Allergy Medicine Tips for Children

If your child has nasal allergies, you know the price of outdoor play without allergy medicine: sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, cough, and wheezing. But more than being uncomfortable, allergies rob children of good quality of life.

Children who suffer with allergy symptoms can have reduced productivity at school, poor sleep, and daytime drowsiness. Allergies can also affect a child's mood, motivation, appetite, and relationships with peers.

This is no small problem. Allergic rhinitis affects up to 40% of children in the U.S., according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

How can parents help? While there's no cure for allergies, allergies can be managed by pre-medicating with allergy medicines such as antihistamines and nasal sprays.

How are allergies treated?

During an allergic reaction, your child will have symptoms of a runny, drippy nose; nasal congestion; itchy eyes; and stuffiness. After making the diagnosis of "allergies," your child's doctor may recommend antihistamines to prevent these allergy symptoms. Short-acting antihistamines are taken every four to six hours. Longer, timed-release antihistamines for allergies are taken every 12 hours. Some antihistamines are available in combination with decongestants.

Antihistamines are the gold standard of allergy treatment. They work by blocking the effect of "histamine, the chemical released from certain cells in the body after being exposed to an allergen.  Histamine causes the swelling of the membranes in the nose and increases mucus production and nasal congestion.

The most common side effects of antihistamines are sedation, drowsiness, and dry mouth -- especially when used in combination with a decongestant. You may want to give your child a sedating (first-generation) antihistamine at nighttime to avoid feeling sluggish during the day.  Newer (second-generation) antihistamines are less likely to cause drowsiness, and may be given during daytime hours.

Never use antihistamines to treat sinusitis. They can cause drying of mucous membranes and interfere with the clearing of secretions. 

When should a child take antihistamines for treating allergies?

Studies show that allergy symptoms are worse at night between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. Taking allergy medicine at night before bedtime may help reduce morning allergy symptoms such as sneezing and nasal congestion. Antihistamines work best if taken before allergy symptoms begin. In this regard, the medications can build up in the blood if taken regularly for three to four days to give a protective effect.

Many experts believe the best way to treat allergies is to take your allergy medication regularly to prevent symptoms altogether. When antihistamines are taken regularly, they block receptors in the tissues that cause swelling and excess mucus production. If you block the actual site where histamine works, you can avoid the aggravating allergy symptoms.  

It's important to remember that antihistamines will not reverse allergy symptoms once they start. That's why getting your child on a regular pre-treatment program may be beneficial to keep allergy symptoms at bay.