It’s HEEEERE…..are you ready?

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Guess what arrived today? THE POLLEN!

Are you ready for pollen season in the South? Here come the itchy and watery eyes, sneezing and runny noses, and dry coughs.

As much as we love how beautiful spring is here, it can be hard to deal with all the pollen. And I’m not just talking about keeping your car cleaned.

Here are a few tips to help you manage your child’s symptoms.

  1. No shoes in your house! You’ll just track it all over.
  2. No open windows or doors when pollen counts are high — that’s just letting it float through the screens and into the house directly.
  3. If your child has spent time outdoors during the day (which they should!), then make sure to bathe before bed. The pollen will settle onto their hair, and be transferred to the pillow at bedtime. Then the child is basically breathing it in all night and symptoms will be worse the next day. A quick rinse-off before bed will help.
  4. Wash hands as soon as coming indoors as well.
  5. Consider investing in an air purifier. The best ones contain HEPA filters, which will remove pollen and dust from the air.
  6. Check the pollen counts before making plans. Schedule outdoor activities for lower pollen days, when possible:.

There are several over-the-counter medications safe for kids >2 years to use. Zyrtec and Claritin are the most popular. Nasal steroid sprays are now over-the-counter as well, but check with your pediatrician before starting one on kids <12 years.

If the OTC medications aren’t working and your child is still miserable, please contact us to schedule an appointment in the office. There are several other medications that your doctor may decide to prescribe to better control the symptoms.