Allergies at School
By Dan Buglio
Your child is ready to go back to school, but have you taken the necessary steps to make sure that they will succeed? You may have purchased all the required materials like, pencils and notebooks, as well as the new clothes to give your child a sense of confidence-but are they still experiencing asthma attacks or allergic reactions?
Your child's health part of the determining factor as to how he or she will perform academically. Children with allergic diseases have statistically more missed days than their healthy peers.
There are several reasons why returning to school can aggravate allergies:
- New allergens may be present in academic buildings that were not encountered at home. Trapped pollen, dust and other allergens may have accumulated over the summer, or the presence of different types or spores and pollens can cause new reactions or develop new allergies.
- Even for those with animal allergies, in larger, commercial buildings the likelihood of encountering mouse or roach allergen is higher than coming in contact with the irritants at home. Pet dander from friends clothing can easily be transferred to desks, chairs, other children's clothing. Once on clothes, the dander allergen can easily be moved from hands to the face or simply inhaled once airborne.
- For younger children and toddlers who attend day care, exposure to allergens or chemicals have an increased risk of causing sensitivities, simply because of the children's age. During infancy and early childhood, it is best to introduce new foods, environment changes, and chemicals with care. Changing detergents could result in rashes. Getting a new pet or providing too wide a variance of food could trigger allergies or asthma.
- Though most kids would feel that they are allergic to homework, for those children who are truly suffering with allergies or asthma, the prospect or returning to a class room full of allergens is disheartening to say the least. Allergic diseases tend to run-down the immune system and make children more susceptible to the onslaught of cold, flu and other germs encountered in classrooms.
What can you do to help your children?
Provide a haven from allergens at home. Even if you designate a single room (such as a bedroom) to be an allergy-free zone, you can give your child's reactive immune system a rest.
- Keep pets out of the room
- Make sure to clean and dust regularly when your child is out of the house
- Laundering bedding is important for those with dust mite allergies (see my dust mite removal tips)
- Purchase an air purifier that is chosen for your child's particular allergy needs
- Keep windows closed at all times if the child is allergic to pollens or spores
Inform teachers of any suspected or known allergens. Keeping educators and childcare providers informed about chronic conditions like allergies or asthma will ultimately help your child.
- Most day cares and schools require parents to give teachers/caretakers a note card with detailed information about allergens, suspected allergens, medications, etc. Sometimes parents do not inform their school or daycare of their child's needs because many of these institutions are reluctant to take children with severe allergies or asthma. Sometimes there is an additional fee for enrolling children with allergic diseases.
- Ask for a menu calendar so that you can determine if you may need to replace or supplement a meal that could contain allergy triggering ingredients.
- On days when your child would have to eat an alternative snack you have provided, perhaps offer to bring enough for the entire class. This will help your child to not feel left out or punished by eating a different type of food while his or her friends eat a snack provided by the school.
- Consult with teachers/caretakers about installing an air purifying system that targets allergies and asthma and provide overall better indoor air quality to students and staff alike.
If you haven't taken your child to see an allergy specialist, consider doing so. This will help you to pinpoint and better understand what allergen cause your child's allergic reactions or asthma attacks. It is best to keep allergic conditions monitored by professional, because a slight sensitivity can develop into a severe health concern.
About the Author:
Dan Buglio is the owner of My Air Purifier, a business that sells air purifiers, air cleaners and smoke eaters for homes and businesses.
Article courtesy of www.goarticles.com.
