AAFA Provides Tips to Help Parents and Kids Cope with Allergy Season

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WASHINGTON, March 20 -- If parents of the nearly four million kids who suffer from seasonal allergies adhere to some basic guidelines, they may be able to significantly minimize their child's symptoms throughout the season. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ( AAFA) recommends that parents follow a few basic steps to help them enjoy the warm weather.

Tips for Parents

• Limit outdoor school and extracurricular activities (e.g., recess, little league) in the morning when pollen counts are the highest
  
  
• Do a thorough spring cleaning -- windows, book shelves and air conditioning vents collected dust and mold throughout the winter that can provoke allergy symptoms
  
  
• Avoid playing outdoors on recently mowed lawns (e.g., baseball fields)
  
  
• Beware of high mold spore counts after a heavy rain or in the evening
  
  
• Keep windows closed, and if possible, use air conditioning during the warm weather to keep airborne allergens out of your home
  
  
• Talk to your physician about treatment medications that are safe for children and won't make them drowsy
  
  

"This year's wet and snowy winter promises to yield an abundance of outdoor allergens and the onset of spring could be a particularly frustrating time for parents and children who suffer from seasonal allergies," said Dawn Marvin, Director of Communications from AAFA. "Identifying triggers will enable parents to make smart choices about family and school activities during the spring and summer."

There are many airborne allergens that can prompt a child's allergic symptoms, including pollen, dust mites, mold spores, and animal dander (hair or skin particles). Common symptoms children experience may include repeated sneezing, itchy nose and eyes, congestion and frequent throat clearing.

AAFA encourages parents to talk to teachers and school nurses about arranging their child's schedule so that exposure to allergens at school is limited. In addition, parents should ask their physicians about safe and effective medications available for children prior to the onset of allergy season.

Choose Children's Treatments Carefully

Although avoidance of airborne allergens can help in allergy management, this is often impossible, and medication may help in reducing symptoms. For children, there are only a few options. Nasal corticosteroids, which are available by prescription in the form of nasal spray, have been proven to be safe and effective for treating children as young as six years. Nasal corticosteroids reduce inflammation in the nasal passages that greatly contributes to nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and nasal itching. These medications do not cause a "rebound effect" (symptoms becoming worse when non-prescription nasal corticosteroids are overused) and are also effective in preventing nasal symptoms.

Antihistamines are also effective for managing seasonal allergies. These medications work by blocking the release of histamine -- one of the substances released during an allergic reaction. Antihistamines are available for children without a prescription, but may have sedating side effects. Nonsedating antihistamines, which are available by prescription for children age 12 and older, provide relief from seasonal nasal allergy symptoms without causing the drowsiness experienced by some people when taking over-the-counter antihistamines.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America is offering a free brochure with helpful advice for parents on how to manage their children's allergies. To receive a free copy or for more information, call 1-800-7-ASTHMA (1-800-727-8462).

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America is a private not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people with asthma and allergic diseases through education, support for research, and an array of services offered by a national network of chapters and affiliated support groups.

REFERENCE

1. Beswick KB, Kenyon GS, Cherry JR. A comparative study of beclomethasone dipropionate aqueous nasal spray with terfenadine tablets in seasonal allergic rhinitis. Curr Med Res Opin. 1985;9:560-567.

CONTACT: Dawn Marvin of AAFA, 202-466-7643; or Donna Sepulveda of Edelman, 212-704-8193