The Best Ways to Treat Seasonal Allergies Without Medication

Seasonal and environmental allergies in kids occur when their immune systems overreact to a normal substance in the environment. Pollen in the summer, ragweed in the fall, and dust in the winter are some very common examples of allergens that can wreak havoc in little noses.

With continual exposure to the offending allergen, kiddos will often develop a runny nose, itchy eyes, and perhaps make a run for the world record title of most sneezes per hour. The sniffly sneezy condition afflicting tiny humans with seasonal/environmental allergies is known as allergic rhinitis.

The term seasonal allergies means that the allergic rhinitis happens seasonally, i.e. every spring when the pollen starts to fly! Environmental allergic rhinitis also occurs due to exposure to something in the environment, but is associated more with continual allergen exposure such as dust or mold found in the home.

So, what’s a parent to do?

If your child has been diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, it probably means that the allergic response is already in full force! Experts will usually recommend medication to get the allergies under control - read more about that here. If symptoms are severe enough, your child may need to see an allergist and perhaps start some prescription medication or other specialized therapies. However, there are many non-drug things you can do to help prevent or alleviate symptoms too! 

Avoiding the allergen is your best bet, but it’s not always practical. Still, do your best! If your child is sensitive to pollen, keep an eye on the local air quality reports and consider indoor activities during the few weeks that pollen may be severe.

If your child is like mine and is sensitive to pollen and also turns into a feral cat when trapped inside the house for multiple days in a row, then you know that indoor activities are not always feasible. 

Home Allergy Mitigation Strategies

When avoidance is not possible (see feral cat statement above), pivot your game plan to mitigation. As the saying goes, the best defense is a good offense. Consider the following recommendations when channeling your inner Bill Belichick and drawing up your allergy response playbook: 

• Remove shoes and wash hands as soon as children come in from playing outside. Heck if you have time, throw them right into the tub! And definitely wash up before bed. 
• Launder clothes, towels, and sheets frequently, especially pillowcases (I know - I’m sorry. I do so much laundry I swear a person lives in this house that I don’t know about.)
• Vacuum and sweep often 
• If budget allows, consider investing in some air purifiers for the home. These can be pricey, but if possible may make a big difference especially in bedrooms. 
• Try to keep the windows closed - again this isn’t possible for everyone, but if air conditioning and fans are accessible to you, use them! 
• The same goes for the car. Keep the windows shut and use the AC as much as you can.
• Be sure to stay on top of filter maintenance for your air purifiers and air conditioning units - clean or change them per manufacturer recommendations
• Consider sunglasses for a bit of eye protection when outside
• Consider masks if your child is very sensitive
• Nasal irrigations like Neti-pots or saline sprays may help and probably won’t hurt, however most children absolutely hate this so best of luck to you if you decide to try! 

The tips above are most relevant to those that suffer from seasonal allergies, but they are also practical and helpful for those that suffer from chronic environmental allergies.

If your child has allergic rhinitis frequently, or has concurrent asthma, eczema, or other related conditions, it’s best to consult your pediatrician or specialist for professional help in mitigating and managing the allergies.

In addition to the list above, here are some other things you can do:

• Remove carpets and stick with hardwood or similar floors when possible 
• Vacuum and shampoo carpets that can’t be removed 
• Use HEPA filters in vacuums
• Remove stuffed animals, fluffy curtains, basically any textiles that aren’t necessary or can’t be cleaned regularly
• Clean the textiles that do remain as often as possible
• Consider dust-mite covers for bedroom pillows or mattresses 
• Keep pets out of the bedrooms
• Dust often. I know - yuck. 
• Remove plants, flowers, or anything that could promote mold growth from the inside of the house
• Avoid use of fireplaces or anything smoky
• Keep the house dry and cool if possible
• Use bathroom fans and vents when showering 
• Keep the kitchen tidy and avoid crumbs to avoid insects (good luck if you have small kids…)
• Absolutely no smoking anywhere in the house or near children 

Anytime we can avoid or minimize the use of medications in children, we should! So employing all your best non-drug strategies to try to combat allergy season is always a good idea.

That being said, typically once a child starts to suffer from allergic rhinitis, the cat is out of the bag and some drug treatment may be needed in addition to your non-drug plan of action.

Best of luck, hay fever warriors! 

The following references were used to compile this information: 

Bergmann, K. C., Berger, M., Klimek, L., Pfaar, O., Werchan, B., Werchan, M., & Zuberbier, T. (2021). Nonpharmacological measures to prevent allergic symptoms in pollen allergy: A critical review. Allergologie select, 5, 349–360. https://doi.org/10.5414/ALX02294E

Mayo Clinic. (22 Dec 2022). Allergy-proof your home. https://www.mayclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/in-depth/allergy/art-20049365 

This article has been reviewed by Andrea Morrissey, PharmD, Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist, and Chief Content Officer of Kids Med Guide. The content is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical guidance, and call 911 in an emergency.

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