Spring health cheat sheet
The beginning of spring often brings warm weather and hours of outdoor fun, and many common winter infections recede.
Unfortunately, spring weather can bring its own health challenges. As soon as the trees and flowers bloom, flowers bud and the grass grows, susceptible children will start to display symptoms of seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies cause sneezing, runny nose and itchy red eyes and can trigger flares of asthma and eczema.
As children spend more time outdoors, parents also need to watch for exposure to ticks, poison ivy and excess sun.
Read on for the parents’ guide to spring health.
Seasonal allergies: symptoms to look for
Allergic rhinitis
About one in five children develops seasonal allergy symptoms. In New England, tree pollen begins affecting susceptible individuals as early as late March. Symptoms include:
runny and itchy nose with watery discharge
sneezing
allergic shiners: dark circles under the eyes
nasal salute: upward rubbing of the itchy nose, creating a characteristic crease
Allergic conjunctivitis
Some children with spring allergies will be bothered most by eye irritation. While some kids have just mild eye allergies, others have severe itching and discomfort. Children with allergic conjunctivitis have eye:
It’s much easier to prevent allergy symptoms than to relieve them once they’ve appeared.
redness
itching
burning
watery or mucousy discharge
Allergic asthma
Pollens are a common asthma trigger for susceptible children. Many children...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Carolyn Sax Tags: Health & Wellness Parenting allergies asthma Carolyn Sax conjunctivitis lyme disease poion ivy sunburn Source Type: news
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