Take Care of Your Allergies in Summer

The worst part of the holidays is that I can not play all day with my cousins and friends, “says Michael Pena, 9 years old.

Children and their parents share time together during summer. It is time to take advantage of the sport, game parks, and walks through the countryside … fun in the end.

But in environments where there are accumulations of people, it has its risks exposing children to some type of disruption such as allergies. It is an abnormal reaction of the immune system to substances that are usually harmless to most people.

The most common allergies in children are caused by seasonal factors (climate), environmental (pollution), food (milk, colorants, and dulcorates) or chemical (drugs). The first is given by changes in temperature and that can trigger asthma or allergic rhinitis.

The cold, heat or dust may involve the oncoming of symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, stuffy nose and sore throat. Cindy Morta of 6 years had a seasonal virus that will spoil her holiday, which began two weeks ago. Last week after walking with her parents and two brothers across the Miraflores Park, northwest of Cuenca, she had continuous sneezing. The location was low temperatures. Now she receives outpatient treatment and doctor recommended that she avoid all exposure to cold.

For this condition, there is rise in attention in public and private clinics this season, says pediatrician Chaves Francisco, from Foundation Pablo Jaramillo (Cuenca). There is increasing number of cases of illness in the country already. Chavez serves eight patients per hour in this season, 50% is for allergies.

But how we can distinguish a common cold from an allergy? The lung-Marcos Machuca pediatrician explained that in the first case, the symptoms usually occur gradually and suddenly allergy nasal drip (like water), itching, sneezing and acclimation.

Another favorite recreational activity for children is the use of swimming pools. But the excess of chlorine used to disinfect water can affect the skin and eyes of bathers.
Chlorine and exposed to the sun without protection can be agents of transmitters such as hearing and eye allergies, and conjunctivitis. Marcelo Domente, an dermatologist, recommends showering before entering the pool and bathe with soap out.

If the plans for going out of the field trip must be borne in mind that pollen, animal hair, smoke, dust mites (microscopic parasites that are in the dust) may produce allergic reactions.

Disease like atopic dermatitis, which appears on the elbows, knees and other body parts, is the most common. It is presented with itching and redness can be caused by the use of pools of water or food (dyes, sausages .. .) allergens and medications.

While allergies are harmless and for some it is to be troublesome, there are others that may threaten the child’s health. In any case, the intervention of pediatrician, dermatologist or lung (as allergy) in needed for a checkup.

According to the clinical history and supporting evidence, the physician will determine the type of allergy medication and treatment, recommendations or home exercises, for asthmatics patients. (n)