Pollen allergy : 11 tips to protect children

First days of spring, the first beautiful days: the sun is shining, it is hotter and rightly children love to play outdoors. For some, though, it can be a problem. Fault of pollen, which in the spring begin to “crowd” the air, and in susceptible individuals can cause an annoying allergic rhinitis. In America suffer 18 million people, one million and 200 thousand are children. Let us see what it is, how it manifests itself and especially how it can be cured. With the contribution of Renato Cutrera , responsible for bronchopneumology Paediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù in Rome .

To begin with , what are the pollen ?

Pollens are tiny grains that allow plants to reproduce. During the pollination period - which in Italy is generally between March and July - they are transported by wind, insects and water. For this, in the spring and summer they are present in high concentrations, especially on hot days, sunny and windy. In susceptible individuals, pollens cause the occurrence of allergic reactions. I.e. they are potent allergens. Are especially tiny pollens, tend invisible, to cause this reaction.
Among the plants responsible to issue allergenic pollen we include the cypress, olive, mimosa, Parietaria , ragweed , grasses. But even the birch trees, the stones, the beaches and oaks.

What are the symptoms of allergy to pollen?

Are symptoms of the respiratory type, in some ways similar to those of a cold: itchy nose, sneezing, runny nose (with secretions typically more liquid than those of viral colds), swollen eyes watery, coughing. It can also be itchy eyes and conjunctivitis, which causes difficulty in watching the light. In these cases it refers expressly to allergic rhinitis. In more severe cases, finally, you can get to bronchial asthma.
Since not all plants emit pollen at the same time, the time of year when they start to manifest the symptoms depends on the type of pollen to which you are allergic: for someone can be the beginning of spring, for others a little 'more forward.
According to some surveys, seasonal allergies are associated with a reduction in the school performance of children and young people who, in the critical period, tend to sleep badly and have difficulty concentrating, with relative difficulty following the lessons and doing homework.

There may be other causes for allergic rhinitis, in addition to pollen?

Yes, other allergens that can trigger this type of reaction are the spores of certain fungi, also a seasonal rhinitis usually responsible in summer, the fur of pets and dust mites. In the latter cases rhinitis can last for the whole year.

How do the diagnosis of pollen allergy ?

If you suspect an allergy, it is advisable to visit the child, on the advice of the pediatrician, dall'allergologo . Assessed through simple skin tests, skin prick test , where in practice the various allergens are put into contact with the baby's skin , and then assess possible reactions . Only in special cases it makes a blood test to check for antibodies to specific allergens.

How is it treated?

There were various roads

1. Avoid the allergen as possible

In the case of allergies to dust mites or to the fur of domestic animals, this is relatively simple. If the issue is an allergic rhinitis by pollen, the situation is more complicated: it is virtually impossible to completely avoid pollen, they circulate freely in the air. It may, however, avoid the most critical situations - for example a trip to the countryside on a sunny and windy day - and make some changes to reduce the exposure, how to keep the car windows closed.

2. Drug therapy

To alleviate the hassles, the drugs that work best are the cortisone nasal spray. Their use, however, must be limited to what is strictly necessary, since the cortisone may give side effects. A good alternative are antihistamines by mouth, to be used for the whole period of symptomatic manifestation. Both types of drugs should only be taken on the recommendation of the allergy specialist.

3. Specific immunotherapy

If symptoms are particularly troublesome, the third solution is to make a specific immunotherapy, in practice a kind of vaccine that plans to put the child in contact with increasing concentrations of the allergen, to accustom your body to tolerate it. With time, continuous exposure to the allergen reduces the production of antibodies responsible for allergic reactions.
The vaccine can be administered sublingually, or by subcutaneous injection. The therapy, however, is quite long (at least three years), and with varying dosages depending on time of year and the type of allergy, so it is a 'difficult' decision that the parents must agree closely with the specialist and pediatrician physician. Other sources for this article: Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital informational materials; information materials of the English Health Service; advisory from the American Myo Clinic.