Anyone who has ever experienced a bout of allergy will agree: allergies are the worst! Since there are many kinds of allergies, it is essential to know exactly what is bothering your child before attempting to find some medicinal means of relief.
Many concerned parents and caregivers wonder if allergy medicine is safe for kids. Here is a quick guide to help you understand exactly what to know and look for to ensure you only give your child what is good for them.
Allergies and Kids
Different types of allergies annoy all kinds of people. Some allergies like hay fever are seasonal, which means that they only occur at the time of year when there is plant pollen in the air. Other allergy types occur all year round and are known as perennial allergies. These allergies occur due to dust mites, pet dander, and even mold.
You can tell if your kid has an allergy by evaluating the long-lasting nature of their ‘cold’ symptoms. If your child has a runny or stuffy nose and is sniffling or sneezing for a prolonged length of time, the chances are that he (or she) is allergic to something.
What is Allergy Medicine?
Allergy medicine for kids exists to help ease the symptoms of allergic children. Over-the-counter allergy medicine is generally safe to use for children above six months of age unless specified otherwise.
Types of Allergy Medicine
There are many different kinds of allergy medicines, which can be taken up depending on the allergic symptoms that your child is displaying. Here are the most common, children-friendly medications available over-the-counter.
- Antihistamines: allergic reaction in children causes ‘histamine,’ which causes the runny nose, sneezing, and typical allergic symptoms. Antihistamines are short-acting, over-the-counter allergy medicine for kids that can help prevent and ease the symptoms.
- Nasal sprays: these are excellent for nose relieving allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, watery or itchy eyes. Hold your child’s head firmly, and then use the spray in the nasal cavity for maximum effect.
Some Precautions to Take
Keeping your children healthy is one of the most important responsibilities of parents and caregivers. Though allergy medicines are becoming increasingly common and child-friendly, here are some things that you should keep in mind to ensure that your child doesn’t face any adverse effects.
- Seek Professional Advice: asking for help is never a bad idea, especially if it means your child’s well-being. Pediatricians and even pharmacists are equipped with knowledge regarding the ideal dosage and type of allergy medicine for your child.
- Check the Ingredients: even before giving kid-friendly allergy medicine to your child, it is a good idea to check the ingredients of the medication to ensure your child isn’t allergic to any of those.
- When giving more than one medicine: If you’re giving your child more than one drug, check the ingredients across them all to see that you’re not giving your child the same active ingredient. This is important as many medications use the same active ingredients.
Conclusion
Children have many different kinds of allergies that can be seasonal or perennial. Parents and caregivers need to understand the nature of their child’s allergies so that they can support their child in the best way possible. Easing allergic reactions and symptoms does not have to be such a hassle due to many child-friendly anti-allergy medicines.
Though most over-the-counter medications are indeed effective for easing allergic reactions in kids, it is always a great idea to check with a professional health practitioner before administering any kind of medicine to your child.
