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Keeping kids happy outdoors during peak allergy season

The end of May is a peak time for allergy symptoms for many folks across the country because it’s often the time of year when tree and grass pollen seasons collide.

<p>Little girl has allergy to spring blossoming and blowing her nose outdoor</p>

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The end of May is a peak time for allergy symptoms for many folks across the country because it’s often the time of year when tree and grass pollen seasons collide.

According to Brian Schroer, M.D., a pediatric allergist at Cleveland Clinic Children’s, even for parents who have their own allergies, sometimes it’s hard to recognize when their child is developing symptoms.

“What we’re going to want to look out for in kids is sneezing, especially when they wake up in the morning, or sneezing when they come back in from being outside and playing with friends,” said Dr. Schroer. “Looking for itchiness and redness in their eyes. Rubbing the eyes is a pretty obvious symptom.”

Dr. Schroer said parents who suspect their child may have allergies should have them tested, just to make sure that they don’t have something else, like asthma.

For those who do have seasonal allergies, he said there are a wide variety of safe and effective allergy products that are available over-the-counter, including long-acting, non-sedating antihistamines. These can help decrease sneezing and itching in the nose and eyes. Nose steroid sprays that are also over-the-counter work well for sneezing and itching in addition to helping ease stuffiness and drainage.

Dr. Schroer does not typically recommend sedative medications that contain diphenhydramine, mainly because they do not last for more than six hours, and can have debilitating side effects.

Like any allergies, the number one treatment is always avoidance, but he said that’s not always a great choice for active children. Most parents prefer to find ways to let their children play and have fun outdoors, even during allergy season.

Dr. Schroer said there are other measures parents can take to help reduce the amount of pollen that enters the home.

“One is, if they come in from playing outside, you can have them take a shower before they go to bed,” said Dr. Schroer. “That probably decreases the pollen levels they’re getting inside of their bedroom and their beds. You can keep your bedroom windows shut, or at least all the windows in the house shut, especially if you have the luxury of a central air conditioning system.”

Dr. Schroer said parents can also try having their child wear sunglasses while outdoors. This can help decrease the amount of pollen that blows into their eyes, which can help decrease redness and itching.

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