Tips for Handling Allergies in School

It's important to talk to teachers about your child's special needs due to nasal allergies. You'll help your child do better, academically and socially.

In a recent national survey of more than 1,000 families, the parents of children with nasal allergies were two times as likely to say their children's daily activities were adversely affected by their health compared to the parents of children without nasal allergies.

Nasal allergies are triggered by pollens from trees and grasses as well as by indoor allergens such as mold and animal dander. Children with allergies to these substances react by having symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, and other problems.

Here are tips from the experts on how to help your child minimize the fallout from nasal allergies in school:

• After your child is diagnosed with nasal allergies, schedule a meeting with teachers, coaches, and the school nurse. Be sure each is aware of the diagnosis of childhood allergies and what needs to be done.
• Create an "allergy card" to give to the school nurse (and others who may benefit from having it). On it, include details about the childhood allergies, such as what triggers the allergy symptoms. List the names and doses of medications taken, any allergies to other medicine, and your child's typical nasal allergy symptoms. Include your work, home, and mobile telephone numbers and a backup emergency contact. Update the card annually or when medications or symptoms change.
• Ask your child's teachers to alert you to sudden signs of inattention or lack of focus. It could mean that your child is not getting enough sleep due to nasal allergy flare-ups or that the allergy medication needs adjustment.
• Ask your child's teachers also to alert you to coughing, a possible sign that allergy symptoms are worsening. Red eyes are another overlooked symptom associated with nasal allergies.
• Children with allergies can react to common allergens in the classroom that can set off symptoms. Among the most common are dust mites (less common if a classroom is air-conditioned), chalk dusk, animal dander (if classrooms have pets such as hamsters or rabbits), and mold (found, for instance, around leaking pipes in bathrooms).  Ask your child to tell you about which triggers seem to set off nasal allergy symptoms at school. Then, encourage the child to let the teacher know when this happens, and include that information in your ongoing talks with the teacher. On days when pollen counts are high, asking the teacher to close the classroom windows can help.
• Find out what your school policy is about having medications on hand at school and what the procedure is for your child to obtain medications when needed.
• Consider how to handle outdoor activities such as recess and sports, especially on high pollen days that can aggravate nasal allergies. Taking allergy medications about a half hour before going outside is recommended, but first find out what your school policy is on medications at school.