Allergies In Children: How They Affect The Ear, Nose And Throat

Children fall ill all the time and it can often be difficult to figure out whether they are suffering from an allergy or whether they have simply caught some virus or infection. While allergies often surface after a child crosses the age of four, some of them may start to show signs of food allergies even before that. Otherwise, children below this age may be reacting to dust or pollen in the air.

Nasal allergies are very common and they can often lead to larger problems like asthma. These signs include itchy noses, sneezing, congestion in the nose and nasal drainage. Observing the weather conditions when your child most frequently gets these problems could help a doctor in determining whether it is an allergy or not.

Sore Throats

Very often, an extra amount of mucus may be produced due to an allergy. This can lead to a nose dripping or leaking down the back of the throat which then becomes a post-nasal drip. When this happens, it affects the throat which can then come out in the form of a cough, a husky voice or a sore throat.

Ear Infections

Otitis Media, commonly called the middle ear infection, is a very common medical problem that is seen in children. Usually, kids who suffer from this problem when they are below 2 years of age do not suffer due to an allergy. However, as they get older, allergies could play a big role in fluid that is found behind the ear drum, infections or uncomfortable air pressure in this area.

Sleep Disorders

If your kid is suffering from either seasonal allergic rhinitis or year-round allergic rhinitis, one of the most common symptoms is nasal obstruction. When there is congestion in the nasal region, sleep disorders often occur. Since the nasal airway is used as the common route for a person when they sleep, any congestion or obstruction can lead to snoring or sleep apnea. Sleeping disorders then lead to fatigue which not only affects the quality of life of the child but is has also been seen to affect their performance in school and their overall development.

Sinusitis

Children who suffer from persistent sinusitis should be checked for allergies. Studies have shown that allergic children are more likely to get large adenoids. Adenoids are tonsil-like tissues that are found at the back of the nose. If you visit a pediatrician, they will study the medical history of your child and conduct an exam in order to determine whether he or she is likely to be suffering from some kind of allergy.

Pediatric Partners consists of a team of highly trained professionals who will take care of your children's medical and development needs. These pediatricians provide care and assistance for children right from the time they are born till they reach adulthood. Also check out our new blog post on Ear, Nose and Throat Illnesses.

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Tips To Help Fight Your Allergies

Do you suffer from sinus problems, or allergies?

Your sinuses are located behind your forehead, and on both sides of your nose. Mucus is created in your sinuses to remove harmful bacteria from your nose. However, colds, flu, and hay fever can all cause inflammation to the lining of your nasal passages. This causes discomfort, among other side effects.

Common ailments from allergies and sinusitis are:

• Stuffy nose
• Sore or scratchy throat
• Coughing
• Headaches
• Facial pressure

When bacteria are introduced, this can lead to a sinus infection. If you have symptoms such as; thick congestion, cold symptoms lasting more than 10 days, high fever, tooth pain, you should contact your doctor. Sinus infection can be treated with antibiotics.

Fight Allergies

• Healthy Diet

Eating fruits and veggies loaded with antioxidants, and vitamin C, can help combat allergies, and also make symptoms less severe. Eliminate sugars and processed foods to boost your immune system. 

• Exercise

A simple walk can help circulate the blood, and boost your immune system. This can help lessen the allergy symptoms. Drink plenty of water before and after exercise. Be sure to shower before bed to remove any air pollutants, and wash your sheets weekly. 

• Nasal Spray and/or Neti Pot

Saline nasal spray is a good way to keep your nose clean, and clear out harmful bacteria. Nasal irrigation can be done with a Neti Pot filled with water and salt, and is poured in one nostril and drains out the other. The flow of salt water through the nasal passage flushes the dirt, airborne allergens (dust and pollen), pollutants and bacteria-filled mucus. For more on Neti Pot.

• Cool mist humidifier

Keep the air at about 40-50 % humidity. Low humidity levels help ensure that dust mites and mold cannot thrive, and is linked to reduced indoor air pollution, but high humidity is far more comfortable for the tissues of the throat and nasal passages. 

• Get plenty of liquids; stay hydrated with water, herbal tea, and thin broth.

For pain: use heating pads or hot towels along eyebrows and in between eyes.

Get Minty- Some people say popping a Mentos or Altoid can relieve sinus pressure immediately.

If you are still suffering, see an allergist. You may be suffering from food allergies. You may also benefit from allergy shots, or medication. 

Allergy Meds to Avoid, and Alternative Solutions

Allergy medicines you should skip, and why.

• Clear Eyes Redness Relief

Active Ingredients
Naphazoline Hydrochloride 0.012% (redness reliever)
Glycerine 0.2% (lubricant)

Side Effects
Can be addictive.

Review
Be wary of eye drops designed for redness relief. They get the job done—eliminate red, bloodshot eyes—but the way they do it is a problem, according to Suzanne Levitch, A.R.N.P., at Mary Cliff Allergy Specialists in Spokane, Washington. "The active ingredients in redness relievers vasoconstrict the blood vessels in your eyes," she says. That means they reduce blood flow to the eyes and ultimately result in even more redness. Look for drops with lubricants and antihistamines instead of redness relievers (decongestants). An easy way to spot a decongestant is to look for "line" at the end of the ingredient's name—naphazoline or tetrahydrozoline.

• Neo-Synephrine Regular Strength Spray

Active Ingredient
Phenylephrine hydrochloride 0.5%

Side Effects
Can be addictive.

Review
"Nasal sprays like Neo-Synephrine are very addicting and we don't recommend them," says Beth Miller, M.D., chief of the Allergy and Asthma Clinic at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Topical decongestants like phenylephrine and oxymetazoline are addictive because they cause a rebound effect—meaning the nose gets stuffier the longer you use it, and you become dependent on the spray for short-term relief.

• Tylenol Allergy Multi-Symptom

Active Ingredients
Acetaminophen 325 mg (pain reliever)
Chlorpheniramine Maleate 2 mg (antihistamine)
Phenylephrine HCL 5 mg (nasal decongestant)

Equivalent
1 aspirin + 1 antihistamine (like Benadryl) + 1 decongestant

Side Effects
May cause drowsiness, dizziness, headache, constipation, upset stomach, or dry mouth/nose/throat.

Review
The allergy aisle is full of multi-symptom over-the-counter drugs like this one that claim to knock out a long list of complaints with one tablet. But there's a catch: Combination medicines are usually made up of first-generation versions of medicines that can give some relief, but are short-acting and can also have significant side effects, says Dr. Richard Gower, M.D. and president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Newer antihistamines are available in over-the-counter allergy medicines such as Claritin and Zyrtec to provide longer-lasting relief without harmful side effects. Unless you're experiencing pain and nasal congestion in addition to symptoms of hay fever, avoid multi-symptoms medicines. "I recommend treating only the symptoms you have instead of adding extra ingredients you don’t need," Dr. Gower says.

• Boiron Sabadil Allergy

Active Ingredients
Allium cepa 5CHPUS (runny nose)
Ambrosia artemisiaefolia 5CHPUS (cough)
Histaminum hydrochloricum 9CHPUS (allergy symptoms)
Euphrasia officinalis 5CHPUS (burning eyes)
Sabadilla 5CHPUS (sneezing)
Solidago vigaurea 5CHPUS (nasal discharge)

Side Effects
None.

Review
Homeopathic allergy medicines contain small dilutions of pollens that, in theory, will help your body become tolerant so it no longer has allergic reactions, says Timothy Craig, D.O., an allergist and immunologist at Penn State University. "But the digestive system destroys most of what's in these pills." Also, there is no clinical data to show that herbal remedies like these are effective, he says.

• Sudafed PE Nasal Decongestant

Active Ingredients
Phenylephrine HCl 10 mg (nasal decongestant)

Side Effects
Do not take phenylephrine if you take medication for heart disease or high blood pressure without consulting your doctor first. A dangerous drug interaction leading to serious side effects could occur.

Review
The PE stands for "phenylephrine," but it might as well stand for "placebo effect"—because there's no research that proves it works. "From my experience, phenylephrine doesn't work and pseudoephedrine does," says James Wedner, M.D., director of allergy and immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. If you have high blood pressure and can't take pseudoephedrine, try a saline wash or prescription nasal steroid before you pony up for a placebo.

source: "5 Medicines to Avoid" http://www.menshealth.com/allergycenter/5-to-avoid.php 12/4/09

Solutions to help relieve your Allergies

For your throat: Drink Green Tea(add some honey for extra relief), the heat helps sooth a sore throat, as well as loosen mucous. Add some ground ginger for some antibotic properties.

Consume Vitamin C and D.

Get a supplement or load up and fruits and veggies, ie: oranges, grapefruit, berries, green leafy veggies, etc. You will boost your immune system which can help alleviate allergies.

It is recommended for Adults to have 1000 IU of Vitamin D a day, pill, liquid, or from the sun.

Supplements I like:

Wellesse Vitamin D(3) 1000 IU (liquid)

Nature Made D 1000 IU (pill)

Ester C 500mg (pill)

At the drugstore:

Over the Counter (OTC) eye drops

Saline Nasal Spray

Advil Allergy and Sinus (will help relive pressure and headaches)

Advil Cold and Sinus

find more:http://www.menshealth.com/allergycenter/medicine.php

*Please check with a doctor before adding, or removing medications to your routine. An allergist or ENT doctor will know what is best for you. it is always good for you to get a second opinion, as well as doing your own research.