How to ease the pesky springtime allergies for the kids (and for you, too)

I'm down in Shenzhen right now and man are my allergies going crazy. Must be the mix of the pollen and smog down here but something is making me crazy! Tanner too, he's sneezing up a storm. Good thing I've got more info from the doctors at Shanghai United. It all seems preventative and very generic, I'm sure it's stuff we all know, but maybe reading it again will help give you a reminder and help ease allergy suffering this season. Either way, I'm so happy it's warm weather time again.

Dr. Rowhani's advice:

A seasonal allergy is an allergic reaction to a trigger that typically occurs during a specific time of year (as opposed to perennial allergies with are usually present year-round). The season in which your child’s allergies seem to flare up can give us a clue as to the possible trigger as there are different allergens that appear during different seasons.

The most import way to help prevent seasonal allergy symptoms is to know what you are allergic to and to avoid the trigger. An allergist can perform a blood test or skin test to help you determine if you have seasonal allergies and what you are allergic to. You can reduce your exposure to allergens by keeping windows shut and using an air filter to clean out pollens, molds and dust. Pollen is usually emitted in the early morning, so minimizing early morning outdoor activity may also help. Pollen may also collect in clothing if left outside to dry, so consider using a dryer to dry your clothes. Wood or tile floors are preferred to carpet as they can be cleaned regularly and thoroughly. Outdoor pets can bring pollens indoors, so bathing them regularly if they come indoors can help as well.

Info from Dr. Huang also from Shanghai United:

The new on-set of allergy in a new city in a child who has never experienced allergy symptoms prior is likely due to the exposure to the new plants and/ or pollution. More rarely, new foods. Interestingly, children who previously suffered from allergies in their home countries might do well in shanghai, despite the pollution, again, due to the fact that the plants which caused their allergies don’t exist here.