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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Myrna Manners, Kathleen Robinson, Peggy Sung
Phone: (212) 821-0560
E-mail: pes2001@mail.med.cornell.edu
HOW TO EASE SUFFERING OF CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIES?
New York-Cornell's Allergist Offers Advice for the Winter
Spring and summer are not the only seasons that bring misery to children with allergies.
"The arrival of fall and the end of the pollinating season are good news for children with hay fever and similar allergies, but children sensitive to mold spores may have to wait until the first frost to find relief," said Dr. David Valacer, Director of the Children's Air Center at the New York Presbyterian/New York-Cornell.
"Allergy to mold spores is more of a problem than pollen allergy because molds grow anywhere and are not limited to a single pollinating season. Little more than moisture and oxygen is all they need to thrive."
Another problem for children with allergies, said Dr. Valacer, is that they usually spend more time indoors during the winter months and therefore increase their exposure to indoor allergens and irritants, such as dust mites and household pets.
Dr. Valacer recommends the following tips for parents to follow to help make the fall and winter months more bearable for children with allergies:
- When outdoors, parents should keep children from playing in areas that
promote mold growth, such as dark, wooded areas.
- Keep your indoor humidity level below 35% to decrease the growth of
molds and mites. Use exhaust fans when showering or cooking to
remove excess humidity.
- Avoid putting rugs and carpet in your child's bedroom, if possible, since
carpets are an ideal place for dust mites to proliferate.
- Wash bed linen and night clothes in hot water (above 130 degrees) since
only hot temperatures will kill dust mites.
- Use dust-proof covers for mattresses, box springs, and pillows to
decrease exposure to allergens. You should consult your child's
allergist before you undertake such an expense.
- If you must use a humidifier, remember to keep it clean and change the
water frequently to avoid contamination by molds and bacteria. Central
humidifiers should be sprayed with an anti-mold agent.
- Keep plants out of your child's bedroom since decayed leaves and
increased humidity may stimulate growth of molds.
- If your child is allergic to household pets (i.e. dogs and cats), minimize
his contact with them. If you cannot remove them from the household,
then keep them out of your child's bedroom at all times.
- Children with moderate to severe asthma should get a flu vaccine in the
fall before the onset of cold weather. Also, keep your child well-hydrated
and protected from cold air with proper attire (i.e. a scarf around the
mouth).
- Contact your child's physician or allergist for proper evaluation and
treatment.
© 1999 New York Presbyterian Hospital
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
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