How allergies affect your child
Children can have a hard time articulating how they are feeling, so understanding how allergies affect them is important.
Children with allergies
Does your child develop a “cold” at the same time every year?
Seasonal allergies may be to blame and according to the World Health Organization (W.H.O) as many as 40% of all children worldwide suffer from seasonal allergies or allergic rhinitis.
Prevalence
According to a 2014 National Health Interview Study in the U.S. 20% (roughly 14.7 million) of children have seasonal allergies and this trend is increasing. According to the WHO White Book on Allergy/Allergic Rhinitis affects as many as 40% of children worldwide. Allergies are the most common chronic disorder in children. The number of children in developed countries around the world with allergies, has increased dramatically in the past 25 yrs.
Prevalence is rising in low to middle income countries as well.
Allergic Rhinitis affects more boys than girls; however, in adults the ratios are the same.
Allergic Rhinitis develops before 20 years of age in 80% of cases.
The symptoms experienced by children are generally the same as adults but can have different quality of life implications.
EFFECT # 1 – Asthma
The majority of children with asthma also suffer from seasonal allergies, up to 80%. Seasonal allergy symptoms such as coughing, sneezing + nasal congestion can trigger an asthma flare up. This can further exacerbate the risk of death in asthmatics.
EFFECT # 2 – Nose
The tiny hairs in your child’s nose trap particles from the air including pollen and fungal spores. In a child with seasonal allergies these trapped particles cause swelling, itching, redness and mucus production.
Children experiencing these symptoms account for a large proportion of school absences and has been reported to cause social exclusion.
EFFECT # 3 – Eyes
A child’s eyes can also be affected by high levels of outdoor allergens. The allergen can be trapped in a child’s eyelashes causing puffiness, itchiness, redness and watery eyes.
EFFECT # 4 – Mucus
The excess mucus production in the nose and sinuses that occurs in children suffering from seasonal allergies can block the nasal passages. This causes sleep problems in almost 90% of children with seasonal allergies.
Teens suffering from these types of seasonal allergy symptoms during end of year exams are twice as likely to drop a grade from their winter marks compared to kids without seasonal allergies.
STUDIES
There are many studies that support these findings.
Characterization of tree allergy prevalence in children younger than 4 years old
The prevalence and severity of atopic diseases in children are increasing. The effects of aeroallergen sensitivity on these diseases are manifold. In young children, the presence of aero-allergen sensitivity may serve as a risk factor for the development of persistent asthma.
Asthma, allergic rhinitis, and sleep problems in urban children
In this study, the role of allergic rhinitis (AR), a comorbid condition of asthma, on children’s sleep problems is also examined. Is poor allergic rhinitis control related to more sleep problems?
Can Allergies Affect Your Child’s School Performance
Allergies take a toll on learning. It is reported that “on any given day, about 10,000 of those children miss school because of their allergies. That’s a total of more than 2 million lost school days every year.”
Allergic rhinitis quality of life in urban children with asthma
Urban children with asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) are at risk for experiencing worse AR-related quality of life (QOL). Although AR may be underdiagnosed and undertreated in urban minority children…
How to improve your child’s quality of life
Tips and Tricks
Know pollen levels
Regularly check the pollen report on the weather network or reactine.ca to know the forecasted pollen level in your area. Better yet join our pollen alert forecast program. Receive daily pollen forecasts delivered straight to your smart phone and get a daily forecast of the allergens your child is allergic too. There is a calendar feature where you can input your child’s symptoms. Finally, get daily tips and tricks to reduce affects of pollen on your child’s quality of life. Get the app through Apple App Store or Google Play.
Clear allergens
Use a saline nasal rinse to help clear allergens from your child’s nasal membranes.
Medication
Provide your child with medication at bedtime and not in the morning.
Food
Children with ragweed allergies may also be allergic or sensitive to bananas, melon, chamomile, sunflower seeds and cucumber.
Sinus pressure relief
Use a warm compress for relief from your child’s sinus pressure and pain.