Your Child And Allergic Rhinitis

I've been asked by several of female patients who have allergies and are pregnant, "Dr. Lubitz, will I pass on my allergies to my children?"It's a fair question and I will answer it this way. Any child could become allergic, but children who have either parents with a history of allergy are more likely to be allergic. Or as an interesting article in the ACAAI (American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology) website states that "children may inherit the tendency to become allergic from their parents, but only some of them will develop an active allergic disease."One of the most common of childhood allergies is allergic rhinitis, sometimes referred to as hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis. The website kidshealth.com says that "it occurs during certain times of the year, usually when outdoor molds release their spores, and trees, grasses, and weeds release tiny pollen particles into the air to fertilize other plants."In New York and the northeast states, allergy symptoms occur in February through May for tree pollen and for grass pollen from May through June; weed pollen is from August through October, so I tell parents their children will have increased symptoms during those seasons. Mold spores tend to peak in midsummer through the fall.Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include: sneezing; itchy nose/ and or throat; nasal congestion; clear, runny nose; and coughing. It may also be accompanied by itchy, watery, and/or red eyes commonly known as allergic conjunctivitis. On rare occasions, a child may exhibit wheezing or shortness of breath where the allergy may have progressed to asthma.Your allergist can suggest the treatment that's right for your child.To learn more http://nysinusdoctor.com/allergic_rhinitis/