A child’s quality of life along with his growth and development may severely be affected due to allergies. In different children, varied symptoms may be manifested by different types of allergies. For example, some children may get affected due to dirt, dust or pollens suspended in air which may cause them to sneeze or cough while some children may develop some food allergies which causes them to become completely intolerant to certain food groups.
What are various things that can trigger allergies in children?
Children can be allergic to nuts, dairy products, gluten, eggs, etc. They can also become allergic to dust, hair which falls from the pets’ body, pollens, perfumes, smoke from cigarettes, etc.
Treatment of allergies in kids:-
While sadly there is no cure for allergies, there are certain medications which help a child immensely by giving relief from the symptoms. Antihistamines can be given which can provide relief from a runny nose, congestion, watery eyes, etc. Some of the most common antihistamines which are available on prescription are Vistaril, Astepro, and Clarinex, etc. To help a child with watery eyes, doctors commonly prescribe eye-drops such as Patanol and Optivar. Some of the popular over the counter allergy medications include Benadryl, Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec, etc.
When should an antihistamine be given to a child?
Prevention is better than cure. If possible, keep your child away from triggers of his or her allergies. However, in almost all cases it is not quite possible to keep the child so protected; therefore, the timing of the medication becomes important. Most doctors will suggest the time at which the medication should be given to the child. In some cases, the child may require the medication all the year round to keep the allergy symptoms at bay. Some medications should be taken at a smaller interval while some may need to be taken every other day. It is important to keep an eye on the child once a new medication is given to him, as most allergy medicines cause drowsiness. The child should be observed for other side effects as well which may not become very apparent immediately.