No parent wants to see their child feel uncomfortable.

So if you notice that your child sneezes or coughs often, and develops rashes or hives when the seasons change, there's a high chance they have seasonal allergies. And while it's a relatively common allergy, your child doesn't have to power through the symptoms without treatment.

Before looking into treatment methods, check your child for symptoms of seasonal allergies. Carolina Pediatrics lists them below. 

What are the Signs of Seasonal Allergies? 

It's relatively easy to determine whether you have seasonal allergies — you usually start sniffling, sneezing, and rubbing your eyes more often during spring and summer or whenever the seasons change.

While it's easy to recognize these symptoms in yourself, it's a bit more challenging to tell if your child has cold or seasonal allergies.

That being said, here are five signs your child has seasonal allergies: 

 Runny Nose

One of the most common allergy symptoms is a runny nose. If you notice that your child starts to get a runny nose when spring or summer approaches, there's a high chance it's their seasonal allergies manifesting. 

Rubbing Their Face 

Children tend to rub their eyes and nose when they have seasonal allergies. This is partly because of their runny nose.

Otherwise, it could be because their allergy symptoms include rashes and skin irritation. On a related note, check their arms and legs for hives, too, as this is another common symptom of seasonal allergies. 

Stuffy and Congested Voice 

Your child can sound stuffy and congested regardless of whether they have a runny nose. This is because pollen or seasonal allergens tend to irritate the lining of the nose and go down to the throat.

You might also notice your child starting to eat with their mouth open. This is because of the congestion. 

Shortness of Breath 

The symptoms of seasonal allergies might look like asthma symptoms. Your child might start coughing often or feel shortness of breath despite not having asthma — likely due to seasonal or pollen allergies. 

Low Mood

Finally, if your child is upset, irritable, or downright miserable, it could be because their allergy symptoms are taking a toll on their mental and physical health. The symptoms could be preventing them from concentrating in class or participating in extracurricular activities, resulting in a low mood. 

If you notice your child having stronger or more frequent allergy symptoms, be proactive with scheduling an appointment with a pediatrician and seeking medical treatment to alleviate what your child is feeling.

The sooner you can determine what's causing the symptoms, the faster your child can feel relief — in turn, you get peace of mind, too.

A pediatrician can help you determine whether the sniffling, runny nose, skin irritation, and shortness of breath are caused by seasonal allergies. They're also your best option for determining how to manage your child's seasonal allergies. 

What Treatment Options are Available for Seasonal Allergies? 

Millions of Americans experience seasonal or pollen allergies — it's generally harmless. Still, the runny nose, nasal congestion, scratchy throat, constant sneezing, and watery or itchy eyes could be highly uncomfortable for your child.

Here are some ways you can minimize the chances of allergy symptoms popping up:

• Check the news for current pollen levels and pollen forecasts. If the forecast shows a high pollen count, consider giving your child allergy medications.
• Avoid going out early morning or late evening to reduce pollen exposure.
• Opt to spend time indoors during dry, windy days when the pollen is in the air.
• Spend time in nature after the rain has cleared up pollen from the outdoor air.
• Avoid hanging the laundry outside because pollen can stick to the fabric.
• Keep all doors and windows closed whenever pollen counts are high.
• Use HVAC systems with high-efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) for cleaner indoor air.
• Use dehumidifiers to keep the air dry for optimal indoor air quality.

In addition to these preventive measures, it would be wise to store over-the-counter remedies to ease the symptoms of seasonal allergies. 

Non-prescription medications may include oral antihistamines, oral decongestants, and corticosteroid or cromolyn sodium nasal sprays. If these products are inadequate in alleviating allergy symptoms, asking a medical professional about the most suitable treatment option for your child is best. 

Carolina Pediatrics | Beat Seasonal Allergies with Us! 

Carolina Pediatrics of Wilmington is a local pediatric care provider located in Wilmington, NC, and Hampstead, NC.

If you think your child has seasonal allergies, you can schedule an appointment with your Carolina Pediatrics pediatrician for a doctor's evaluation.

The Carolina Pediatrics team strives to provide the right amount of care that your child needs. We remain attentive from allergy diagnosis to treatment method exploration to follow-up appointments.

Please reach out via the patient portal for further inquiries.