Allergies can feel very similar to a cold. Symptoms include a headache, stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, postnasal drip, cough and sore throat. Allergy symptoms can be caused by indoor allergens such as dust mites, pets, and pests as well as outdoor allergens such as pollens. Molds can be found indoors and outdoors and can also trigger nasal allergy symptoms.
An important step in managing allergy symptoms is avoidance of the allergens that trigger the symptoms. If your child has allergy symptoms and is allergic to a pet that lives in your home, the only way to have a significant impact on your child’s exposure to pet allergens is to find the pet a new home.
Allergy Tips Nuheights Pediatrics
How to Manage Allergies
Dust mites congregate where moisture is retained, and food for them (human skin scales) is plentiful. They are especially numerous in bedding, upholstered furniture, and rugs. Padded furnishings such as mattresses, box springs, and pillows should be encased in allergen-proof, zip-up covers, which are available through catalogs and specialized retailers. Wash linens weekly and other bedding, such as blankets, every 1 to 2 weeks in hot water. The minimum temperature to kill mites is 130 degrees Fahrenheit. If you set your water heater higher than 120 degrees, the recommended temperature to avoid accidental scald burns, take care if young children are present in the home.
If your child is allergic to outdoor allergens, it can be helpful to use air conditioners when possible. Showering or bathing at the end of the day to remove allergens from body surfaces and hair can also be helpful. For patients with grass pollen allergy, remaining indoors when grass is mowed and avoiding playing in fields of tall grass may be helpful during grass pollen season. Children with allergies to molds should avoid playing in piles of dead leaves in the fall. Pets tracking in and out of the house can also bring pollen and mold indoors.
How to Treat Allergies
Over the counter medications can be helpful. Here are common treatments:
1. Antihistamines: These are taken by mouth. Long-acting antihistamines such as Claritin and Zyrtec need to be taken daily and can help prevent symptoms. They don’t work right away so wait until the second or third day before you decide if they are helping enough.
2. Nasal Steroid Sprays: These are inhaled through the nose. Examples are Flonase and Nasonex. They can be added to Antihistamines to stop chronic symptoms. They are ok to use over long periods of time and should be used daily for maximal effectiveness.
3. Allergy shots are prescribed only for patients with confirmed allergy. If allergen avoidance and medications are not successful, allergy shots for treatment of respiratory allergies to pollens, dust mites, cat and dog dander, and molds can help decrease the need for daily medication.
*Adapted from AAP Allergy tips Healthy Children
Throughout her residency training and while serving as Chief Resident, Dr. Mary K. Thomas continued to work with indigent and immigrant children and their families. She was an integral member of the renowned St. Vincent’s Cystic Fibrosis Center and served on its Charity Board. Her work earned her the John Z. Jacoby Award for exemplary care of patients with CF. Dr. Thomas was an attending physician at The Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in Manhattan, caring for children with rare genetic disorders and complex chronic diseases before ultimately moving to New Jersey with her growing family.
Dr. Mary Thomas has been a busy pediatrician in New Jersey since 2008 and believes that well care and good preventative practices play the biggest role in preventing illness. She also believes in taking into account how psychosocial influences, as well as illness, play a role in the wellness of a child. Her clinical focuses include pediatric dermatology and rashes, caring for children and families with special needs including LGBTQ youth and children with disabilities. Dr. Thomas also serves as Medical Director of Armada Health, helping patients with challenging diagnoses get to the right specialists to treat their disease. Dr. Thomas currently resides in Montclair with her husband and three children. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and cheering on the sidelines of her children’s activities.