a week or so.

Simple Steps for Outdoor Allergens

Check the pollen count before planning outdoor time. During ragweed season, pollen levels are usually highest in the morning.
Keep windows closed at home and in the car, and use air conditioning if you can.
Skip the leaf piles if your child has allergies or asthma. We know this one is hard.
Have your child change clothes and shower after playing outside, especially before bed, so pollen does not end up on the pillow.
Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) before outdoor practices and recess plans, and scale back on poor air days.

Making Your Home Easier to Breathe In

Keep indoor humidity below 50 percent. Dust mites and mold need moisture to grow. A dehumidifier can help in damp basements; empty the water pan every day.
Cover the mattress and pillows with covers made to block dust mites, and wash bedding every week in hot water.
Vacuum with a HEPA-filter vacuum while your child is out of the room. Damp-mop hard floors and damp-dust surfaces once a week.
Run a HEPA air cleaner in your child's bedroom with the door closed.
Choose unscented products - scented candles, plug-in air fresheners and strong cleaning sprays can irritate young airways.
Keep your home and car completely smoke-free, including vape smoke. Smoke that clings to clothes and furniture still affects children.

When to Call Us

There are a lot of allergy medicines on the pharmacy shelf, and not all of them are right for every age. Please check with us before starting something new. We also want to hear from you if:

Symptoms are getting in the way of sleep, school, or play
Over-the-counter medicine is not helping
Your child is coughing, wheezing or short of breath. About 80 percent of children with asthma also have allergies, and allergens are one of the most common asthma triggers.
You are wondering whether your child needs allergy testing. We can help you decide whether a visit with a pediatric allergist makes sense.

Fall allergies are common, but your child does not have to spend the whole season stuffed up and miserable. A few changes at home and the right treatment plan can make a real difference.

Sources