Survival Strategies for Early Fall Allergy and Asthma Symptoms
Published Sep 17, 2009
Allergy and asthma symptoms may worsen during the early fall and late summer days. The follow survival strategies will help to avoid and reduce suffering this year if you have a child with these conditions.
1. If you are travelling, going to a new school, or if your school nurse is not familiar with your son/daughter’s allergies and asthma, have an action plan ready (prepared by your child’s allergist or family doctor). This is particularly important if your child is involved in school sports and may require pre-treatment before exercise.
2. Indoor allergies may flare, particularly, at home as the bedroom is the number one allergy hotspot. Try and avoid “dust collectors” in the child’s bedroom and consider allergy protective bedding, especially if your child has indoor allergies. If you place a stuffed toy in a freezer bag for 5 hours a week it will kill house dust mites, a frequent indoor allergen responsible for allergy and asthma symptoms.
3. Some children may have food allergies that can provoke reactions such as asthma (5 percent of individuals may present with asthma or respiratory symptoms if they are sensitive to a specific food), hives, worsening allergies. Get tested and identify if your child is at risk by ingestion, contact or inhalation of a food allergen. Most likely suspects are peanuts, nuts, egg, milk among others.
4. Consider allergen friendly wood floors, tile and linoleum in lieu of carpeted floors for easier cleaning and help reduce dust mite population as well as a reservoir for pet dander. Washable window shades are easier to clean than horizontal blinds. Try non aerosol cleaning products to reduce irritant effects to those with allergies and asthma.
5. Get tested and make sure your child is not one of the 20 million individuals with allergies to pets. If so, you will need to see an allergist for an individual avoidance and treatment for pet allergies, including HEPA air filters, pet free bedrooms, medications and allergy shots to get rid of the condition.
Bottom line get tested, be prepared for an allergy free fall season for your child.
Affiliation: Faculty, NYU School of Medicine and Long Island College Hospital Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine – SUNY Fellow, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. For more allergy and asthma tips you can visit his website: www.nyc-allergist.com