Managing Environmental Allergies in Children

If your child sneezes often, frequently has a runny nose, or has itchy, watery eyes, they might be allergic to something in their environment, such as dust or pollen. For help managing allergie, reach out to Dr. Hanieh Jafarieh and Dr. Farnoush Jamali of Prime Pediatrics in Gaithersburg, MD, and serving Rockville and Germantown, MD.

Environmental allergies occur when a child’s immune system reacts to elements in the environment by attacking them as if they were invading germs. The immune response causes allergy symptoms.

Environmental Allergy Symptoms in Children

Tree and plant pollen, animal fur, dust mites, and mold in the environment can all cause your child to have allergic reactions. Look out for the following allergy symptoms:

• Sore throat. sneezing
• Congested ears
• Headaches
• Difficulty breathing
• Coughing, mucus, and wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Itchy, watery, red, or swollen eyes
• Itchy, runny, or congested nose
• Swollen and itchy lips, tongue, or throat
• Skin hives
• Dry, cracked, or broken skin

Your pediatrician will do skin testing to find which allergens are causing these symptoms. During skin prick testing, a small amount of an allergen is tested on the skin by making a small scratch or prick on the skin of the forearm or back. A red bump will form in about fifteen minutes if there is an allergy. 

Your doctor may also do a blood or breathing test to determine if your child has allergies. 

Managing Allergies in Gaithersburg, MD

Allergies generally can't be fully eliminated, but the symptoms can be managed. In some cases, your child might outgrow certain allergies over time. Over-the-counter medications may relieve your child's symptoms. Some of the other treatments available include:

• Allergy shots
• Drug desensitization
• Immunotherapy

Contact Your Doctor

To learn more about managing allergies call Dr. Jafarieh and Dr. Jamali of Prime Pediatrics in Gaithersburg, MD, and serving Rockville and Germantown, MD, at (301) 977-2440 today.