Ragweed

As midsummer begins, about twenty percent of the American population catches ragweed allergy or more commonly known as hay fever. The allergies symptoms are just like allergic rhinitis. You will hear people sneezing, complaining of itchy eyes, runny or stuffy nose, irritated throat, and some may have trouble sleeping. The allergic reaction also triggers asthma attack for some people.

There are some practical ways to avoid this seasonal allergy:

* Close your windows – It might be as simple as rolling up your car windows when you are on the road or at home, keeping the windows shut until the ragweed season is over. Ragweeds are all over the United States and it will be best if you lock out yourself from the ragweed pollens coming through your shutters.

* Keep track of pollen – The more you know about the problem, the better you will be able to fight it. You can monitor the amount of pollen in your region by watching the news or visiting some websites.

* Don’t go to areas where ragweed is abundant – The solution to any allergy is avoiding its cause. So if ragweed is the culprit you must avoid areas like vacant lots, the woods, roadsides, or even your own backyard. These are places where ragweed grows. If you really love the outdoors and can not resist the colors brought by summer or fall, then it might help if you wear a mask which is designed to catch allergens which might be present in the air.  It might look awkward but it saves you from the allergic reactions.

* Wash ragweed pollen away – You do not see them but the pollens that click off the seasonal allergy time bomb cling to your hair, your clothes, shoes, or other stuffs that you bring. Taking a shower or washing the clothes as soon as possible will help get rid of the pollen which ticks off the allergies symptoms.

* Cut down the ragweed – Protect yourself from ragweed allergy by cutting the ragweed which maybe present near your home or around your yard. Do not cut them by yourself. Ask someone to get rid of the ragweed for you. This way you do not have to worry when you go out to play with your kids, get the morning paper, or when you do some gardening.

* Use an air filter at home – You cannot fully seal off your home from ragweed pollen. They will get inside your house as you open the door, the garage, or the windows. The unseen invaders will cause you to have watery eyes, cough, and sneeze. There are a lot of air purifiers in the market today that you can use inside your home. They are highly efficient in filtering for particulates present in the air so you can get rid of the allergy symptoms.

* Consult a Doctor – If the practical tips above do not work for you, don’t hesitate and consult the experts. The doctor may prescribe some antihistamine drugs which can help control the hay fever problem.

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Transition between seasons can shake your kids’ health a bit and make them more prone to seasonal allergies. These allergic reactions vary from ragweed allergy, mites, dust, mold, and some foods. It is often very hard to keep track of allergies symptoms with children who may catch it in school or while they are playing outside.

Studies have shown that allergic reactions may be hereditary. In case both parents have allergies, there is a about an 80% chance that their children will develop allergies too. Most children show symptoms of seasonal allergies once they reach 5 years olds. Asthma is often an indicator of allergies and often start to show when they are between 1 to 3 years old.

Symptoms of Seasonal Allergy

Parents can look for three kinds of symptoms when they suspect that their kids are suffering from seasonal allergy:

* Nasal – They will have stuffy or runny nose, sneeze a lot, and have itchy nose and throat. Just like allergic rhinitis.
* Eye Symptoms – There is often redness, itchiness, and watery eyes which can make your kids really uncomfortable.
* Asthma – Watch if your kids will have difficulty breathing or when you hear some wheezing or coughing.

Tree pollens, grasses, and ragweed often cause these allergic reactions. Tree pollens are very abundant in the air between April and June. Grasses like Rye, Timothy, and Orchard trigger reactions when they are mowed. Ragweed grows almost everywhere and billions of pollens can travel in the air starting mid-August.

Protect your children from seasonal allergies

Parents should always keep track of the level of pollen in your city or region. These indices can be found on the internet and are seen on TV reports.

It will be best to keep your doors and windows shut during the pollen season to prevent these allergens from entering your home.

You can also set up a play pen inside your home instead of kids spending time outdoors where they can be exposed to ragweed and other allergens. The sun can also aggravate their photosensitivity when they have ragweed allergy.

Remember to keep all surfaces clean of dust. You can get an air filter to make sure that your kids breathe clean air.

In case they still catch seasonal allergies, you can try the following to relieve them of the symptoms:

* A warm bath always helps. You can also apply warm compress to decongest their nose and sinuses.
* Encourage them to drink a lot of water throughout the day. A cup of tea with honey can also soothe their itchy throat.
* Tell your kids not to scratch their eyes since this will just worsen the condition. Try to apply cold compress to decrease inflammation or wipe them with wet cotton pads.
* A dab of petroleum jelly can help with their red or swollen nose
* Add some ginger, garlic, or pepper when you serve a bowl of soup. These are natural decongestants to clear their airways.
* You can dissolve 2 teaspoons of salt in a glass of water which your kids can use to gargle with to relieve their sore throats.

Allergies can be fatal when you do not do something about it. Seek the guidance of your pediatrician if your children will need some medications for their allergies.

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