With so many children suffering from allergies, it comes as no surprise that most parents are quite knowledgeable when it comes to the ways to deal with this issue. Still, it’s always a good idea to revisit the tips for coping with allergies, especially since there are always new discoveries, forcing us to rethink the approach we have been taking so far.
We all know how complicated life is when your child is suffering from allergies. It shapes their eating habits, social life and, very often, it has a profound effect on how our kids spend their free time. This affects not only the kid but the whole family, since they all have to adapt to the circumstances. Depending on the type of allergy, we need to invest less or more effort into preventing our kid from coming into contact with various allergens and treating the symptoms.
Whatever the case, one thing is for sure: we mustn’t give up fighting, but reevaluate how we care for our allergic kid and integrate some activities into our routine to help us all have an easier life. Here are some tips on how to go about this issue.
Finding the best allergy medicine
In order to be absolutely sure whether the treatment is right, you need to know exactly what triggers an allergy in your kid. Without this step, there’s no guarantee you’re giving your kid the best possible treatment. With so many new medications appearing on the market, you might be stuck with an older alternative that is inferior to a new medication. That’s why you need to make regular visits to your doctor and have consultations about the treatment.
Immunotherapy is said to be the closest thing to curing allergies, with more than 80% of people responding positively to the treatment. Allergy shots help your kid not only with allergies but also with asthma. Immunotherapy is particularly useful when it comes to kids who can’t take medications or whose medications aren’t working well.
Avoiding contact with allergens
If there’s no allergen, there’s no allergy to cope with. Creating an allergen-free environment is something most parents are most concerned about, since it’s always better to prevent than to cure a health issue. Some allergens are quite simple to avoid, but others are more difficult to deal with. For example, if your child is allergic to peanuts, you’ll make sure they don’t eat anything that contains or has been in contact with this allergen.
Similarly, if you’re not sure about the indoor air quality and your kid is allergic to mold, which is one of the most common allergens, you should find an efficient air purifier for mold to prevent the problem from aggravating. Finally, if your kid is allergic to pollen, you’ll simply avoid spending time in an environment that is rich in pollen.
Other tips
If possible, you should plan your vacations during non-allergy seasons. A nice ski-trip or fall camping holiday can be a great substitute for a spring holiday if that’s the season when your kid suffers the most. Traditional summer camps can be substituted with alternatives, such as art or surf camps.
When it comes to pets, experts claim that no animal is truly hypoallergenic. Still, there is a huge difference in terms of shedding when you consider various dog and cat breeds. So, if your child would really like to have a pet and you’re willing to make their wish come true, make sure you choose wisely. Also, if you already have a pet that causes occasional allergy symptoms, don’t give it up before you consider how much stress that would cause for the child. Instead, pay more attention to combing it regularly and keeping it outside as much as possible. If that’s not possible, try to find a new home for the pet in your family, since that would allow your child to pay occasional visits.
Take a break
You can have fun with your kid even if it has severe issues with allergies. A simple board game or any activity that doesn’t include contact with allergens will go a long way in establishing a better parent-child relation. You should never let your child feel that your life is greatly affected by their health issues, since they will feel guilty. Instead, keep a positive attitude and teach your child about the things they shouldn’t do if they want to be healthy.
Having a child suffering from allergies can be a great inconvenience, but it’s something a lot of us have to deal with. The most important thing is to be fully informed about the nature of the problems and the ways of coping with it so that the negative effects can be minimized.
