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  • Itches and sneezes: Understanding allergies in children

    As I prepare to write about allergies, my poor daughter is sitting next to me sniffling away, red-eyed, stuffy-nosed, and miserable. If you don’t live with allergies yourself, it can be hard to understand how bad this common medical problem can make people feel. But allergy sufferers know that as their season draws near, they can count on disrupted sleep, trouble smelling and tasting food, itching out of their skin, and blowing through boxes of tissues.

    Types of allergies

    Allergies can be perennial, meaning all year long, or they can be seasonal. Perennial allergies are to things like: pet dander, dust mites, molds, and, believe it or not, cockroaches. Here in Florida, where humidity reigns, most of these allergens are everywhere. Seasonal allergies are pollen allergies, and involve trees, shrubs, grasses and weeds. In Florida, where things bloom and pollenate year-round, some unfortunate allergy sufferers can react to multiple pollens during multiple seasons, with little relief between seasons.

    Symptoms to look for

    Symptoms of allergies are many, and are sometimes hard to tell from viral or other illnesses. A common cold follows a rather predictable course: sore throat with or without fever at first, followed by runny nose, followed in another few days by cough. Things get worse over the first week, and then improve over the second week. The flu is marked by high fever and body aches. The hallmark of allergy is the lack of fever, itching of eyes, nose, throat, and/or skin, and the ups and downs of symptoms. Some people have classic allergic rhinitis, with itchy, sneezy, runny nose. Some have allergic conjunctivitis, with red, runny, itchy eyes. Some patients have maddening itching in the back of the throat.  Cough is common in allergy sufferers, and can be from post-nasal drip or from bronchospasm (allergy-induced-asthma is wheezing caused by allergic inflammation). Some allergy sufferers also have itchy dry skin, or eczema.  Complications of allergies can include infections of the ears, sinuses, lungs, and skin.

    How are allergies treated?

    Treatment of allergies may involve determining triggers and eliminating or preventing whatever you can. Sometimes, identifying triggers is easy; for example, if every time your child visits grandma and curls up with the cat she starts to tear and sneeze, your child is allergic to cat dander. You don’t need a test to prove that. On the other hand, allergy tests, which can be blood tests and/or skin tests, can be very helpful in patients with severe symptoms. For example, if your child is often congested and has recurrent sinus or ear infections and turns out to be allergic to dust mites, you can remove carpeting and curtains from his bedroom, encase his mattress and pillow in allergy-control casings, limit plush animals in his bed to one or two, and even run a dehumidifier to kill dust mites. Prevention is considered to be preferable to treatment with multiple medications.

  • Halloween in 2020? It’s Different, Not Canceled

    Many parents are wondering if their families can celebrate a healthy Halloween during a pandemic. The good news is, with creativity and reasonable precautions, you can. Doing so means you’ll practice the same everyday preventive measures: physical distancing, proper handwashing, mask wearing when unable to keep a distance of six feet in public and avoiding large crowds. 

  • Tragedy in Aurora: talking to your kids about violence in the news

     I am an overprotective, careful parent - a big fan of seat belts, bike helmets, and sunscreen. I think I’m probably a little more overprotective and careful than some parents, and I know this about myself and try to keep it in check. I try not to stifle my child’s natural sense of adventure and curiosity. However, I want to keep any and everything that could be dangerous or hurtful away from my little boy.

  • Preventing childhood obesity can be as easy As 5-2-1-0!

    Written by Brandon Alexander, DO

  • ​​Concussions in Babies and Toddlers: What You Need To Know

    At some point, every kid bumps their head — sometimes harder than others. While most of these accidents are minor, all head injuries should be monitored for signs of a concussion, which could get worse without timely and appropriate care. 

  • Who Cares for Your Child in the Pediatric ER?

    High fevers, life-threatening trauma and severe wounds are just a few issues pediatric emergency medicine doctors treat regularly. No matter the ailment, bringing a child to the emergency room (ER) can be a stressful experience. The medical experts and caregivers in the pediatric ER are trained to calm your concerns while providing the best possible treatment for your child. 

  • Kids and Suicide: How Parents Should Talk About It

    It can be difficult to approach the topic of suicide with your children when you suspect they are depressed or deeply upset. You might be afraid if you bring it up, it will make your child more likely to attempt suicide. That’s not true. In fact, talking is a key factor in protecting your child.

  • Recognizing Early Signs of Kidney Trouble in Kids

    Kidney disease in children can be sneaky, progressing slowly with symptoms so subtle they’re easily missed until it reaches advanced stages and the damage is irreversible.

  • Getting Sick May Help Your Child Later in Life

    As a parent, it’s natural to worry when your child gets sick. But understanding how infections affect the immune system – and that they can actually keep your child healthier later on – can help ease your concerns.

  • What To Expect if Your Child Needs a Colonoscopy

    You might think colonoscopies are only for older adults to screen for cancer. But children sometimes have the procedure, too, to diagnose causes of abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, rectal bleeding and unexplained weight loss.