Children may respond differently to allergy treatments
Allergy symptoms are more common in children than adults for several reasons. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), many of the 50 million children with allergies outgrow them as they age, and those who continue to suffer from allergies may not know the best way to treat their symptoms. This is where parents can step in to help treat their children.
Adults have suffered through dozens of allergy seasons, so they know what conditions are most likely to trigger an allergy attack. They are able to plan accordingly if they need to avoid these irritants and they know when to begin taking medications to prevent symptoms from occurring in the first place.
"Most kids do well on them and experience few side effects," Dr. Christopher Chang writes for The Philadelphia Inquirer. "Supplemental therapies such as saline wash can also provide relief. While herbs and traditional Chinese medicine may have immunologic properties, we still don't have good scientific evidence that they actually work any better than a placebo."
Parents may need to collaborate with physicians to determine the best course of treatment for their children. Children may not be able to handle a series of shots to make them immune to certain irritants, and these procedures may not even be approved for kids. Other alternative treatments mentioned by Chang – such as massage or chiropractic adjustments – are not yet proven, but they could still be effective in children.
If parents want to shy away from medicating their children, a saline rinse could also help reduce symptoms. These devices flush out the nasal passages and are proven to be effective, although some children may find them uncomfortable and refuse to use them.
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