SPRING

Parents need to keep a watchful eye on their child and his or her reaction to certain elements of your home. The cause of your child's illness may be right under your own roof. If you think your child may be affected by certain chemicals present in your home, contact our office. We can help you make your house a safe place to come home to.

The onset of spring brings warm weather, chirping birds, sprouting trees, budding flowers and the inevitable invisible foe of many--pollen. Seasonal pollen allergies bring physical discomfort for many people. When the term "allergy" is used today, people are referring to seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies, like hayfever, asthma and eczema, are common and occur primarily in the spring and fall and typically affect children and adults similarly. In fact, approximately 22 million people suffer from hayfever. In addition, an estimated 10 million people have asthma and another 11 million people suffer from eczema. Why are children and adults more prone to allergies during specific months? Many of the eye, nose and throat symptoms mentioned above arise when tree, grass, weed, pollen or mold spores are in the air. This is heaviest in the spring and fall, during periods of plant growth. In particular, trees are the primary cause of problems from March through May. Grasses are the cause of allergic reactions during the months of May through July while ragweed is prevalent from August to October or the first frost. How can you tell if your child has seasonal allergies? Typically children who develop hay fever or asthma in the spring and fall will have red irritated eyes, swollen lids and will develop dark circles under their eyes called "allergic shiners." In addition, children will make clucking sounds because of sore or itching throats. Parents may also frequently observe their child rubbing his or her nose horizontally or vertically, a motion called the "allergic salute," most often due to a stuffy or drippy nose. Although these physical signs are helpful clues for parents, you may need more help in recognizing what is actually causing your child's medical problems.

Parents should also be conscious of their own medical histories. Children are more likely to develop seasonal pollen allergies if someone in their family has had them. In fact, if one parent has a history of allergies, a child has approximately a 30 percent chance of developing allergies; if both parents have allergies, the chance of their child developing allergies increases to approximately 75 percent. A number of individuals have a more complicated allergy history which involves not only typical seasonal allergies but also underlying food, mold and chemical hypersensitivities. A common way to evaluate this type of individual involves documenting a history of allergy symptoms during an entire year placing special significance on symptoms in the spring and fall. This is called the "priming effect," and in this situation a physician evaluates not only the seasonal symptoms but also what is occurring over the course of the entire year to determine additional allergies. This more complicated medical history may include mold, dust and chemical hypersensitivities. Seasonal allergies such as hay fever and asthma are medical problems that in a majority of cases can be well-controlled with the proper medical approach. The key to successful treatment of a child's seasonal allergies is obtaining a comprehensive medical history and looking for the underlying cause of the medical problems. Based on the history and physical examination, a physician with the parents' assistance, should be able to determine the proper course of treatment. Many children can be treated with appropriate medications which include eye drops for eye allergies and inhalers for asthma. Sometimes it is necessary to use oral medication such as antihistamines for hayfever and asthma-relieving medication for wheezing. Parents should always keep in mind that children as well as adults can develop adverse side effects from medications. Pay careful attention to your child, and if the medications are having a negative impact, contact your doctor.

Not all physicians offer sublingual immunotherapy. Some do not offer it because they are not aware of studies which have demonstrated its effectiveness. While more studies need to be conducted concerning both injection and sublingual immunotherapy, I am confident in providing sublingual treatment because of the positive effects it has had on my patients. Seasonal allergies caused by pollens and mold spores in our air are common and can be treated effectively.