My 2.5 year old son has tested allergic to dust and pollen (among other things but these are the big ones) and it seems like he needs maintenance allergy meds to keep his symptoms at bay (the worst being a wet cough). Is it normal for kids this young to need to be on maintenance drugs?? Kinda worried about giving him all this stuff but then also worried about what a chronic wet cough will do to his lungs long term. What's been your experience with kids and allergies?
I would take him to a pediatric pulmonologist. He may have asthma that
comes in the way of a cough.
If the child has chronic allergies, then yes, it is normal, especially during times of year when the pollen count is high.
There are things you can do in your home as well, constantly cleaning or removing drapes/carpets, choosing wise fabrics, getting him allergen free bed linens, having air purifiers set up, HEPA filters... lots of really great advice that you can help at home here:
http://www.medicinenet.com/allergy_treatment_begins_at_ho...
Yes, our daughter was just like this. We did take action in our home to make it a safe breathing space for her, just as momma L has written. It helped a lot.
Our daughter also was diagnosed with asthma, she had that non productive cough as the indication she was not getting enough air.
Take your child to a specialist. Learn your child's triggers. Ours were dust, grasses and heavy pollens.
She out grew it at the end of 5th grade. No long lasting effects. She is a senior in college. Very healthy and intellegent.
my sons are 9 years apart in age. Yes, they both used maintenance allergy meds. My older son's need was minimal. My younger son was on Zyrtec, Nasonex, & eye drops daily for most of his toddler years.
My younger son's allergy needs completely disappeared when we removed him from the daycare/preschool he was attending. He was allergic to the mold in the building. Periodically thru his grade school years. he would be in a classroom which would trigger him. He'd go back on the Zyrtec for the weekdays...until the next school year.
When mine was that age, he had to be on allergy medication (singulair) during those high allergen seasons. He's outgrown it now though.
Usually, they don't do allergy testing on kids that young. If they have been tested and have allergies, they normally do beging meds until they find what works. Some need to be constant, others can be as needed.
You can also do your best to minimize dust at home...vacume, clean frequently, and try to use the least amount of chemicals too.
My son was on daily Zytrec starting around that age. We did it daily for about 9 months or so and it helped, but his symptoms were never that bad even without it, so we eventually stopped. I think it's better to be on the drugs than to have terrible symptoms all the time.
It is absolutely not normal. It is common however. It took me a while to learn this, but as a former allergy sufferer, allergies to natural things like dust and pollen are caused only be a weakened immune system. Someone whose immune system is at it's optimum should never have a reaction to anything like this...Immune systems are attacked as soon as kids start eating "grown up" food that contain pesticides, preservatives, antibiotics, and hormones. These synthetic chemicals along with all the other things we're bombarded with like bath and body products, cleaning supplies, etc contraindicate in our system and the body simply gets overloaded.
Detoxing your home, detoxing his little body and getting him on an ABSORBABLE multivitamin will work wonders. I say absorbable because those that aren't do more damage than good. PM if you want more info. I suffered all my life for no reason.....I feel better now than ever because my immune system works right.
God bless,
M.
For a kid with allergies? Absolutely normal. One of my sisters was practically allergic to air. She was on chlortrimaton for a good 15 years. Then puberty hit, and she only takes it 1 or 2 months out of the year
Being a pulmonology family... we're the weird ones out with no allergies. ALL my fellow hospital buddies with asthmatic (or other pulmonology issues) have their kids on daily meds. HUGE difference in their daily lives. Honestly, I'm envious. They have something the can take, and most of their symptoms just up and vanish. My son? Nope. Allergies are GREAT... in that you can TREAT them. Even better... you can avoid them a lot of the time. It may mean ripping out carpet, sealing up mattresses, etc... but remove the allergen, and remove the response. Not 100% doable ever... but hugely helpful.
It's just that time of the year. A lot of people are allergic to pollen. Is your child around anyone who smokes? That also causes symptoms such as wheezing, coughs, etc.
