By Seema Aceves, MD, PhD

Allergic rhinitis is a condition that affects up to 40% of children in the United States.  Allergy symptoms include:

• itchy, runny nose
• nasal congestion
• itchy, watery eyes
• itchy throat
• post nasal drip

Symptoms can occur predictably during certain seasons ("seasonal" allergic rhinitis) or can occur all year ("perennial" allergic rhinitis).  Seasonal allergies are caused by outdoor allergens such as grass, weed, or tree pollens.  Perennial allergies are caused by indoor allergens such as dust mites, cockroaches, and pets.

You can find out what your child is allergic to by having him/her undergo allergy testing, either through blood tests or skin tests.  Once you know what your child is allergic to, the most important part of making your child feel better is to avoid your child's allergic triggers.  Sometimes this is relatively simple, for example, by encasing the bedding in dust mite covers, removing stuffed animals, and washing the sheets in hot water if your child is allergic to dust mites.  Other times allergen avoidance can be difficult, for example, with pollens that blow in the wind.

The most effective medicines for the treatment of nasal allergies are topical corticosteroid nose sprays.  Other medicines that can be used to treat the itching associated with allergy are antihistamines.  In addition, eye drops can be used to treat ocular allergies.  Leukotriene blockers can also be tried when treating allergic rhinitis.  All these medicines treat the symptoms of allergy but they will not change whether or not a person has allergies.  Allergen specific immunotherapy, also known as "allergy shots", can be used to treat allergies if a person does not respond adequately to medicines.

It is important to treat your child's allergies since untreated allergic rhinitis can increase a child's likelihood of getting sinus infections and ear infections.  Sometimes children with allergic rhinitis can have trouble hearing.  If your child has asthma, allergic triggers that make your child's nose itch can also make your child's lungs twitch, causing wheezing.

While it can be difficult to cure your child's allergies, your doctors can make living with itchy and scratchy more manageable.

If you have questions about Allergic Rhinitis, or about Children's Specialists San Diego and our physicians, please visit our website at www.ChildrensSpecialists.com or call (858) 966-5961.