Allergies
or to consider a home with wood or tile flooring. Those with forced air heating systems
may notice a dramatic worsening in al- lergy symptoms on days the furnace is running. One way to combat this — and to improve overall air quality in the home — is to invest in an air-purifying system or to insert a high-quality air filter into your home’s furnace. Choose a filter specifi- cally designed to trap allergens and, for optimal effectiveness, replace your filter every three months. If your child’s allergies flare up at night, consider purchasing encasement covers for the mattress and pillows. Such zip- pered covers are relatively inexpensive and remarkably effective at reducing exposure to dust mites. It is also wise to keep family pets out of your child’s room, especially out of the bed. If the culprit is mold, the most effective solution is to decrease humidity in the home with a dehumidifier (ideally keep- ing the humidity below 55 percent) and to seek the advice of a mold remediation expert. Mold can be extremely difficult to remediate, and it takes an expert to
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identify the source of the problem and eradicate the spores properly.
Medication Treatment If home modifications have been made and your child continues to be symptom- atic, you may want to consider allergy medication. Oral antihistamines, allergy eye drops and nasal steroid sprays can greatly reduce day-to-day symptoms. Most products are over-the-counter, though you should confirm age-appropriate choices and dosages with your provider. Certainly, though it can be quite frus-
trating for a child to suffer from allergies, you can reduce symptoms dramatically by modifying your home environment. This, coupled with a thoughtful medication plan and partnership with your provider, will ultimately lead to a more comfortable winter season.
Sarah R. Kiser, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, has nearly a decade of experience in pedi- atric nursing. She currently practices in Massachusetts as the exclusive PNP to an independent boarding and day school for girls, grades 5-12.
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