When the seasons change, many children with allergic rhinitis will feel very uncomfortable, either with persistent runny nose or persistent sneezing, and some younger children will cry endlessly. It also affects learning, movement and sleep.
Not only is the child uncomfortable, but the parents are also worried, and it is they who want to get sick.
Actually, allergic rhinitis can be prevented in advance, but to prevent it, you must first understand the disease.
What exactly is allergic rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis, or allergic rhinitis, is a chronic disease in which children are exposed to allergens and cause an excessive defensive reaction of the nasal mucosa.
Its typical symptoms are nasal itching, nasal congestion, runny nose (which turns into purulent nasal discharge if infected) and persistent sneezing, and some may have conjunctival congestion and itching in the eyes and other symptoms.
These symptoms can be very uncomfortable for children, but they are actually the body’s response to fighting the cause and restoring function as quickly as possible.
Although allergic rhinitis is not fatal, it is very troublesome to attack, and the incidence rate of children is 10-30%. Parents should pay attention to allergic rhinitis.
How are allergens detected?
Pollen, dust mites, animal dander or feathers, fungal spores, and more are the main allergens in allergic rhinitis.
However, because allergic rhinitis is a personal physical problem, each child’s allergens will be different, and parents should find out as soon as possible.
So, how do you spot allergens?
One depends on parents’ careful observation.
Allergic rhinitis is an immediate allergic reaction that usually occurs within minutes to 2 hours of a child’s exposure to the allergen.
Allergens can be easily and reliably detected as long as parents watch their children carefully for symptoms when they are sick.
The second is to go to the hospital for examination.
If parents are unsure of their child’s allergens, don’t make guesses. It is best to go to the hospital in time for a skin prick test and blood test for allergen IgE testing.
If your child is taking antihistamines, stop them for at least a week before getting a skin prick test.
Once an allergen has been identified, symptomatic treatment is required.
How is allergic rhinitis treated?
There is no cure for allergic rhinitis, and it is the most effective treatment to control rhinitis without attack.
There are generally three
common and effective treatments: allergen avoidance, medication, and desensitization.
1. Avoid exposure to allergens.
The easiest way to prevent allergic rhinitis is to avoid allergens.
If the child is allergic to pollen, it is necessary to give up growing flowers and plants indoors, close the doors and windows more when spring comes, and buy an air purifier to purify the air if necessary.
If your child is allergic to dust mites, create a clean, ventilated, dry home environment, wash and change bedding frequently, and do your best to reduce dust mites.
If the child is allergic to animal dander or feathers, parents should give up the idea of raising small animals at home, and all bedding and down jackets filled with down must be disposed of.
If there is no way to avoid it, prepare in advance and keep allergens out of the nose by using nasal filters, special masks, pollen blockers, etc.
2. Medication
Like many diseases, allergic rhinitis has different severity and treatment intensity. It is mainly treated by oral or nasal drugs, combined with topical saline irrigation.
If the child’s learning, movement, and sleep are not disturbed by allergic rhinitis, it is mild and generally requires nasal antihistamines (levocabastine hydrochloride spray, etc.), Oral second-generation antihistamines (cetirizine, loratadine), the course of treatment is generally not less than 2 weeks.
Allergic rhinitis is moderate to severe if it interferes with a child’s learning, movement, and sleep. In addition to oral anti-leukotriene drugs (Single Ning), patients also need to use nasal sprays of hormones [mometasone furoate (Nexura)] and [fluticasone propionate (Fuxulian)]. , the course of treatment is more than 4 weeks.
It should be noted that, whether it is oral medication, nasal medication, or nasal wash, it must be purchased and used under the guidance of a doctor to avoid the risk of drug-induced rhinitis.
3. Desensitization therapy
Desensitization therapy, commonly known as immunotherapy, has a precise effect, which is to stimulate the body by sequentially increasing the dose of allergens, thereby reducing the body’s sensitivity and achieving desensitization effects.
Desensitization treatment is not omnipotent, and the effects are limited to dust mites, some common pollen, some molds, cat hair and dog hair.
How can allergic rhinitis be prevented?
In order to prevent allergic rhinitis, in addition to avoiding allergens and desensitization treatment, at the same time, children should strengthen exercise, improve their own immunity, and do a good job of family protection and cleanliness.
The change of season is the season of high incidence of allergic rhinitis, as long as you go out less. For example, when spring comes, you can enjoy flowers online; in autumn and winter, go to places with few people and wide ground; if you have to go out, you must wear a mask.
Seeing this, do you have a clearer understanding of allergic rhinitis? As long as proper precautions are taken, even if the seasons change, children can easily spend their time.