Madison Reporter

As spring unfolds, seasonal allergies are again affecting children across the United States, impacting about 20% of kids, reveals Dr. Megan Yanny, a pediatrician at UW Health Kids. With the warming weather, children may experience symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose as their immune systems react to environmental elements such as pollen, grass, or mold, according to Dr. Yanny.

Dr. Yanny, who also serves as an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, explains the challenge parents face in distinguishing allergy symptoms from common colds. "Every spring we get lots of calls from parents about constant sniffling from their kids and wanting to know what medications to try," she notes. "Parents are also worried their kid was sick all of April with a cold when really it is just allergies."

She clarifies that while colds and allergies share symptoms like runny nose and congestion, allergies do not cause fevers or severe symptoms like a sore throat. While colds typically last between three to ten days, allergies might continue for months, contingent on the duration of allergen exposure.

Dr. Yanny recommends managing allergies with over-the-counter remedies such as antihistamines, nasal sprays, or eye drops, but advises choosing non-drowsy options, eschewing diphenhydramine, commonly known as Benadryl. "The recommended medicines can be taken in combination every day, and taking them in advance before a person’s body is triggered can help," she explains.

Emphasizing that cough and cold medicines are ineffective against allergies, Dr. Yanny advises consulting a pediatrician if over-the-counter options fail. "If over-the-counter medication doesn’t seem to be helping or something still seems off, call your child’s pediatrician," she advises.

In certain instances, allergy testing might be necessary to pinpoint specific allergens and devise a treatment strategy, involving procedures like skin prick tests performed by an allergist, she says.

Additional strategies for parents include frequent bedding changes, night showers, and monitoring of pollen levels, she advises. Seasonal allergies, she mentions, often accompany other conditions such as eczema or asthma, with symptoms potentially starting from the age of two when a child's immune system has had sufficient exposure to allergens.