The immune system of certain individuals reacts to even something harmless in the environment.It could be a trigger that targets them but does not affect those around them. These triggers are called “allergens”. An individual can develop an allergy by coming in contact with an ‘allergen’ in any manner. They may have inhaled them, swallowed them, or the trigger might have been exposed to their skin.

Allergies are very common, in fact, one in every five Americans have some or the other kind of allergy.

Allergies can be caused by pollen, mold, animal dander, dust, and even certain kinds of foods.

The symptoms depend on the allergen and the manner in which the affected child contracted it.

Common symptoms of skin and nasal allergy include:

• Itchy, watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Itchy, runny nose
• Rashes
• Feeling tired or ill
• Hives
• Food allergies can also cause stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Kids allergy relief
While an allergy cannot be cured, you can take measure to relieve the symptoms in your child.

As there are many types of allergies, you would want to ascertain the type of allergy your child has. This can be easily diagnosed from the symptoms. It would be easy if we could simply remove the allergen from the environment. However, in most cases of allergy, it is difficult to delineate the allergen or the trigger. You can do little to avoid seasonal allergies or those caused by pollen and dust.

However, several medications can help in relieving the symptoms. It is best to consult your doctor before administering any medication. Your doctor will be able to guide you about the correct anti-allergic medication and the adequate dosage of the same.

Antihistamines:
They are usually the first medications prescribed for kids allergy relief. When your child is exposed to an allergen, his/ her body releases a chemical called histamine. This chemical produces the symptoms including stuffy or a runny nose or itchy and watery eyes.

Antihistamines work by blocking the effect of histamines. Some medicines combine an antihistamine and a decongestant. The most common side effects of antihistamines are drowsiness and dry mouth.

If your child develops an allergy every year during a particular season, most doctors would recommend that you should start the medication before the symptoms appear. For instance, if your child is allergic to pollen you may want to start antihistamines 3 to 10 days prior to the pollen season.

Some kids’ exhibit allergic symptoms all-round the year and may have to take the medication regularly.

Nasal sprays:
Nasal sprays are effective in providing kids allergy relief. They contain steroids that help in relieving inflammation and allow your child to breathe normally. The nasal spray is available as liquids or aerosol puffs and can be used more than once in a day. However, you would require a prescription to buy them.
Prescription eye drops are also available for providing kids allergy relief.

Other measures:
While medication is effective for controlling the symptoms of an allergy, there are several other measures you could take for your kid’s allergy relief.

Stay indoors:
There is no better way to avoid an allergic reaction than avoiding the allergen. Seasonal allergies including those from pollen can be avoided to an extent by staying in your house and keeping the doors and windows closed.

Use saltwater:
You could use saline solutions to relieve a plugged-up nose.

Stay hydrated:
Keep your child well hydrated by encouraging him to drink plenty of water.

Use humidifiers:
Humidifiers can help in maintaining an adequate level of moisture in the air. However, you should not allow the humidity levels to rise above 40% as this can encourage the growth of mold and dust mites. A cold compress can provide relief to itchy eyes. You would not want your child to rub his eye with his hands as this may only aggravate the itchiness. Spicy food, warm water gargles and green tea are some of the other things you can try to provide immediate kids allergy relief. Warm compresses applied to the face can help in relieving the discomfort of sinus in kids.

Watch out for certain foods:
If your child develops an allergy from a certain food, it is usually difficult to isolate the trigger. You can try excluding the most common food allergens from his/her diet and wait to see if there is an improvement in symptoms. The ideal way is to reintroduce the foods one by one after a suitable interval to isolate the allergen.
It may take a while for the symptoms to subside and you may have to try a few medications before finding the one that works for your child. Under all circumstances adhere to your doctor’s advice regarding any medication for your child. Kids allergy relief is a sensitive issue and should only be handled through consultation with medical experts.