Tips for kids during allergy season

CINCINNATI – The sun is shining and the temperatures are rising. It seems spring has finally arrived.

So too has allergy season with its itchy, watery eyes, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and wheezing.

For parents of children who suffer from allergies, spring can be especially challenging. Children just want to run around outside. What about pollen counts?

There are a few things parents can do to help reduce pollen’s impact on their children.

Dr. Patty Ghory of the Cincinnati Allergy & Asthma Center shares these tips:

❚ Reduce the amount of pollen entering the home by keeping windows closed. Tree pollen is especially abundant right now. On a dry, sunny day pollen can easily enter the home through do they care the screen of an open window.

❚ Reduce the amount of pollen entering the eyes by wearing sunglasses outdoors.

❚ Pollen can collect on skin and clothes. At the end of outdoor activities for the day, have your child take a bath or shower.

❚ Limit the handling of pets.

❚ Over-the-counter medicines can help reduce allergy symptoms. Eye drops work within five to eight minutes and help with itchy, watery eyes. It’s best to use them before outdoor play. The eye drops can be extra soothing if kept refrigerated. Placing a bag of frozen peas over the eyes can also be soothing for young children.

❚ Antihistamines can be beneficial and typically provide relief for four to six hours. Take it about 30 minutes before going outside for activities.

❚ If over-the-counter remedies fail, some children may need to see an allergist for allergy shots and best practices for managing their allergy symptoms.