Help! My Child Has Environmental Allergies

Environmental allergies are a common problem for millions of kids, taking a toll on your child’s health and on their quality of life, too. Fortunately, allergy symptoms can be managed and flare-ups can even be controlled, as long as you know what to do.

At Allergy Associates of Utah, our team is skilled at helping kids and their parents take important steps to manage allergy symptoms, providing individualized care for the best possible outcomes. In this post, learn why environmental allergies happen and what we can do to help.

Understanding environmental allergies

Like other allergies, environmental allergies happen when your child’s immune system reacts to substances in the environment that are otherwise harmless. Referred to as allergens, these substances cause the immune system to react, triggering an allergic response along with symptoms like sneezing, wheezing, coughing, runny or congested nose, itchy skin, or watery eyes.

Many people confuse environmental allergies with seasonal allergies, like hay fever, but there’s a key difference: Although seasonal allergies are related to changes that happen with the seasons, like pollen from grass or wildflowers, environmental allergies are triggered by anything in your child’s surroundings — indoors or outdoors.

That means that in addition to reacting to pollen from flowers, grasses, and trees, your child’s symptoms may be triggered by other allergens in their surroundings, like pet dander, mold spores, household dust, cleaning products, and even cockroaches. 

Managing allergies

One of the best ways to help your child manage their allergies is to schedule a visit with our team at the first sign of allergies. Through a review of your child’s symptoms combined with allergy testing, we can pinpoint the triggers causing symptoms and recommend a strategy to relieve those symptoms and improve your child’s wellness.

In addition to medications, our team recommends lifestyle changes that reduce allergen exposures and reactions. These are just some of the steps you can take to manage your child’s allergies at home and when they’re out and about.

• Keep windows closed to prevent pollen from entering
• Use a whole-house air filter to trap allergens
• Clean your HVAC filters regularly
• Use a dehumidifier to prevent mold growth
• Monitor areas like basements and attics that are prone to mold
• Brush pets frequently
• Use microfiber mattress covers to avoid dust mite allergies
• Wash bedding weekly in hot water
• Vacuum all carpets and upholstery at least two times each week
• Don’t use a fireplace or woodstove
• Don’t smoke around your child
• Have your child change clothes after playing outside
• Always check the pollen count before heading outdoors

It might sound like an extensive list, but the steps are fairly simple, and they can mean big relief for your child.

Relief for your child

Living with environmental allergies can be challenging for kids (and parents, too), but with a little planning and an allergy management plan in place, your child can finally find relief for their symptoms. 

To learn more about managing your child’s allergies, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Allergy Associates of Utah in Sandy and West Jordan, Utah, today.