Seasonal Allergies: A Guide on How to Ease Your Child's Allergies This Summer

Nasal allergies and hay fever are seasonal problems in the spring and summer commonly caused by plant pollens. Pollen levels are highest in the evening during grass pollen season; pollen levels are highest in the morning during ragweed pollen season or in the late summer and early fall. If your child has seasonal allergies, paying attention to pollen counts and trying to keep kids inside when pollen levels are high would help ease the problem, the FDA suggests.

Since tiny pollen spores are airborne it is hard to avoid them but parents can do something to minimize the effect. Upon checking the pollen count forecast, have your kids wash their hair and face when stepping home on warm, dry days. Use a saline nasal wash since pollen spores could easily be sniffed when they're outdoors and the use a barrier balm or gel around nostrils is also recommended, says a study from the American Journal of Epidemiology on how to ease seasonal allergies, as per The Telegraph.

Hay fever nasal sprays and pills have been improved and do not have drowsiness as a side effect. Antihistamines also work quickly to stop the immune system from reacting to an allergen. Have kids take them preventatively on high pollen count days. Eye drops containing sodium cromoglycate can help relieve itchy, runny eyes. Allergy shots are also another option. Parents though still need to be extra careful when giving these medicines to children, the FDA said.

For some who experience particularly severe or persistent symptoms, immunotherapy is one long-term treatment for hay fever in which your family doctors can refer you to specialist clinics which involve injections or tablets. It has been proven to reduce the severity of hay fever, but these procedures are recommended to be administered three months before seasonal allergies strike.

According to Herald&Review, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated about 40 percent of children in the United States suffer from nasal allergies (also caused by indoor allergens like molds, dust mites, and pets). Families rejoice at the coming of summer but may feel less than enthusiastic when seasonal allergies hit kids with sniffling and eyes streaming. So you can always monitor a high pollen count forecast so as to beat seasonal allergies of your children and just enjoy summer.