About Seasonal Allergies
"Achoo!" It's your son's third sneezing fit of the morning, and as you
hand him another tissue you wonder if these cold-like symptoms — the sneezing,
congestion, and runny nose — have something to do with the recent weather change.
If he gets similar symptoms at the same time every year, you're likely right: seasonal
allergies are at work.
Seasonal allergies, sometimes called "hay fever" or seasonal allergic
rhinitis, are allergy symptoms that happen during certain times of the year, usually
when outdoor molds release their spores, and trees, grasses, and weeds release tiny
pollen particles into the air to fertilize other plants.
The immune systems
of people who are allergic to mold spores or pollen treat these particles (called
allergens) as invaders and release chemicals, including histamine, into the bloodstream
to defend against them. It's the release of these chemicals that causes allergy symptoms.
People can be allergic to one or more types of pollen or mold. The type someone
is allergic to determines when symptoms happen. For example, in the mid-Atlantic states,
tree pollination is February through May, grass pollen runs from May through June,
and weed pollen is from August through October — so kids with these allergies
are likely to have increased symptoms at those times. Mold spores tend to peak midsummer
through the fall, depending on location.
Even kids who have never had seasonal allergies in years past can develop them.
Seasonal allergies can start at almost any age, though they usually develop by the
time someone is 10 years old and reach their peak in the early twenties, with symptoms
often disappearing later in adulthood.
Signs and Symptoms
If your child develops a "cold" at the same time every year, seasonal allergies
might be to blame. Allergy symptoms, which usually come on suddenly and last as long
as a person is exposed to the allergen, can include:
- sneezing
- itchy nose and/or throat
- nasal congestion
- clear, runny nose
- coughing
These symptoms often come with itchy, watery, and/or red eyes, which is called
allergic conjunctivitis.
Kids who have wheezing and shortness of breath in addition to these symptoms might
have allergies that trigger asthma.