Household Allergies in Children

Little boy sneezing

As much as you want your home to be your child’s safe haven, there are times when it can also become the source of their misery. Your home could be a potential breeding ground for the culprits in indoor allergies, which produce symptoms that can cause your child to get irritable, fidgety, and even feel sick.

Let’s learn about household allergies in children—particularly the symptoms, triggers, and what you can do to prevent them—and where to find effective pediatric allergy treatment in northeast Illinois.

Household Allergy Symptoms

Symptoms of household or indoor allergies can include the following:

  • Facial pressure
  • Itchy nose
  • Nasal congestion
  • Postnasal drip
  • Runny nose with clear discharge
  • Sneezing
  • Teary, itchy, red eyes

As your child’s household allergy worsens, they may also develop a cough, headache, and sore throat. When left unmanaged, household allergies in children may interfere with their sleep, cause daytime irritability, and render them unable to function well. Severe household allergies can produce symptoms that mimic those of the flu or sinus infection; however, it is worth noting that they, no matter how bad, do not cause a fever.

Common Culprits in Children’s Household Allergies

Forty percent of the children in the United States have household allergies, and these are said to be caused by the following substances:

  • Cockroach saliva, feces, and shedding body parts
  • Dust mites
  • Pollen brought in on shoes, clothing, and the family dog
  • Pet dander, the tiny skin flakes shed by dogs, cats, birds and small animals, such as hamsters and guinea pigs
  • Textile fibers
  • Mold (in damp basements, bathrooms, and laundry areas)
  • Fragrances and in soaps and detergents
  • Cigarette smoke

Preventive Strategies for Household Allergies

Here are some strategies you can do to help protect your child from household allergies:

  1. Use an indoor HEPA filter on air-conditioning and furnace units.
  2. Close the windows during peak-pollen times, in the morning until the midday, during the spring, summer, and fall, which are tree, grass, and weed pollen seasons, respectively.
  3. Have your child wash their face and hands and change their clothes when coming in from outdoor play.
  4. Keep indoor air clean using a dehumidifier.
  5. Keep all pets out of the bedroom and off the furniture.
  6. Vacuum all soft surfaces daily or as often as possible. Dust hard surfaces frequently as well.
  7. Keep symptom-relief medications in your medicine cabinet at all times.
  8. Stop all tobacco usage.
  9. Take your child to a pediatric allergist, who can perform allergy testing and devise the appropriate course of treatment. Depending on how your child is, your pediatric allergist may recommend either oral or injection immunotherapy to train your child’s immune system to permanently build a tolerance to the allergen.

Pediatric Allergy Treatment in Northeast Illinois

At Oak Brook Allergists, our board-certified pediatric allergists are dedicated to providing the best care possible, so the children in our community can enjoy a good quality of life. Our dynamic team of allergy experts embraces a warm, friendly approach to make your child feel at ease and look forward to all of your appointments with us.

To schedule a consultation with one of our pediatric allergists, call us at (630) 574-0460. You may also use our online appointment request form. We have offices in Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Naperville, and Plainfield. We look forward to serving you!