Seasonal Allergy Quiz
Spring is a season that has its pros. The sun shines brightly, warm winds blow, and rain showers roll in to make everything bloom again. But all of this, alas, contributes to one of spring’s biggest cons—seasonal allergies. Once the earth awakens and trees begin to bud, pollen is produced and released into the wind—first trees, then grass and, finally, weeds—triggering a cascade of reactions in those affected, until the first frost of the fall provides relief. Coastal British Columbia kicks things off with its tree pollen season, usually beginning in March, with points east following four to six weeks later.
You need at least two or three seasons of exposure in order to develop a pollen allergy, says Dr. Liliane Gendreau-Reid, a pediatric allergist in Victoria. She notes that the majority of allergic kids will begin to show symptoms at around age seven or eight, with some doing so at five or six. Itchy, swollen, red and watery eyes, sneezing, and clear emissions from a runny nose are the most common symptoms.
True or False? Closing the windows can help an allergic child.
Answer: True
Avoiding exposure to pollen should be your first line of defence. Keeping windows shut is a good idea—at home and especially in the car—but if you must open your windows, avoid having them open in the early morning (from about 5 a.m.—10 a.m.) when plants begin to flower and the concentration of airborne pollen tends to be highest. If your child is showing very strong symptoms, you may want to keep her inside during sunny, windy days, when the most pollen is in the air. Avoid drying bedding and linens on an outdoor clothesline, make sure that your central air conditioner has a well-functioning filter, and use a freestanding high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier in the bedroom to suck the pollen out of your indoor refuge. And, happily, says Dr. Gendreau-Reid, scheduling a beach vacation during your child’s peak allergy time can also help.
True or False? Antihistamines are the only way to provide effective relief.
Answer: False
form of treatment—doctors usually recommend second-generation drugs such as Claritin, Allegra, Reactine and Aerius, which don’t cross the blood/brain barrier, and therefore do not cause drowsiness. For younger kids, seek out the children’s dosage, which is usually available in syrup form. But there are other ways you can help your child. Give her a bath (or, if she’s older, suggest a shower) before bed. “The pollen can get in her hair, and it will get in her nose and eyes all night,” says Dr. Miller. To reduce sneezing, rinse the inside of the nose with a gentle saline solution. If your child doesn’t like drops, look for a pediatric mist, which Dr. Miller recommends testing on yourself before administering (to ensure the flow isn’t too strong). In more severe cases, see your doctor for a prescription nasal spray or to discuss allergy shots (called immunotherapy).
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