What’s Going Around in Colorado?
As the weather changes, it’s important to be aware of the risks of seasonal illnesses in children. Here are some tips to help keep your child healthy:
- Get a flu shot: The flu is a serious respiratory illness that can be deadly, especially for young children. Getting a flu shot is the best way to protect your child from the flu.
- Wash hands frequently: Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of illness. Be sure to wash your hands often, and especially before handling food or eating.
- Cover coughs and sneezes: If your child has a cold or the flu, it’s important to teach them to cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze. This will help prevent the spread of the illness.
- Stay home when sick: If your child is sick, it’s important to keep them home from school or daycare so they can rest and recover. This will also help prevent the spread of illness to other children.
Allergies
Seasonal allergies, or hayfever, are very common at this time of year. Typical symptoms include watery, itchy, red eyes; a clear runny nose; sneezing; and an itchy palate or throat. The most common triggers are trees in the spring, grasses in the summer, and weeds in the fall!Effective non-sedating medications are now available for children over the age of 2 without a prescription for treatment of seasonal allergies. These include loratadine (generic Claritin), Claritin, and Zyrtec. These medications can be given as needed for allergy symptoms. If you think your child has seasonal allergies and he or she is not responding to medication OR if you are not sure, please make an appointment in our office.
Many children do not require allergy testing if they respond to treatment with medication as needed.
See also: Eye - Allergy