Your child is sniffling and sneezing. Their eyes are red, watery and the can't stop coughing. Do they have a cold? The flu? Or are allergies to blame? Finding the "just right" allergy treatment is absolutely essential after the doctor has finally made a diagnosis.
What kinds of options are available to treat your child's allergies? There are a variety of choices, depending on your child's allergy and the doctor's recommendations, including medications and immunotherapy.
If your child has a diagnosed seasonal, animal or other type of allergy, take a look at what you need to know about treating the symptoms.
Allergy Medications
Medications won't "cure" your child's allergy. But they can relieve the symptoms. There are several different types of prescription and over the counter medications that can alleviate the respiratory issues and skin irritations that come along with some allergies.
Common allergy medications include antihistamines and decongestants. Some doctors may prescribe corticosteroids to treat nasal inflammation that results from exposure to the allergen.
Keep in mind, most allergy medications treat the immediate symptoms and aren't for use in the event of a severe reaction. If your child's allergy has caused, or can cause, anaphylaxis the doctor will likely prescribe epinephrine (in pen form).
Never treat your child's allergy without a medical professional's assessment or advice. Even though some over the counter drugs work effectively to clear the symptoms, always ask the doctor before giving any medication to your child. In the wrong dosage, an OTC medication can have seriously dangerous results.
Immunotherapy Treatments
Unlike many of the allergy medications, immunotherapy is a preventative treatment. Instead of masking or alleviating the symptoms (such as stuffy or runny nose), this allergy treatment desensitizes the patient's immune response to the allergen.
Progressive exposure to the allergen (under the doctor's supervision) causes the body to make an antibody that blocks the reaction. The result is a decrease in the allergic symptoms.
This type of treatment therapy requires the identification of specific allergens. The doctor will likely perform either skin or blood tests to verify the allergy before beginning, or even considering, immunotherapy.
Does your child have a known allergy? Choosing an effective treatment isn't always an easy process. It may take several attempts before the doctor finds the right fit. This shouldn't be cause for alarm and there's no reason to stress or worry about the allergy. With the abundance of allergy treatment options, your child won't have to suffer through stuffy noses, itchy eyes or other irritating symptoms for long. Contact a clinic, like Allergy & Asthma Centers SC, for more help.
