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HOW TO EASE SUFFERING OF CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIES?

New York, NY (August 1999)  --  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,” says David Valacer, M.D.,  Director of the Children’s AIR Center at the Weill Cornell Center of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. 

“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, says 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.

“Along with dust mites and pets, indoor irritants including cigarette smoke, fireplace smoke, household sprays and chemicals and gas fumes also compound children’s respiratory problems, particularly allergy and asthma,” says William J. Davis, M.D., Director of the Division of Allergy at Babies and Children’s Hospital, a part of New York-Presbyterian, and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Drs. Valacer and Davis recommend the following tips for parents to follow to help make the fall and winter months more bearable for children with allergies:

1. When outdoors, parents should keep children from playing in areas that promote mold growth, such as dark, wooded areas.

2. 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.

3. Avoid putting rugs and carpet in your child’s bedroom, if possible, since carpets are an ideal place for dust mites to proliferate.

4. Wash bed linen and night clothes in hot water (above 130 degrees) since only hot temperatures will kill dust mites.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Keep plants out of your child’s bedroom since decayed leaves and increased humidity may stimulate growth of molds.

8. 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.

9. 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).

10. Contact your child’s physician or allergist for proper evaluation and treatment.