How to manage your child’s environmental allergies Part 2

Now that we know the top reasons your child suffers with allergies, what do you do about it? Is there anything that helps alleviate the symptoms of allergies, or even better, gets rid of the allergies altogether? There are three steps that most people take when they discover they or their children have allergies:

1. Avoidance

The more obvious way to handle allergies is to completely avoid what your child is allergic to. If your child is allergic to dust mites, it’s necessary to purchase a pillow encasement, remove your wall to wall carpeting (especially in the bedroom), and add air filters. If your child is allergic to cats, it’s best to avoid having a cat for a pet (at the very least, do not allow the cat in your child’s bedroom). But what happens when your child goes to a friend’s house that owns a cat? Or what happens if your child is around someone that has cat dander on their clothing? Avoidance makes sense if your child is only allergic to one or two allergens that are easily avoidable, but that’s not the usual case.

2. Medication

If your child has been diagnosed with allergies, chances are high that you’re giving your child a medication called antihistamine (Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra, etc.). When someone has allergies, once allergens are breathed in, their body releases histamine which is what causes the allergic reaction to appear in the body. When taking an antihistamine, this fights the histamine in the bloodstream to lessen the allergic reaction. While antihistamines are the most common form of treatment for allergies, it’s important to remember that this is a medication that’s considered a preventative medication. Antihistamines help prevent allergic reactions, meaning the medication does need to be taken on a regular basis during allergy season. Typically, it’s recommended the medication be taken in advance before the symptoms arise to prevent any symptoms from occurring.

3. Testing and Treatment

If you’ve tried avoidance and a regimen of antihistamines and nasal steroids and you are still struggling to manage your child’s symptoms, it may be time to take your child to seen an Allergist or Otolaryngologist that tests and treats for allergies. The doctor will likely recommend allergy testing

Call us today 817-431-7985 to schedule an appointment for your child to see one of our family-friendly doctors.

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Office hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Office phone: (817) 431-7985
Office location: 4601 Heritage Trace Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76244 (at the intersection of Beach Street and Heritage Trace Parkway)

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