When most people think of allergies, they might think of a runny nose, itchy eyes or a sore throat. Although those are common seasonal allergies, there are many other, more significant allergies that every parent should know about.
Some allergies can be life-threatening and require emergency medical care. That’s one of the reasons that it’s so important to have an accurate medical history for both parents, so that if there is a genetic history of severe allergic reactions to certain foods or insects, the appropriate precautions and testing can take place. There is also the possibility of asthma occurring as the result of seasonal allergies, which would need to be monitored if it occurs.
Seasonal Allergies Versus a Bad Cold
It’s common for many individuals to live in a new place for up to two years before developing seasonal allergies from that area. When the symptoms do appear, it’s not unusual to believe that they are actually a cold, virus, flu or even a sinus infection. Although the symptoms may be similar, there are a few ways to determine the differences and choose the best treatment options.
There are a wide variety of over the counter allergy medications. For years, most allergy medications resulted in sleepiness and people were discouraged from driving or operating heavy machinery while taking it. Now, there are many medications that last for 12-24 hours, don’t cause drowsiness and are over the counter versions of medications that were previously only available by prescription.
If you’re running a fever, your drainage is not clear and taking allergy medications does not help, you probably should consider seeing a doctor. If the drainage is clear and you notice any kind of improvement after taking allergy medications, it’s probably allergies. There are also many allergists who can provide a treatment protocol if your symptoms do not go away or become debilitating.
What about More Serious Problems?
It has been noted that the severity and frequency of life-threatening allergic reactions, as well as the allergies themselves, have sky-rocketed in the past few years. Peanut allergies are one of the most common and even the scent of peanut butter in the air or touching someone who consumed peanuts recently is enough to trigger a reaction in some people. Bee stings, rice and gluten are also common triggers for this type of reaction.
For minor reactions, Benadryl pill, liquid or cream are often used to treat the reaction. For more severe reactions, it’s usually suggested to have a medical alert bracelet and an epi-pen, in case of emergency.
Allergic reactions are a fact of life in most areas, but the frequency and severity of reactions has grown dramatically in recent years.. Although there is not any one cure for allergies, there are many treatment options and you do not have to suffer. If over the counter products don’t work or you suspect a life-threatening problem for you or your child, consult a doctor immediately.
