Seasonal Allergies in Children: Symptoms & Treatment in Anchorage, Alaska
Seasonal allergies can make your child feel miserable during certain times of the year. Sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and other cold-like symptoms can develop when your child’s immune system reacts to pollen, mold spores, or other airborne allergens.
At Alaska Children’s Urgent Care and Outreach in Anchorage, our pediatric providers can evaluate allergies in children, help determine the cause of symptoms, and recommend age-appropriate ways to help them feel better.
What Are Seasonal Allergies in Children?
Seasonal allergies occur when your child’s immune system reacts to allergens that are more common during certain times of the year. They’re also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis or hay fever.
In Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska, seasonal allergy triggers can include birch and alder pollen, grass pollen, and outdoor mold spores. These allergens can become more prominent at different points during Alaska’s spring and summer allergy season.
When your child breathes in these allergens, their immune system can respond by causing inflammation in the nose, eyes, and throat.
Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies in Children
Seasonal allergy symptoms can sometimes look similar to a cold, especially when your child first develops them.
Common symptoms include:
Sneezing
Runny, stuffy, or congested nose
Itchy nose or throat
Red, itchy, or watery eyes
Frequent nose rubbing or sniffling
Postnasal drip
Mild cough or throat clearing
Trouble sleeping because of nasal congestion
One clue that allergies may be responsible is itchiness, especially itchy eyes or an itchy nose. Seasonal allergies may also return around the same time each year or worsen after your child spends time outdoors.
Unlike many viral illnesses, seasonal allergies generally don’t cause a fever. Children with asthma may also notice that seasonal allergens worsen coughing, wheezing, or other asthma symptoms.
How Are Seasonal Allergies Diagnosed in Children?
A pediatric provider can often identify seasonal allergies by reviewing your child’s symptoms and when they occur.
Your provider may ask about:
Whether symptoms happen during certain seasons
Whether being outdoors makes symptoms worse
Whether your child has a fever or other signs of illness
Known allergy triggers
A personal or family history of asthma, eczema, or allergies
Medications your child is currently taking
Your provider may also examine your child’s nose, throat, eyes, ears, and breathing.
Many children with straightforward seasonal allergy symptoms don’t need allergy testing right away.
Treatment for Seasonal Allergies in Children
One of the first steps to treating seasonal allergies is reducing your child’s exposure to the allergens that trigger their symptoms.
Ways to reduce seasonal allergy exposure may include:
Keeping windows closed when pollen levels are high
Using air conditioning when practical
Having your child wash their hands and face after spending time outdoors
Changing clothes after outdoor activities when pollen levels are high
Keeping outdoor shoes and heavily exposed clothing away from sleeping areas
Avoiding outdoor activities when your child’s known triggers are especially high
Your provider may also recommend allergy medicine depending on your child’s age and symptoms.
Not every allergy medication is appropriate for every child. Talk with your healthcare provider before starting a new medication, especially for younger children or if your child takes other medicines.
When Should You Seek Pediatric Care for Seasonal Allergies?
Mild seasonal allergy symptoms can often be managed at home, especially when you already know your child’s triggers and have a treatment plan that works.
A pediatric visit can help when you’re unsure whether your child has allergies, symptoms are becoming harder to control, or they are affecting sleep, school, sports, or everyday activities.
Consider having your child evaluated if:
Allergy symptoms continue despite home care
Nasal congestion is making it difficult to sleep
Your child has frequent coughing
You are having difficulty telling allergies from a cold or other illness
Eye symptoms are significant or persistent
Your child’s usual allergy medication is no longer controlling symptoms
You need guidance about which allergy medicine is appropriate for your child
A telemedicine visit may also be a convenient first step. Alaska Children’s pediatric providers can review your child’s symptoms, possible triggers, current medications, and home care and determine whether an in-person examination or additional evaluation is needed.
Call 911 for difficulty breathing, severe wheezing, fainting, or swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat. These symptoms can indicate a serious allergic reaction and should not be treated as routine seasonal allergies.
Why Choose Alaska Children’s Urgent Care and Outreach?
Alaska Children’s Urgent Care and Outreach provides pediatric-focused care for children with seasonal allergies and other common childhood conditions.
Our Anchorage team can evaluate your child’s symptoms, discuss possible triggers, recommend appropriate treatment, and help determine whether additional allergy evaluation is needed.
Medical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Contact a qualified healthcare provider for recommendations based on your child’s individual symptoms and health needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do seasonal allergies last in children?
Seasonal allergy symptoms can continue as long as your child is exposed to the pollen, mold, or other seasonal triggers.
Some children have symptoms for a few weeks, while others may experience them throughout part of the spring, summer, or early fall.
Can seasonal allergies make my child’s asthma worse?
Yes. Seasonal allergens can trigger or worsen asthma symptoms in some children, including coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing.
Children with both allergies and asthma may notice their asthma symptoms flare when pollen or other allergens are high.
What can I give my child for seasonal allergies?
Depending on your child’s age and symptoms, a healthcare provider may recommend an age-appropriate antihistamine, nasal spray, saline spray, or another treatment.
Because allergy medicines have different age recommendations, dosing instructions, and possible side effects, talk with your child’s healthcare provider before starting a new medication.
