Preparing for a Seasonal Allergy During Back-to-School Time
It’s late August and you know what the means: the first day of school is just around the corner and for some school has already started. Along with back-to-school, August also marks the start of fall sports. Unfortunately, this timeframe brings seasonal allergies for many kids, as well. While a seasonal allergy is often more uncomfortable than dangerous, there is a severe type of allergy that can close your child’s airway and prevent him/her from breathing, which is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not treated quickly and with appropriately.
August is when fall seasonal allergies kick into high gear. The most common culprit for fall allergies is ragweed, a plant that grows wild almost everywhere, but is prominent here in the Midwest. Ragweed blooms and releases pollen from August to November – right during back-to-school time. In many areas of the country, ragweed pollen levels are highest in early to mid-September.
Other plants that trigger fall allergies include:
- Burning bush
- Cocklebur
- Lamb’s-quarters
- Pigweed
- Sagebrush and mugwort
- Tumbleweed and Russian thistle
Understanding the different types of seasonal allergies is the first step to preparing for them. Many kids are allergic to pollen that causes symptoms such as:
- Runny nose
- Itchy red eyes
- Ears feeling plugged
- Scratchy, sore throat
Even though a seasonal allergy may cause uncomfortable symptoms, it’s not dangerous and will not cause long-term harm.
To combat these annoying symptoms, there are many medications available without a prescription. Talk with your child's primary care provider before you begin any new medications or visit Firelands Physician Group Urgent Care or Firelands Regional Medical Center QuickCare for medical advice on a seasonal allergy.
Prevent a Seasonal Allergy
The next best thing you can do to prepare for a seasonal allergy is understand how to avoid and prevent them. Here are a few tips to consider from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology:
- Warm days and cool nights are prime environments for tree, grass and ragweed pollens
- Heat and high humidity promote mold growth which can trigger more allergies
- Pollen levels are usually at their highest in the morning
- Even though rain washes pollen away, pollen levels tend to sour after it rains
- Airborne allergies become grounded when there is no wind
- Pollen counts surge on warm, windy days
- Even though seasonal allergens are more prominent in the Midwest, moving to another climate usually doesn’t prevent seasonal allergy symptoms because allergens are everywhere.
Anaphylaxis reactions is a more serious result of allergies that can cause more severe symptoms, including:
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Rapid breathing
- Swelling of skin, lips or throat
Certain foods, such as peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, or cow’s milk can cause this dangerous allergic reaction, and now that your child is going back to school, he or she may be exposed to these foods. Another common cause of anaphylactic reaction is insect stings from bees, wasps, or hornets. Luckily, there is medicine that can be given immediately after exposure to these allergen. The medications help buy time to seek more urgent medical care either at an urgent care or emergency room. Anaphylaxis reactions are usually diagnosed by primary care providers or an allergy specialist and often are not discovered until a severe reaction occurs.
An EpiPen can be prescribed and can give your child about 20 minutes of time to get to the hospital in the event of a severe allergic reaction to something. Even if your child has been prescribed an EpiPen, you will always need to call 911 when using your EpiPen or be prepared to take child to emergency room immediately after the dose is given. An urgent care or your primary care office is not the appropriate place to go after an injection of an EpiPen because both options are not equipped to handle the complexity involved with an allergic reaction involving an EpiPen. If you wait to go to the ER after the EpiPen medicine if given, the severe allergy symptoms can return even worse and it may be too late to get to ER in time. It is crucial important to understand an emergency room visit is needed after use of an EpiPen.
Even if you think your child may have had an exposure and they are not having symptoms, you should always go to the emergency room or call 911. Symptoms can start in minutes and can be very dangerous and even deadly if not treated quickly and appropriately.
It is also important to note that even though your son or daughter has not had an allergic reaction in years, it doesn’t mean he or she will not have a reaction if exposed to the allergen. I can personally attest to this as my partner, Stephanie Breault, has a 15-year-old son with a severe anaphylactic peanut allergy. She constantly reminds him and his friends, family, teachers and other caregivers that if there is any suspicion that he may have been exposed to peanuts, he should be given an EpiPen injection and be taken to the emergency room immediately. Again, just because your son or daughter has not had a reaction recently, does not mean they won’t have a reaction if exposed to the allergen. ALWAYS take your son or daughter to the emergency room if you think they have been exposed to the allergen.
Any questions or concerns about a potential allergy should always be directed to your primary care provider. Even if there is no known allergy, if your child ever has swelling of the lips, the throat, or is having difficulty breathing, call 911 or take him/her to the emergency room. Allergies can develop at any age. Talk with your child’s doctor if you have any questions about allergies.
If in doubt, take your child to the emergency room. Here’s to having a healthy and safe school year!
