Seasonal Allergies in Children

It can be frustrating when your child wants to go outside to play but you know they are going to come in with itchy red eyes, sneezing that won’t quit and a stuffy nose. Having allergies is no fun, especially for children; however, the goal of your child’s pediatrician is to make sure there are simple solutions to help manage their allergy symptoms and to keep them under control while still getting to enjoy those outdoor playing sessions.

So, how do you know if your child has seasonal allergies? If your little one starts to display symptoms similar to a cold at the same time every year then it might not be a cold at all but allergies instead. Your child may cough, sneeze, have an itchy nose, experience watery red eyes or battle nasal congestion. If a child also has asthma these allergies could trigger an attack.

Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to help your child keep their seasonal allergies under control. The type of treatment or treatments that a pediatrician recommends will depend on the severity of your child’s allergy symptoms. More often than not, the best way to reduce flare-ups is to avoid the allergen altogether. This means avoiding the outdoors on days where outdoor allergies such as mold or pollen are high. Keep windows and doors closed, as well.

If your child does go outside it’s important that they immediately wash their hands and change clothes to reduce their exposure. While these simple habits and lifestyle changes can certainly go a long way to reducing your child’s symptoms it’s also important to have proper medication available when necessary.

There are countless decongestants, antihistamines and nasal sprays on the market and some children will find the relief they need through these over-the-counter medications. Of course, if your child’s symptoms aren’t being properly managed through over-the-counter medications then a pediatrician may need to prescribe a stronger medication to ease your child’s discomfort. If allergies are severe enough you and your child may also want to weigh the pros and cons of allergy shots.

Don’t let allergy symptoms bum out your kids. There are simple and easy ways to tackle these symptoms. Turn to your pediatrician for help.

Questions or Comments?

At Harvest Pediatrics, we encourage you to contact us whenever you have a concern or question related to your care.
You can reach us at:


Napa: (707) 252-1076
St. Helena: (707) 963-0171

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Closed daily between 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM for lunch.

Napa Office

Monday:

8:30 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

St. Helena Office

Monday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed