Is It A Cold Or Fall Allergies? Tips To Help Florida Kids

November 12, 2013

Runny, stuffy or itchy noses, sneezing, coughing, fatigue and headaches: all can be symptoms of both allergies and colds. And when it’s a small child suffering, it can be hard to figure out the difference.

According to Dr. Michelle Lierl, a pediatric allergist, parents should look closely for the minor details. She said children with allergies to such things as leaf mold or outdoor fungal spores are more likely to have itchy noses, throats and eyes than those with a cold, who will generally just not feel well.

“They may run a low-grade fever, they may feel just kind of sick and achy, and they have more sore throats,” the doctor said. “And they’ll have nasal drainage and nasal congestion, but not so much itching of the nose and eyes.”

For seasonal allergies, Lierl said a daily antihistamine, such as Claritin, Allegra, or Zyrtec, or a prescribed nasal steroid spray are the best options. If it’s a cold, Tylenol or ibuprofen can help a child feel better. She also recommends talking to a pediatrician about having children screened for environmental allergens.

Lierl said taking allergy medicine throughout the season is important to prevent allergy symptoms, such as swelling and mucus build-up, from turning into something worse.

“That can stop up the sinuses and develop into a sinus infection, or it can stop up the middle ear and evolve into an episode of ear infection,” she warned. “So, keeping the nose open and less congested does help to prevent those secondary infections.”

When it comes to fall allergies, prevention is also important. She noted that allergy season is tough for asthma sufferers, and November is one of the worst months.

“We have higher rates of admission to Children’s Hospital for asthma attacks than at any other time of the year,” Lierl recalled. “So, it’s important for the parents of children with asthma to be especially careful that their children do not miss any doses of their regular asthma medication.”

She recommends keeping windows closed, changing air filters, and having children wash their hands and faces after being outside. And while it is fun, jumping into piles of leaves is off limits, because it can trigger an allergy attack.

by Stephanie Carroll Carson, Florida News Connection

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News