An Overview of Kids Pollen Allergies

The allergy trigger for a pollen allergy reaction is the pollen. The mechanism of kid’s pollen allergies is not different from any other type of allergy reactions. Basically, the allergens are not considered harmful by most of the bodies of the human being. The bodies of others who are affected by allergic reactions consider the allergens as dangerous invaders; such bodies produce antibodies such as histamines to counter the allergens which in fact are allergic reactions. In the case of kid’s pollen allergies the harmless substance is pollen; however, some children are allergic to it and when these children come into contact with pollen their bodies respond as though they are in danger.

What Are The Symptoms Of Kid's Pollen Allergies?

The kid’s pollen allergies are seasonal allergies and are also known as “Hay fever”. The symptoms for this are as follows.

	Stuffy nose and nasal congestion
	Sneezing
	Itchy nose, throat, and eyes
	Cough
	Dark circles beneath the eyes
	Rubbing of the nose
	Watery eyes
	Runny nose
	Allergic conjunctivitis also known as ‘pink eye'
	Crease across the lower bridge of the nose due to from frequent rubbing

Where Does Pollen Come From?

The origin for pollen is plants of various types e.g. trees, weeds, grasses, vegetables and flowers. The shape of pollens can either be round or oval and they are microscopic particles. They are meant for reproduction of the plants; the plants release pollens into the air so that they move around to other plants for reproduction of their species.

Most of the pollen allergies originate from trees, ragweed and grasses which are responsible for production of large amounts of pollen. Normally the attractive plants that are put in your garden are not the variety that generates such pollens except for a few. Unattractive small flowered plants are the ones which are normally responsible for generation of such pollens which cause pollen allergies in children.

The pollens from the plants are not released throughout the year by the plants; they are released at different times of the year by different types of plants. Generally they are generated in the season mid-spring to mid-fall. Wherever the plants live throughout the year they release the pollen in warmer climates. The trees release pollens during spring whereas ragweed releases them in fall. The pollen allergies are high when the climate is dry and windy. The rain normally washes off the pollen in the atmosphere and there are less pollen allergies in children after a storm. Since the plants release pollens at different seasons, the kid’s pollen allergies occur only during the seasons.

What Can Be Done About Kid's Pollen Allergies?

Since the pollen generation by various plants is seasonal the kid's pollen allergies are also seasonal and in most of the places it does not create problems throughout the year. In case you are able to manage the children’s pollen allergy during the season when pollination occurs there may not be any need for the maintenance medicines throughout the year. This is not applicable if the child has other allergies.

For better management of kid's pollen allergies you should make sure that the child is not exposed to pollen environment during the peak season; the child should also be given proper medications for relieving allergy symptoms. Another important thing is to get daily information on the pollen counts from newspapers and websites and these are useful for managing the child’s pollen allergies by knowing the intensity of pollens in the atmosphere on relative terms such as low, moderate or high. Children should avoid playing outdoor games on high pollen count days or alternately wear a mask while playing to minimize pollen inhalation.

One of the important factors in managing children’s allergic reactions is to maintain an allergy proof home which will reduce incidences of allergy of the child. Some of the measures to be taken for this are damp-dusting, vacuuming, and overall cleaning etc. and such actions reduce the pollens trapped inside the house to a minimum and maintain low and tolerable pollen levels. However much you clean the house it cannot eliminate 100% of the pollens from your home. Hence, it is essential that the parents understand the measures and medications available for treating kid’s pollen allergies. Over a period of time the parents will know the allergies and allergens affecting their child and the remedial measures available to counter them. Under such situations allergy management of kids will become a routine affair.