Finally the grass is green and the flowers are blooming! Now it is allergy season. There are many over the counter medications to help with sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. Call us to discuss the appropriate dose. In addition, there is much you can do to help control these symptoms. If possible, keep your child's room as free of allergens as possible. Keep the windows closed, and use air conditioning, particularly in the bed room. Have your child shower or bathe at bedtime to remove the pollen from hair and eye lashes.
Click here for local pollen counts.
Click here for allergen avoidance strategies.
Safety
It is great to be outside playing again, but don't forget your helmet. Below is a quick guide to fitting your helmet properly. Parents, please wear one too! Remind your children about pool, road, and stranger safety lessons.
Insect bites
After a bee sting, carefully remove the stinger from your child's skin as quickly as possible, thus minimizing the venom that enters the body. Use the blunt edge of a knife to gently brush away the stinger and the attached venom sac; or, if possible, pull it out with a pair of tweezers. Once the stinger is gone, apply cool, damp compresses or an ice pack to the area in order to minimize swelling and relieve the pain. A solution containing water and a commercial meat tenderizer, wet baking soda, or calamine lotion can also be placed on the bite to reduce the discomfort. Your doctor might also recommend an oral antihistamine or a nonprescription corticosteroid ointment.
Mosquito bites are best prevented. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends insect repellents with no more than 30% DEET. They should never be used on children less than 2 months of age. Apply to clothing when possible. Avoid damp areas where mosquitoes breed. Avoid being outside at dawn and dusk. Repellents that are free of DEET can be effective also. These contain natural plant extracts like eucalyptus and lemon oil. Two brand name products are: Off-Botanicals and Repel.
Sunscreen
Use sunscreen for children 6 months of age and up. Use SPF 15 or higher, and follow the detailed instructions below for applying the lotion to children. Avoid being in the sun from 10am to 4pm. Wear protective clothing and hats whenever possible, especially for infants and toddlers that may still have thin hair. If infants must be in the sun, use sunscreens that provide a physical barrier rather than a chemical one. Blue Lizard and Neutrogena Baby are two such products.
Guidelines for sunscreen application.
Summer Time Viruses
Even though there is less overall illness during the summer, there are several viruses that are common during these months. Enteroviruses can cause respiratory (cough and runny nose) symptoms as well as some diarrhea and stomach ache. Many times they can cause sore throat. One of the most well known enteroviruses is the Coxsackie Virus. It can lead to Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Parainfluenza virus that causes croup continues to cause illness even during these warm months. Adenovirus is common as well. This virus can cause high fevers, sore throat, red eyes with discharge. It can last several days. For more information about these illnesses, call us, or consult the HealthyChildren.org website.